St. Cross Church ​Clayton, Manchester
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October 2018

A message from Fr. Chris about the importance of children in our church life and our Child Friendly Church Award...

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Over the past year and a half, we at St Cross have placed great store by the place of our children and children’s ministry within the life of the church. The past year has seen the advent of a number of initiatives for children: the setting up of Sunday School (‘Little Stars’); a choir; the involvement of children in the planning and leading of All Age Worship; the creation of a small borrowing library for children; the design and purchase of pew bags for very young children and the introduction of a monthly family dinner and film night.  

In light of this our Children’s Ministry Leader, Joanne Owens, decided to apply for the Child Friendly Church Award Scheme (CFCA), not just to celebrate our achievements but also to help us identify how we might continue to support and develop our ministry to children and families over the coming months and years. The CFCA is by no means the end.  It is part of a continuing journey as we as church think about what it means to encourage and enable each other as co-worshippers and disciples, developing gifts, no matter our age.

On August 1st  2018, Joanne Owens and I were visited by Karen Beal, the Diocesan Children’s Work Officer.  After a long conversation and assessment of all we are doing at St Cross for children and young people, Karen was satisfied that we had met the threshold for the status of Child Friendly Church to be awarded. The award lasts for a period of three years. By having achieved this award, St Cross church is now recognised by both the Diocese and our local community for the welcome and provision that we offer to children and their families. On Sunday September 30th Karen Beal joined our ‘Worship For Everyone’ and she presented us with the award - a dated certificate as well as logos for display in our building and an electronic version for our website and letterheads, etc.
 
​
Here is a short summary of Karen’s observations of our ministry with children along with suggestions for on-going development and some action points.
 
“St Cross is obviously a church which has sought and continues to seek, ways to offer children opportunities to develop their own discipleship and to develop the involvement of children and young people in various aspect of the life of the church. It has been a privilege to see how this journey has developed so far in a hospitable and welcoming community where children can embark upon and continue their journey of faith. There have been many areas of innovation such as the establishment of Little Stars, involvement with the school and potential for a parenting course and an after-school club. You have a clear vision for children’s ministry and evidence of children’s activities are clearly represented around the church building. You have taken care to follow appropriate safeguarding policies and procedures. You seek ways to include children as co-worshippers in services and I particularly enjoyed seeing some of the resources to go into the new pew bags.
 
Some points to consider as areas of development;

  • Seeking out individuals who will regularly pray for the children and leaders; developing a regular commissioning of leaders
  • Considering how children and their leaders’ gifts might be more involved in leading worship
  • Seeking more input from children’s leaders and children/young people about services when everyone is altogether
  • Consider succession planning in children’s ministry roles
  • Developing an area for nursing mothers
 
Some action points are;

  • To ensure an accident book is placed with the First Aid kit
  • To ensure a First Aid kit is taken on trips
  • To develop an under-fives area within the main body of the church
  • To consider adopting a policy of Admission to Communion Before Confirmation
  • Develop and equip a designated area for baby changing
 
It just so happens that in the Gospel Reading for this coming Sunday (Oct. 7th 2018) from Mark 10 Jesus says “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” What a powerful and timely reminder of the importance that Jesus places on children and the priority for us, His church, to do all that we can to be places of welcome, learning and worship for children.

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© COPYRIGHT ST. CROSS PARISH CHURCH, CLAYTON, MANCHESTER 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Services
    • Pet Blessing Service
    • Worship for Everyone
  • Events
    • Christmas Fair
    • Advent Santa Sack Foodbank Appeal
    • Christmas Tree Fesitival
    • Past Events >
      • Coffee Morning
      • Spring Craft Market
      • Mothering Sunday
      • Bach's St. John's Passion
      • Lent, Holy Week & Easter 2019 >
        • Lenten Stations of the Cross
        • Easter Egg Tombola
        • Holy Week & Easter Services Explained
        • Palm Sunday
        • Maundy Thursday
        • Good Friday Liturgy
        • Easter Vigil
        • Easter Day
      • Songs for Summer Concert
      • Summer Fair
      • Harvest Festival
      • Parish International Day
      • Christmas Craft Market
      • 2018 >
        • Mothering Sunday 2018
        • Holy Week & Easter 2018 >
          • Holy Week & Easter Services Explained
          • Lent Course
          • Palm Sunday
          • Stations of the Cross
          • Maundy Thursday
          • Children's Service
          • Good Friday Liturgy
          • Easter Vigil
          • Easter Day
        • Summer Fair 2018
        • Heritage Weekend
        • Harvest Festival
        • Child Friendly Church Award Presentation & Little Stars' 1st Birthday
        • Pet Blessing Service
        • Shoebox Appeal
        • Christmas Craft Market
        • Remembrance Sunday 2018
        • Christmas at St. Cross 2018 >
          • Advent Santa Sack Foodbank Appeal
          • Christmas Fair
          • Advent Course
          • Deanery Christmas Tea Dance
          • Christingle Service
          • 9 Lessons & Carols
          • Crib Service
          • Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Eucharists
      • 2017 >
        • Women's World Day of Prayer 2017
        • Spring Coffee Morning 2017
        • Thy Kingdom Come Prayerwalk
        • Summer Fair
        • Heritage Weekend
        • Renaissance in Concert
        • Confirmation Service
        • Pet Blessing Service
        • Remembrance Sunday 2017
        • Christmas at St. Cross >
          • Christmas Fair
          • Advent Santa Sack Foodbank Appeal
          • Advent Course
          • Deanery Christmas Tea Dance
          • Christingle service
          • 9 Lessons & Carols
          • Crib Service
          • Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Eucharists
      • 2016 >
        • Easter 2016
        • Harvest Festival Appeal 2016
        • Remembrance Sunday 2016
        • Christmas Fair 2016
      • 150th Year Celebrations >
        • 150th Year Memorabilia
  • Rector's Reflections
    • 2019 >
      • Reflections on Holy Week & Easter
      • Lenten Reflections
    • 2018 >
      • Christmas Reflections
      • Reflections on our Child Friendly Church Award and Children in Church Life
      • Reflections at Pentecost
      • Holy Week & Easter Reflections
      • Lent Reflections
      • Reflections at Epiphany
    • 2017 >
      • Christmas Reflections
      • Reflections on Advent
      • Taking Care of God's Vineyard >
        • The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
      • Introducing MAP through Romans
      • 'Growing Our Mission'
      • 'Ordinary Time' Pt. 2
      • 'Ordinary Time'
      • Eastertide
      • Holy Week & Easter
  • Baptisms & Marriages
  • Room Hire
  • Community
    • Community News
    • Foodbank
    • St. Cross Singers
    • St. Cross Little Stars Sunday School
    • Deanery Dancing Lessons
    • Friday Film Nights >
      • Film Nights 2018
    • Bible Study Group
    • Links >
      • Neighbouring Churches >
        • Ardwick Deanery Churches
        • Churches Nearby - CofE
        • Nearby Churches - Other Denominations
      • Nearby Community Organisations
    • Church Centre Activities
    • Plans to re-open Barrington Street Community Centre
    • Manchester Arena Attack >
      • Prayers for Manchester
      • Messages from the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester and Fr. Chris
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteering
    • Fundraising >
      • 150th Year Memorabilia
  • Donate
  • Mission Action Planning
    • Preliminary Stage >
      • Preliminary Stage: Part 1 >
        • Part 1: Review
    • Stage 1: Review >
      • Stage 1: Parts 2-6
    • Stage 2: Create a Vision and Prioritse >
      • Stage 2: Part 7
    • Stage 3: Plan >
      • Stage 3: Part 8
    • Stage 4: Do
    • Our MAP
  • Blog
  • About
    • Tour St. Cross >
      • Jigsaws of St. Cross
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