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Children's
Chapels are conducted during the first part of the 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
services September through June. The order of service for Children's Chapel
is directly from the Book of Common Prayer, simplified in a written
pamphlet, and projected onto a screen to help young readers follow along.
Time is taken to answer questions throughout the service. Particular care
is given during the Prayers of the People to hear the concerns offered up
by the children. Children participate as leaders in all aspects of the
service.
Children may sign up before the service on the white board on the door for
ministries that day (such as acolyte, reader, and usher). Some children
choose to wait in the chapel before the service, practicing their jobs, and
enjoying fellowship with each other. Children who go into the big church
(Sanctuary) with their families need to recess during the opening hymn,
following the crucifer. At 9:00 a.m., the children younger than first grade
go downstairs for play, then come up to the chapel for worship. The first
through fifth graders go directly into the chapel for their service. At
11:15 a.m. all children come into the chapel for the service. Children too
young to participate in chapel are welcome in the Nursery. At both services
children join their families for the Eucharist.
The hope of Children's Chapel is to joyfully worship God, to encourage
active participation by all the young worshipers, to teach about the Love
of Jesus and about our Liturgy, and to help the children get to know each
other and their church community. The clergy, seminarians, other staff, and
lay persons give age-appropriate homilies. Parishioners accompany on the
keyboard and other musicians (aspiring and accomplished) add to our
"joyful noise." Adults are welcome to join us, especially if they
will lend a kind hand where needed.
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