CHILDREN & FAMILIES
"Sunday school" takes many forms--and doesn't just happen on Sundays! At Grace, we integrate the needs of children into our planning for worship, mission, intergenerational activities, and more. We know that faith is "caught not taught" and we grow in faith not only by learning the key teachings of the faith but also by participating in all the work of the church. Parents and families are invited to participate and grow together with their children in many of our programs!
Sunday Morning Classes
About 20 minutes into our 10:30 am worship service, children ages 3 through 4th grade are invited to join age-appropriate classes during the sermon.
Play 'n' Worship is for preschool children and involves a Bible stories, crafts & other creative responses, and plenty of play. Play 'n' Worship meets year round, with a break during the month of August. Pick up your child downstairs in the toddler nursery, after the service.
Bridges to Worship is for K-4th graders and uses the Godly Play curriculum to engage children in worship, wonder, and storytelling. Pick up your child downstairs in room 14 after the service.
Family Faith Formation
Family Faith Formation is a program for preschool through 6th graders and their families. It meets on Sundays right after church about quarterly during the school year. Program includes a simple lunch followed by interactive lessons and activities on key topics of faith.
Past themes have included: Reading the Bible with Wonder & Joy, Advent Festival, Walk-Through of Holy Week, and Sanctuary Scavenger Hunt. The purpose of Family Faith Formation is to provide extra enrichment for families on key topics and themes of faith -- beyond what is taught in the weekly classes!
Grace Rising
Grace Rising is a group for children in 4th- 6th grades. Kids talk about faith and life, while also growing in friendship and community together. This program meets monthly as a part of our youth group.
We believe this age grows in faith and friendship through hands-on activities, so we often do service projects as part of our learning together!
Parents' Friday Fellowship
Grace parents of young children are invited to join at the Rosses' home to grow in faith and deepen in relationship while the kids play. We start with a simple potluck at 6:00 pm, then send the kids to the playroom with childcare, while adults have discussion upstairs. This fall's discussion topic will be familiar Bible stories, and we'll reflect together on the tough questions they bring up for us and for our kids. In 24-25, we studied Woven: Nurturing a Faith Your Kid Doesn't Have to Heal From and read through the fascinating biblical book of Galatians together.
Current session runs every other Friday evening, 6:00 to 7:45 pm, Sep 12 through Nov 21.
Service and Mission
Our service opportunities at Grace are often formed with an eye towards including children and families. Cultivating an awareness of the needs and gifts of our community is important from an early age. We welcome and invite children of all ages to participate in Help the Homeless, Flash Mob Backpack Builds, CROP Walk, DC Pride Parade, and more. Teens have opportunity to attend mission trips regionally and abroad.
Seasonal and Outreach Events
Advent and Lent choir/drama opportunities- To keep things manageable for busy lives, the children's choir meets after worship for about 4 weeks in fall and spring.
Vacation Bible School - In recent years, Grace has partnered with other churches for Vacation Bible School and hosted intergenerational summer evenings with a VBS-vibe! Our "Welcome Table" dinners invite all ages to eat together, act out Bible stories, sing, and respond to a theme. We have also partnered with local churches to offer a joint Vacation Bible School program.
Easter Eggstravaganza - An egg hunt held the Saturday before Easter, with breakfast, crafts, and the Easter story.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Races- As we enter the holy season of Lent, we don't just eat pancakes--we race with them. This is always a family favorite.
Advent Festival - Festive dinner, crafts, and story time held early in December.
All offerings for children and youth follow our Child Protection Policy; all staff and volunteers have been background checked.
