Children's Worship

Here at St Matthew’s Church we’re excited to see so many families with young children attending our 9.30am Sung Mass on Sundays. Once a month, usually the first Sunday of each month, a Mass For All Ages is held. On other Sundays (during term-time only) children age 3 and over are invited to join Children's Worship held in the church hall. We ask that you bring your child/ren to the hall by 9.30am where they will be welcomed and taken to the circle. The children will return to church with their leaders and helpers for Holy Communion. The nursery at the back of church is available for parents with babies and children under 3 where craft activities will be available to share with your children.

Children's Worship at St Matthew's is based on Godly Play – an exciting approach to learning about God and Jesus through interactive storytelling in which the leaders have received training. The emphasis will not be on facts but on giving the children an opportunity to wonder and to respond creatively to the presence of God in their lives.

The sessions use the following format - spread over two weeks - that is not dissimilar to that of a church service, but at a level appropriate for children:

The sessions are led by regular leaders, assisted by helpers who have all been CRB checked.

There will be separate times built in for the younger and older children to respond and reflect, taking into account differing concentration levels. Please do not worry if your child/ren miss the storytelling session as we will be retelling the story in a shorter form at the start of the craft session.