As many of you know, St Margaret’s are not in our church at the moment due to a new heating system being installed and the renovations.
This Sunday 30th we will be joining with our sister church of St Giles’ for Sian’s First Eucharist as priest. Then from the 21st July we will move from Phil & Jim School to St Giles’ for the summer months. We just wanted to let you know some of what you can expect when you join with us at St Giles’.
St Giles’ is a Norman church with lots of exciting history for younger children, including some graffiti from crusader knights! Just ask Mary or Paul (the Church Wardens) to show you. It has several different choirs, and so you might see friends there at different times. They have a volunteer Children’s Worker called Sarah-Jane. Sarah-Jane is a great favourite with so many little ones and has lots of great things to encourage our younger members of church.
In St Giles’, you and your family will find a warm welcome with a dedicated children’s “Play and Pray” area (see below). Here your child will be able to sit and enjoy Bible stories and crafts, as well as playing with toys. There are plenty of pews next to this area so that you can sit nearby. This means that you and your family have a good view of what is happening at the front and can watch when the priest gets the communion table ready. Children are always more likely to engage when they can see everything clearly.
At St Giles’ every week, Sarah-Jane prepares activity packs to reflect that Sunday’s lectionary Bible reading. These packs have everything you need in them to do the activities so can either be used at the “Pray and Play” table or back in your pew space. Don’t forget to show them to everyone at the end of the service though!
There is an accesible toilet with baby change. Refreshments are served at the end of the service just like St Margaret’s!
There are also Bible story books to read and the “My Communion” books to help you follow the service.