Children and Youth

On Sunday morning, we gather as one community to worship. This is a joy-filled time where new and old friends meet and prepare for the service. We are blessed to hear the eager sounds of all ages in the sanctuary as we await the beginning of worship.

Youth-led services

Sprinkled throughout the year, our church is blessed to have our children and youth share their gifts in leading worship. Over the years, they have shared photo diaries, offered prayers, taught us a song, read scripture, acted out a drama, and led congregational singing. These services are eagerly-anticipated events offering God’s message to all who gather.

Time for the Young @ Heart

Most Sundays, children and youth depart for classes during the early part of the worship gathering. Before they leave, the minister, a congregation member or special guest invites the children to come to the front of the church for a faith conversation time called “The Time for the Young @ Heart”. This section of the worship celebrates the questions and wonderings of the children and seeks to provide an opportunity for them to have special attention in the service. This time closes with an echoing prayer in which the entire congregation participates. Finally, the children, youth and teachers proceed to their classes during the Children’s Hymn. Parents and guardians are welcomed to come down with the child during their first few classes to help them meet new friends and teachers.

Youth (Grades 7 – 12)

Deer Lake is blessed with a youth group rich in spirit, energy and creativity.

• On Sunday mornings, our youth gather in the youth room for classes. Classes are designed with input from the youth and have included spiritual discussions on poverty, the environment, and movies. 
• The Kidz’ Band is a group of musicians that offers gospel jazz-inspired music to the service on special Sundays. This group has grown to over 10 members under the energetic leadership of Don Wade. 
• Youth group outings are offered as safe and supervised opportunities to have fun and learn more about the community. Events have included tubing at Mt. Seymour, providing food for the needy at First United Mission in the downtown Eastside, and a sushi-making night with the minister.)

Children (Babies & Toddlers, Kindergarten – Grade 2, Grades 3– 6)

Our children’s ministry is passionately committed to providing a safe and supportive place for the children who attend. All personnel who connect with the children are passionate about the children and youth ministry and have an up-to-date criminal record check.

• Children’s Bulletins and Pew Packs are provided upon arrival for the children. Age-appropriate bulletins include connect the dots, word search puzzles and the like that are based around the theme of the service. These help focus our high energy participants on the theme of the day.
• The nursery is a staffed space that receives an audio broadcast of the service. Some parents drop their children off during the service while others prefer to enjoy the service from the nursery.
• We have two Sunday School groups: Kindergarten - Grade 2, and Grade 3 - Grade 6. The classes focus on the same readings as the adults in the sanctuary (we are lectionary-based), enabling the children and adults to discuss that Sunday morning's topic later in the day and week. We are pleased to use the Seasons of the Spirit curriculum (www.spiritseasons.com)

On Sundays when Holy Communion is celebrated, the children and youth return to the sanctuary in order that they might be able to receive this sacrament as the families so choose.

Kitchen Table Conversations

Kitchen Table Conversations are made available to allow children, youth and adults to continue the spiritual conversations that began on Sunday morning. Two or three questions are made available along with a copy of the minister’s reflection for people to take home and continue exploring their spiritual questions at home. A recent example is below that came from a Sunday focusing on “hope” a few weeks prior to Christmas:

• What does hope mean to you? What does hope mean in the Christian faith? Are there any differences?
• What are some of the areas of sadness that lie in your heart as we approach the Christmas season?
• What are some of your expectations of what Christmas will bring?