CHILDREN’S FORMATION
Children learn about God, and who God created them to be, through play, worship, mentors, and community. Our programming for children reflects this reality.
Godly Play
3k-5k meets upstairs in the new building, Sundays during the school year 9:30 am-11 am
1st-4th grade meets upstairs in Rose Community building, Sundays during the school year 9:30-10:20 am
This Montessori-based approach to Christian formation invites children to wonder together in a safe, nurturing community.
Each week, teachers present a sacred story, a parable, or a story about the liturgical life of the church. The children then have a chance to choose their work for the day – drawing, building, playing with the stories themselves. Katie Jones leads a team of teachers that includes Kim Lawes, Kathy Whicker, Cindy Wilson, Julia Harris, and Lucy Jones.
For our littlest children, Godly Play overlaps with the 10:30 worship service. At 11 am, kids can be picked up outside the Godly Play room or they will be brought into the church to join you for the remainder of worship. For 1st-4th graders, Godly Play ends at 10:20 am so that children can join their parents for worship or serve as acolytes.
Nursery
A child's first experience of the church may be in a nursery, held by a loving caregiver while parents enjoy worship. Nativity's nursery is open from 7:30 am-11:30 am every Sunday morning for infants through first graders. Parents and grandparents typically retrieve their children just before communion so that they can taste a bit of worship without having to sit still too long!
Junior High Sunday School
Grades 5 – 8
Meets upstairs in the new building Sundays during the school year 9:30-10:20am
Godly Play lays a solid foundation of biblical stories and the worship and traditions of the Episcopal Church for our children. As they grow older, other types of formation offer them opportunities to reflect more deeply on the meaning of those stories and traditions for their own lives. Since January 2020, Nativity has used the Episcopal Church Curriculum, created at the Center for the Ministry of Teaching at the Virginia Theological Seminary to guide this ongoing formation. Our dedicated teachers are led by Sloane Fair and Katie Dale.
EPISCOPAL YOUTH COMMUNITY and WEE-YC
Sunday Night Youth Group is open to all kids from 6th through 12th grades. Led by the Cam Abel, these gatherings typically begin with dinner at 5 pm and at 5:30 shifts into programming that ranges from silliness to outreach to Bible study to prayer, and often all four! This gathering of youth helps to put on the annual Nativity pageant, Halloween carnival, Easter egg hunt, and Vacation Bible School. They often spend a week together in mission, having slept and worked in New Orleans and Sunflower County.
In addition, occasional Wee-YC gatherings are planned to provide fun and fellowship for children ages 1-12 and their parents. These might take the form of an Easter Egg Hunt, the annual Christmas Pageant, a picnic in the park, or a movie night. And in the summer, we also encourage our kids to be part of the summer camping program at Camp Bratton-Green, the Episcopal Church in Mississippi’s camp located just north of Canton as well as other youth offerings of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi across the state.
ACOLYTES
Acolytes participate in Sunday worship by helping prepare the altar for Holy Communion and by carrying the processional cross, candles, a book containing the gospels. Beginning in the 4th grade and continuing through senior high school, all are invited to serve in this role. Serving in worship is a way to learn more about how the church prays together and the traditions and symbols that link us back to Christians who have been praying the same way for centuries. To be an acolyte students must participate in a yearly training session with the Rector or Verger.
Vacation Bible School
For children entering 4k-5th grades
Each summer, Nativity transforms into a hub of joyful noise and discovery for our annual Vacation Bible School. This beloved 3-day program invites children ages 4-11 to dive deep into the stories of our faith through interactive Bible lessons, creative crafts, high-energy games, and spirited music. VBS is a highlight of our year, a time when the church is alive with the sound of children learning, singing, and growing together in community.
Rooted in our mission to be a place where all are welcome to worship, love, belong, grow, and serve, VBS offers children a chance to encounter God's love in a fun, engaging environment. Each day centers on a different Bible story and theme, helping kids connect ancient truths to their own lives. From calming storms to sharing love, our campers explore what it means to follow Jesus.
Teens in 6th grade and older are invited to serve as volunteers, gaining leadership experience and service hours while mentoring younger children. VBS is a true all-church effort, made possible by a dedicated team of volunteers who pour their hearts into making it a memorable week for everyone.
Stay tuned for next summer's theme! We're already planning another unforgettable adventure! For more information about VBS or to get involved, contact Madeline Kirk at (901) 412-2551 or via email: mhkirk19@gmail.com.