Children’s Ministry at the Cathedral is centered on the belief that children are a vital part of the church. We believe that each child should feel known and loved and that God’s love is revealed through the relationships we experience in our faith community.
Children’s Formation on Sundays
Nursery care is provided for infants through age 4 from 9:45-11:30 am.
Children's Chapel engages children ages 4 through 2nd grade in the rhythms of worship, music, and prayer during the 10:15 am service.
Children ages 3rd-5th grade are invited to worship with their families and serve as acolytes. Worship bags are available in the narthex.
Faith at Home
These are the stories we’ll hear in Children’s Chapel this month. Continue the conversation or read the story together. Here are some suggested children’s Bibles: Spark Story Bible (ages 4-8) and Deep Blue Kids Bible (ages 9-12).
May 5: Abide in Love (John 15:9-17)
Jesus reminds us that we should love others as Jesus loves us. Jesus also calls us his friends.
What is something you have done to help a friend? What do you do with friends that brings you joy?
May 12: Matthias is Chosen (Acts 1:15-17, 21-26)
The disciples trusted the Holy Spirit to help them make a tough decision in choosing a new disciple who had also witnessed Jesus' resurrection.
Is change hard for you? Who can you trust to ask for help?
May 19: Filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-21)
On Pentecost, the disciples discovered that the Holy Spirit gives them the power to do incredible things! What special talents do you have that might help you share God's love with others?
May 26: NO CHILDRENS CHAPEL
Memorial Day
Give thanks for our veterans who have sacrificed for our country!
May + June 2024 Gatherings
Messy Church: Pentecost Party!
Thursday, May 16 from 5:30-7:15 pm
Families with kids ages 4 thru 5th grade are invited to learn about God through science, scripture, art, movement, and some messy fun! Dinner is served from 5:30-6:00 pm ($10/family) and we close with a prayer at 7:15 pm. This month we will talk all about Pentecost and the Holy Spirit. Please RSVP to Hillary by Monday, April 15.
Moving Up Sunday
Sunday, May 19 at 10:15 am
We will recognize and celebrate faith milestones for our children and youth:
- four-year-olds moving up to Children’s Chapel from the nursery
- rising third-graders joining EYSeedlings
- rising sixth-graders coming into EYC
- and our high school graduates!
We hope that ALL families will join us in worship this Sunday to pray for and support the children and youth in our congregation.
Pentecost Picnic
Sunday, May 19 at 11:30 am
We'll provide the fried chicken, you bring a dish to share! Join us for fun in the garden, too. We have a new cornhole set and a giant Connect Four game. There will be face painting, a craft for kids, and GIANT bubbles! This is a great time to be with the whole Cathedral family and make new connections.
Tacos + Tie-Dye
Sunday, June 2 at 11:30 am
Following coffee hour, all ages are invited to join us in the garden to tie-dye scrunchies, headbands, shirts, and bandanas to hand out at Family Pride Day on June 8. A taco lunch will also be served!
Family Pride Day
Saturday, June 8 from 10:00 am-3:00 pm
Come hang out in the booth to welcome visitors, help with face painting, hand out snacks and other swag, and generally let people know that God loves them exactly as they are! If you'd like to volunteer, contact Hillary.
EYSeedlings: Fun at the Pier (Faith Formation for 3rd-5th graders)
Tuesday, June 18 at 5:30 pm
Drop off at 2nd Ave NE and Beach Dr NE, then we'll walk down to the pier for pizza and to play. Friends are invited too. Please bring $10.
SPice Cream Summer Fun!
We're starting something new this summer: SPice Cream (St. Peter's ice cream). Each week we'll meet up at a different ice cream shop in St. Petersburg. All should be within walking distance of the Cathedral if you want access to easy parking. Save the dates and plan to join us as often as you can! We'll have punch cards to hand out later in May. Get an ice cream cone stamp on all the squares and get a gift card to your favorite spot!
Sunday, June 9 - SPice Cream Kick-off! Hyppo Popsicles + Mayday Ice Cream
Following the 10:15 am service we'll walk over for a sweet treat
Thursday, June 20 @ Kilwin's Ice Cream (222 Beach Drive NE)
Meet up at 6:30 pm. With 40 flavors, how will you choose?!
Monday, July 1 @ The Yard Milkshake Bar (111 2nd Ave NE)
Meet up at 6:30 pm. If you've never had one of these milkshakes, you won't believe your eyes!
Tuesday, July 16 @ La Diperie (425 Central Ave)
Meet up at 6:30 pm. Soft serve, milkshakes, ice cream, donuts, cake, cookies, smoothies, and more!
Wednesday, July 31 @ Pacuigo (300 Beach Dr NE)
Meet up at 6:30 pm. Enjoy delicious gelato, dairy free sorbet, or even an affogato!
Cathedral Arts Troupe Easter Performance
Compassion Camp Performance
Children’s Ministry Celebration Bags
We delivered 53 goody bags to 29 families in May. The bags differed by age and interest, but here is a list of what we included. You may want to share some of these goodies with children in your life!
Books
Love is Patient, Love is Kind
All Creatures Great and Small
When God Made You
When God Made the World
When I Pray for You
Just for Fun
Mad Libs
Bubbles with a Bubble Prayer: Let God's love bubble up over in your heart! Who can you share God's love with today?Who can you pray for as the bubbles float up, up and away?
Play-Doh and Air-Dry Clay
Resources to Download
Play-Doh prayer mat (we laminated this page to make clean up easier)
Guide to Self-Care at Home for Families at Home
Prayer + Faith Formation
Small Prayer Journals
3 Minute Gratitude Journal
Comic Book Journal — Prayer is a conversation with God. This journal provides a space to creatively record where you see God in the world, as well as conversations and questions you have for God.
A blessing for our children after participating in the Bread and Cup Eucharist Instruction Series
Today we celebrate the hard work of these children as they, over the past 5 weeks, have deepened their knowledge of our Episcopal Worship. They have explored and found joy in scripture, in worship, and in our traditions. As they experience the mystery of the table, our hope is that they would know the love of Jesus found there.
To the children:
Friends, I have a few questions to ask you. Do you know that Jesus loves you?
Do you promise to love yourself?
Do you promise to love your neighbor?
Will you share with us Jesus’ love at this table by receiving communion?
To the parents: Adults, will you continue to model for these young ones love and forgiveness?
Will you share with them the nourishment at this table?
To the congregation:
Will you continue to share with these young persons the joy and wonder in all of God’s creation?
Let us pray: Be present, be present O Jesus, our great high priest as you were present with your disciples, and be known to us in the breaking of the bread; who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Praise! Fine Arts VBS | August 2019
We are so proud of our kids! We had a blast exploring all the ways we praise God through sharing our talents, remembering to say thanks, and seeing the beauty of God’s creation. Here’s a slideshow that captures some highlights and a video of their performance of Uyai Mose during worship on August 11. Enjoy!
Faith at Home
Curious about how to incorporate faith at home? A great way to start is by building a library of children’s spirituality books. They don’t need to be read separately, just weave them in naturally to bedtime stories or whenever your family reads together. This is a list of carefully chosen books that reflect God’s unconditional love for us and all people. Enjoy some summer reading!