Mount Seymour United - LGBTQ+ Rainbow
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Children & Youth

our children's community

Weekly Workship

On Sunday mornings children join together in Children’s Community, where they will hear stories and do activities led by Ross Shearer, our Children’s Ministry Coordinator.
Our children learn that they are loved by God for who they are. They are welcomed by the community of faith and learn the way of Christ through ancient stories, crafts, activities and lots of play.
Our children learn that they are loved by God for who they are. They are welcomed by the community of faith and learn the way of Christ through ancient stories, crafts, activities and lots of play.

Sign up Here for the Youth and Children’s Community Newsletter to follow the latest activities and upcoming events.

Philosophy

Children and Youth Community Covenant*

Children’s Church is a place for children and young people to be comfortable and safe, be curious, wonder and ask questions about God, Jesus and their Faith.

We encourage exploration, conversation, getting active and living our faith authentically.

Listen: To the leaders and to each other.Take Turns: Asking questions, answering questions, sharing, commenting and wondering.

Raise your hand: To To ask a question, answer a question and share.

Be Respectful: To Of each other, the room and supplies.

Ask to leave the room: If you need to go to the bathroom or any other reason.

Keep your hands and feet to yourself. Say Please and Thank you. Share. To everyone and everything.

*Covenant means: Agreement

Curriculum

Our Curriculum is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to education. Reggio Emilia recognizes and values the inherent knowledge children have and encourages them to be curious and explore their world.

We create our curriculum by listening and talking to our kids about what interests them and what questions they have.

We use the curriculum resources of Godly Play, Holy Moly, and Messy Church:

An Example of our Approach:

In 2015, one of our kids mused, “I wonder if Jesus was a superhero?”

We spent six weeks exploring this question by learning some of the miracle stories in the Christian Scriptures. We had discussions about what did and did not make Jesus look like a superhero and voted: “Yes, No, Unsure.” By the end of the six weeks we knew the stories, had held excellent conversations, shared opinions, voted numerous times and we were no closer to answering the question than when we started.

But we had a lot of fun along the way!

Youth Opportunities

Hangout | Be yourself | Explore your faith

We also have some leadership opportunities for youth. We host a monthly board games night, seasonal activities and events, and we support our children and youth to attend regional retreats and gatherings with other children and youth from around the province.

Kiva Investment

KIVA.org is a non-profit with a mission to connect people through lending small amounts to small businesses which collectively allow for financial success. This is all with a view to alleviate poverty. People can loan as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world. Mount Seymour United Children and Youth have had a Kiva.org account since 2008. First started by a $100 donation from our 2008 Youth Leaders, we have made 21 loans to people in 15 different countries around the world totaling more than $550. We’ve helped bring clean water to schools, repair war-torn homes and improve sanitation. As loans are repaid we have the opportunity to re-lend them money to those in need. View Our Lender Page & Make a Donation

Baptism

The United Church offers baptism to people of all ages. Baptism is a symbolic and public act to signify a desire to follow the way of Jesus, to belong to a church community and to acknowledge the unconditional love of God in which we have been created. Baptism is the single rite of initiation into the Christian community, although people do not have to be baptized to participate in our community. Water is used to represent the new life received when one engages in an intentional spiritual journey. As part of a baptism service, the parents of children being baptized or adults coming to be baptized, are asked to commit to a life of Christian faith. Our congregation pledges support for those being baptized. Baptisms are scheduled during Sunday morning worship in consultation with Rev. Nancy Talbot. To prepare for these commitments, those seeking baptism at Mount Seymour United Church (for their children or for themselves as adults), are requested to participate in baptism preparation. Please contact our minister Rev. Nancy Talbot at 604-929-4114 for further information regarding these sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are my children welcome to be? Everywhere! They are especially encouraged to be with you in worship and in our Children’s Space – a quiet place next to the organ in the sanctuary with pillows, books, paper and markers, quiet activities where children are welcome to spend time during worship services. (adult supervision required). And of course they are welcome to attend Children’s Church.
Where are my children welcome to be? Everywhere! They are especially encouraged to be with you in worship and in our Children’s Space – a quiet place next to the organ in the sanctuary with pillows, books, paper and markers, quiet activities where children are welcome to spend time during worship services. (adult supervision required). And of course they are welcome to attend Children’s Church.

Programming for children ages 5 and up during worship services, outside of the sanctuary. Children 5 and under are welcome to join us if they bring an adult with them.

15 – 20 minutes into the service children will have “Gathering Time” with the Minister and then be invited to go out with the leaders to their CC programming.

Our leaders are volunteers; parents, grandparents and congregation members. Yes, you can volunteer too!

Have fun! And along the way learn stories from the Bible though drama, videos, games, activities and crafts. They will also learn to ask questions, be curious and wonder about their own personal beliefs. They will explore how the stories from the Bible relate to their lives today and find ways to live into their faith.

We love the energy of young people and we know sometimes kids are full of beans and sometimes kids feel like they’ve been ‘dragged’ to church. With this in mind we expect kids to be kids and accept them however they arrive.
For our leaders and other children to get the most out of CC we created a covenant of behaviour that we all strive to follow in CC. (see below) If children are unable or unwilling to follow our covenant they are requested to return to worship and sit with their adults.

Contact Anne Ellis, Mount Seymour’s Children, Youth and Family Minister – annemountseymour@gmail.com,