For children (<11)

Clubs, crafts and activities... for the youngest members of St John’s.

• Sunday mornings: Crèche, Scramblers, Starters, Followers
• Midweek clubs: Mini Mischief, Awesome!
• Holiday Clubs
• Nativity Play

We run several clubs for children and teenagers here at St John’s, on Sundays and during the week. All of them are free of charge and new children are always welcome. For details about these clubs or any of the children’s work at St John’s, please contact the church office.

Sunday Mornings

On Sunday mornings the children join with the adults for the beginning of our service. We want to welcome them as part of the church family here at St John’s and there is a short children’s talk which takes place while we are all together. The children are then invited to one of our children’s clubs which meet downstairs, though they are always very welcome to remain upstairs with their parents.

Crèche 

We run a crèche throughout the year during the morning service for children aged 0-3. We hope to allow adults with very young children to join with the morning service without distraction, but we also aim to have a short slot each week with a Bible story and songs for the two year old children during the hour they are in the crèche. Most of those who run our crèche are mothers of young children and the crèche leaders are all CRB checked.

Scramblers

Pre-schoolers aged 3 and 4 make up our Scrambler group. Basic bible truths are taught through stories from the Old and New Testament as well as through songs and games. Each week the Scramblers make a craft that helps them to remember the story they have heard. We are a lively, friendly group that welcomes all newcomers.

Starters

Starters is our group for children aged 4-7 (Reception to Year 2). We hear from the same Bible passages as the adults to allow families to be learning together and talk through what they have been hearing about. We sing together, have time for a game and some squash, and are a happy group that is excited by God’s good news for all people. 

Followers

Children aged 7-11 (School Years 3-6) form our Followers group. We sometimes have some teaching together with the Starters but usually our group is separate, though we also hear from the same Bible passages as the adults. We aim to think through what we hear and see how what God says in the Bible can change our lives. We often bring friends and welcome youngsters who don’t know much about Jesus and just want to join in our games and listen in to our discussions. We believe God is a God of love who answers prayers so we aim to pray for each other during our time together and in these ways Followers is a group where firm friendships are formed!

Midweek clubs

Mini Mischief

Calling all mums, dads, nannys, au pairs, babies and toddlers! Do join us on Thursday mornings, from 10am until 11.30am, in the Undercroft of St John’s. Come and enjoy a relaxed environment with other carers, coffee, snacks, singing and play! There will also be an optional course running at some point during the term to discover what Christians believe. Suggested donation of £1 a session.

Awesome!

Awesome! is a club for children in School Years 4, 5 and 6. We meet on Fridays during term time from 4.00-5.30pm with the aim of delighting in and discovering more about our awesome God. There are drinks, snacks, games and various activities centring on exciting episodes from the Bible. Once a term we have a theme night, where we find out lots about another country, have food and play games from that country, and hear how we can pray for the people who live there. Recently we have enjoyed “An African Experience”, “Australia Night” and “An Indian Extravaganza”!

Autumn Term dates : 13th January to 23rd March (Half term break; not meeting 10th and 17th February).

Holiday Clubs

Once a year we run a holiday club for all children aged 4-11. This is usually an extravaganza of themed songs, crafts and games centring on magnificent Bible truths. In previous years we have had holiday clubs set in the Roman times, in space, in Jerusalem, and at the Royal Wedding. We plan to run our next Holiday Club in 2012: 2-5 April! These clubs are very popular so please do register your child in advance if possible.

Nativity Service

We have a Nativity service in December that is very popular. In 2011 this is set to be on Sunday December 4th so do put the date in your diaries!

 

 

 

We take issues of child protection very seriously; as such, all our clubs are overseen by people who have been CRB checked. To see a copy of our child protection policy, please contact the church office.