FAMILIES

AT GRACE

CHURCH

Whether you are single, a couple, or have children, you are very welcome at Grace Church, and we want to encourage you as you seek to work out your faith in your own context. Recognizing the unique pressures family life can bring, we have a particular concern to support marriages as well as those whose marriages have broken down or who are parenting alone. We also understand that many considering Christianity are not in a traditional family setup, and we want them to feel very welcome too.

We are aware that being a Christian is likely to be harder for the next generation than it is for us. So we have a strong vision to equip our children and young people to live wholeheartedly for Jesus as they grow up. Because we have a good number in our kids groups, newcomers tend to settle quickly with us, even if church is new to them. And we seek to include our children and young people in all we do as a church, so that they can learn from the example of older Christians, appreciate what it means to belong to a church, and feel just as much a part of the family.

Our Sunday Gathering

Our meeting (service) begins at 4.00pm, with refreshments being served from 3.45pm. It ends around 5.30pm when we have more refreshments.

We want to help those of secondary school age make their faith their own and be fully prepared to continue with Christ when they leave home. Children from year 7/8 and on therefore remain throughout the meeting, and we ensure that the songs, prayers and talk engage this group as well as those of us who are older.

Pre-schoolers and Children from reception to year 2 leave after the first section of the service, and enjoy having tea together after their groups finish.

Years 3-6/7 stay in a little longer so that they learn to acclimatize to church, leaving before the sermon.

All are finished by around 5.30pm, when the service finishes.

Of course, we are more than happy if parents wish to keep their children in with them, and want no-one to stay away because they are worried about their child being disruptive.

During August the children watch an appropriate DVD instead of doing kids@4, and there is no tea.