Children, Youth & Family

We are especially grateful for the presence and ministry of children and youth in our worshipping community. Ascension offers Church School classes for children in Kindergarten through fifth grade, that run from September through June. Church School takes place at 10:15 am each Sunday in Dewitt Hall.

Our Nursery & Children's Program is staffed by trained child care providers, led by Marie Hebert. Child care is available on Sundays beginning at 10:15 am.

We also offer your children aged 0-17, a fun and engaging "After Mass Care" each Sunday from 11:15am - 11:45am. If you haven't already and would like to register your child for participation in our Sunday After Mass Care, please click on the button below to complete your registration.

*Don't forget to check out our Weekly ENews for faith based activities.

AFTER MASS CARE REGISTRATION FORM Questions? Contact Debbie Crouch: dcrouch@spu.edu

Tips For Praying in Color

Weekly Children's Liturgical Activity Links Below:

Fifth Sunday In Easter - 5/15/2022 Fourth Sunday In Easter - 5/8/2022 Third Sunday In Easter - 5/1/2022 Second Sunday In Easter - 4/24/2022

Using a calendar template is a simple, daily, and playful (but serious) practice for praying our way through the forty days of Lent. Each day, choose a word to ponder or a person to pray for. Write the word or name in the allotted space with a pen and draw or doodle around it. Add color with pencils or markers. Ask God to speak to be with you in this time. Drawing/doodling invites the body into the prayer, gives the eyes and hand something to do, and helps to focus attention on the word or person. The accumulation of words or peoples’ names on the calendar creates an emerging tapestry of your Lenten spiritual journey. See the sample of a completed Lenten calendar below, and download a blank Lenten calendar template here: https://prayingincolor.com/lent-2022-calendars-desert-heart-stained-glass-circle.

Although Lent is officially 40 days, there are 46 spaces on each template to include the weekends. (Sundays are not part of Lent, but I don’t like to break the rhythm of my daily practice.)

Ways to use the calendar:
1) Pray for a person each day of Lent.
2) Use the vocabulary of Lent from Scripture and tradition–ashes, desert, temptation, denial, repentance, Passion, cross, forgiveness, fasting….
3) Describe the nature and character of Jesus in your calendar using nouns and adjectives: Savior, Redeemer, Healer, radical, obedient, forgiving, etc.

Identifying the developmental stages of learning, parents gave examples of activities for children and youth that meet their right now needs. As a result, starting this September, Ascension will be offering:

"Over the summer of 2021, parents gathered to share how Ascension can support them and their children in faith. We stated all the ways faith is formed. Then, we discovered the most important "right now needs" are:"

- Full participation in Sunday Worship, 10:15am
- Fun events to nurture church friendships
- Service Projects

Nursery Care: Children ages 0-5 Years Old, Sunday's 10 - 11:45am - Play based curriculum introduces prayer and song on Sundays in Dewitt Hall.
After Mass Care: Sunday's, 11:15 - 11:45am - Prayer, Lego and Art Projects based on the Sunday's Gospel lectionary will be given by instructors; Izzy Hudd & Marie Hebert in Dewitt Hall. Snacks Provided. CHILD/YOUTH REGISTRATION LINK
Children and youth serve as acolytes lectors, ushers, & oblations at the 10:15 family-friendly service. To support young people in the pews, Ascension offers Worship Bags, the rector presents a theme of the day and participation in liturgical roles. Worship bags include colors and instructive materials which are restocked each Sunday. Books, drawing supplies and toys are available too. Upon coming to worship, Ushers will likely ask your child to either present the oblations and/or the offertory to the Altar ding Mass. It's fun to worship all together!
Season Faith kits delivered to your home: Education research indicates that faith is taught primarily at home. Ascension is interested in reinforcing grace-filled practices taught at home and opportunities of friends beyond your family, school and peer group. Faith Kits at Pentecost, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Lent and Easter are delivered to household for parents and children to use at home. Each Faith Kit teaches bout the liturgical season. They are easy to use materials that hopefully will assist you in talking to your child about faith. For more information please contact Debbie Crouch & Megan Jarman.
Youth Nights: Sundays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm - REGISTER FOR YOUTH NIGHTS HERE Join us for Youth Night! Youth (grades 6-12) from all across Western Washington gather for games and activities, discussions, guest speakers, and worship. We’ll engage with topics such as racism and social justice, the environment and God’s creation, mental health and wellness, where God shows up in our daily lives, as well as more low key topics such as favorite movies or books, or what music we’re listening to right now. Above all, you’re welcomed in to a community of youth that value God’s love and the exploration of faith. (There will be breakout groups for middle school and high school.) We hope you’ll join us. Questions? Contact Alex Flannagan at aflannagan@ecww.org or 206.325.4200 x2032.
Youth Service Project: Monthly service with Interbay Tiny Cabin Village, Ascension invites youth to cook and serve dinner to our neighbors living at Interbay Tiny Cabin Village, last Sunday's of the Month. For more information contact Jan Monti & Debbie Crouch.

What Does It Look Like For My Children To Be In Church?

We believe that worship together is key to all our faith development and we recognize that parents need time to breath apart from their children. Here is what kids in church looks like. Fami8lies come to church and kids get a Worship Bag (see more about the worship bag above). The rector poses a questions after the collect for the kids to noodle on during the readings and sermon. They draw, they write and then bring their reflections with them to the altar for communion. There's a basket to collect the kids work. Often, the kids words re referenced at the end of the worships or used in future bulletin publications.

Immediately following worship, Ascension offers an After Mass care downstairs in Dewitt Hall. Two childcare providers lead this program: Gathering, Prayer, Snack and Art/Building Activities to reinforce the theme of that Sunday. This Kid's Corner curriculum is presented beforehand in the weekly Enews. Printable forms can be downloaded below. After Mass Care ends at 11:45am.