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Children and young people at St Philip & St James', Leckhampton, Cheltenham Children are a vital part of the life of any community and the church is no exception. In fact Jesus scolded those who thought that children should be seen and not heard. Our spiritual journey begins as life begins and one of our delights at the church is baptising babies as an expression of God's unconditional love for them as they start out on life's journey (although, for those who weren't baptised as babies, it's never too late!) At St Philip and St James', we recognise that our spiritual needs change during our lives - for example, coming to church at 8am for a service from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer may not be every 5 year-old's cup of tea - and it can be hard for a little one to concentrate through the whole of a 10am service. We have, therefore, a range of activities to help people of different ages explore their spiritual journey. You will find a warm welcome at all of these services and groups. J.A.M. (Jesus and Me): Children's groups during the 10am service All children are invited to join J.A.M., which is held in Church House on the second, third and fourth Sundays each month. The groups meet at 10am, starting and ending in church. Scramblers (aged 2.5 - 5)
The groups include a mixture of discussions, activities and stories - based on the same Bible readings that the adults are using in church that week. The fourth Sunday of each month is a 'special Sunday' with all the age groups joining together for craft and music sessions. For the craft sessions, please bring an overall or old T-shirt. For the music sessions, bring along any instruments that you play. Family Services on the first Sunday of each month at 10am We use the name "Family Service" to mean the Church family (of every age and stage), because on these occasions children do not go to their separate groups, but stay in the church for the whole service. The service lasts about an hour and has hymns, prayers and a talk appropriate for children, together with the eucharist. The music group accompany some of the hymns and the atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed. Baptisms are held regularly on the first Sunday of the month. If you are interested in booking a baptism or would like more information contact the Parish Office. On the fifth Sunday of any month, we have an all-age 'commentary communion' service, which looks at different aspects of the eucharist in a way that everyone can understand. Children's area in church There is a children's area, with toys and activities, at the front of the church on the left hand side. This is for younger children and those who would prefer to remain in the service rather than going to groups. Please do not worry if your child needs to move around or makes a noise during the service. However, if you feel a baby or toddler needs a 'change of scene', the vestry (at the back of the church) is available during the service for you to use. During the week The toddler group is for pre-school children and their parents / carers, which meets on a Friday morning from 10 to 11.30am in Church House. There are toys, activities and song time, plus refreshments. The group costs 50p per session and is open to all. There is no need to pre-book. First Friday Group is for school years 6 and over. It meets between 7 and 9pm on the first Friday in the month (during term time) in Church House. There are discussions, activities and the chance to just hang out. Church House, our church hall, is available to hire for birthday parties, special events, or regular weekly bookings. Contact the Parish Office for more details. Services - Music - Access for all - Children - Baptisms - Banns and weddings - Not just services - Contact us - Where to find us - History and buildings - Links - Home page Last updated on 7 January 2008.
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