Family Ministries

Childcare is provided during worship and select special events. On Sunday mornings, childcare is available from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for those attending the 9:15 and 9:30 a.m. services. During the summer the hours change to 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Drop off and pick up is in the Childcare Nursery (Chapel building, lower level), where you will receive a beeper in the case you need to be reached.

Join us Sunday mornings as we make meaning through story, wonder, and play! Snacks and drinks are provided at the start of class.

Godly Play is a Montessori-inspired Christian formation program that invites children to explore their faith through story, wonder, and play. Through engaging storytelling, hands-on materials, and time for reflection, children are encouraged to experience God’s presence and grow in their relationship with God.

Godly Play recognizes that children are not “empty vessels” waiting to be filled with facts about God. Rather, they are already deeply spiritual beings with an innate sense of God’s presence. The program provides the stories, language, and space for children to express their faith, ask meaningful questions, and discover God’s love in their lives.

Through storytelling, wondering together, creative response, and community, Godly Play nurtures children’s spiritual growth while honoring the Episcopal tradition of engaging Scripture with curiosity, reverence, and imagination.

Godly Play was developed by Jerome W. Berryman, an Episcopal priest and educator, so it has deep roots in the Episcopal Church while being used across many Christian traditions.

(Godly Play Room is on the lower level of the Chapel building, now in the room at the base of the stairs from the reception area.)

This program year we kick off Christian Formation with Jonah and the Minors. Story Makers will get to know the minor prophets of the Old Testament. Sometimes the most important messages are short and sweet, like “I love you!” and “You are the best!” The Minors might have said less than the “major prophets,” but their messages are just as important. One of them is a grumpy guy named Jonah, who is famous for being swallowed by a whale! The Jonah and the Minors Zine (short for magazine) will dive deeper into the rest of his story. Story Makers will also discover what Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi had to say. God’s judgment and mercy show up in surprising ways, from whales to worms. God is always there for the people, wanting to make things right. Even when things get tough, the Minors are full of hope! Snacks and drinks are provided at the start of class.
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Christian Formation Outreach Update
We’re excited to share that our Christian formation classes will continue their commitment to serving others by participating in monthly outreach projects throughout the program year. We look forward to growing in faith, sharing God’s love, and making a positive difference in our community—one project at a time. Thank you for your continued support and participation!

(The classroom is on the lower level of the Chapel building.)

More about StoryMakers:

StoryMakers NYC’s approach is one of grace. “Before you were born, I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5). In this verse, we hear God’s love for us before we even existed. This frees us to explore God’s story without the expectation that God simply desires excellence from creation. Instead, we trust that his true desire is for a relationship that is rooted in his redemptive actions toward us. From this place of being loved by God first comes forth our desire to tell God’s story to everyone. We believe God speaks to us through Scripture. He has spoken to us through the experience of real people and God’s intervention in history.

StoryMakers NYC breathes new life into the old stories. The Bible is beautifully written, and peppered with drama, rebellion, and real humanity. Scripture does not shy away from the human experience or humanity’s deep need for divine intervention. Our mission is for kids to connect to God’s story through play, art, and social-emotional connectors. Our desire is for kids to know they are loved, forgiven, and a part of God’s story.

The imagination is a unique entry point to the ancient, living, and ultimate story found in the Bible. StoryMakers NYC creates content that meets kids where they actually are and shows them how their own life stories are woven into God’s redemptive narrative.

The Adult & Youth Forum, running Sundays from September through May, offers engaging dialogue and interactive teaching. Grapple with challenging faith topics and come away with a better understanding of Christian theology, your own spirituality, and how to be a follower of Jesus in the modern world. All adults and youth (middle and high school), both experienced Christians and newcomers, are welcome. Find the schedule of forum topics. (Harrison Room is on the main level of the Chapel building.)

During our 9:15 a.m. chapel service, children in 5th grade and younger are invited to participate in Children’s Sermon experience. This time together includes singing, a child-friendly lesson based on the lectionary readings, and opportunities for children to explore their faith in a welcoming and engaging environment.

The children gather on carpet squares in front of a small altar, creating a space that feels both sacred and accessible. Following the lesson, children return to the worship service during the Peace, where they reunite with their parents and guardians.

The children’s sermon is held in the Choir Room, located on the lower level of the Chapel building.

Do the big questions in life leave you scratching your head? Do you ever wonder about Jesus, the Bible, Prayer, Church, and more? Then confirmation is for you! This is a time for students to discuss and question what this whole Jesus thing is really about!

Confirmation for youth is a half-year process of self-discovery and affirming of faith through interactive scripture engagement, mentorship, service, and relationship building. Open to students in Grade 8 and above. (The Harrison Room is on the first floor/main level of the Chapel building).

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