a place where families meet

Sunday School
At 9:15 am children and teachers gather upstairs in the Children’s Chapel to sing, light a candle and pray a beginning prayer together.  After the children’s ritual, kids go to their Sunday School classes.

Pre-school through kindergarten go to Godly Play, which teaches Bible Stories through Montessori-based interactive storytelling.

1st through 5th grade  use a multiage curriculum, Seasons of the Spirit. This lectionary-based curriculum explores meaning and mystery in the Bible through the arts.  Activities during Sunday School help children understand important Christian holidays such as Christmas, Palm Sunday, Easter and Pentecost.

At  approximately 10:25 am children join their parents in the sanctuary for communion staying until the end of the service.

Nursery/child care
St. Barnabas has a Nursery staffed by a professional child care person.  Child care is available during the 9:30 am service, adult forum and at major parish events.

POYC (Parents of Young Children): 
Parents in this group give support and encouragement to one another as well as providing a faith community for children birth to age five.  Families gather every 4 to six weeks to eat together, to share experiences, participate in a program.  Older siblings are always welcome.   Each family with a newborn receives a visit, meals when helpful, and a hand knit sweater and hat (plus a gift for any siblings). 

Special Events

In December, Sunday school children and youth participate in a Christmas Pageant presented during the 9:30 am Sunday morning worship service.

Once a year, St. Barnabas celebrates the National Children’s Sabbath and participates in a service project congruent with the National Children’s Defense Fund’s theme: Leave no child behind. Together Sunday school children, youth and the congregation work to complete this service project. 

Family Advent Potluck and Lenten Workshop for Families
Help children understand these important times in the Christian of year through crafts, story and song.  Parents and children focus on activities which call for mutual involvement.  In each event, families receive a booklet of ideas for activities at home.

Easter Egg Hunt
The Annual Easter Egg Hunt is held on Easter Sunday after the 9:30 am service at the church. 

Arts/Music Camp occurs for a week during the summer.  Children need have no musical experience to join the camp.  It is open to any child in the church or community who has completed in 1st through 4th grade.  Singing, movement, art/crafts, rhythm instruments and interactive Bible stories bring joy and understanding to each child.  The Sunday following the camp, children share part of what they learned during the 9:30 am service.