Families, Children & Youth
Grace Cathedral is a house of prayer for all people: young and old. Grace Cathedral honors its community of children and their questions about who we are, why we are here, what freedom is for... and so much more.
Family Retreat
Space is limited and registration is underway for our annual retreat at the Bishop's Ranch, near Healdsburg, Memorial Day weekend, May 29 to May 31. We start with lunch in the refectory on Saturday, and we conclude with a hymn sing after breakfast on Monday. In between, we have free time for board games, hiking, swimming, arts & crafts and getting to know each other; massages and babysitting are available by appointment. We gather together for field games, social hours and meals in the evenings, a campfire with Olive the storyteller and her (not too) scary stories, and a talent show (talent not required). Everyone has a chore: some of us clean-up, some organize games, some ring the church bells. We worship together in the chapel on Sunday morning.
> Register now.
For more information, e-mail
Summer Sundays
During the summer, our Godly Play teachers re-create for the coming year, and special programs are provided for school-age children. In the past, congregation members have shared avocations (from cheese-sandwich-grilling to collage-making) and we have explored the World Peace Village of faith traditions.
Summer 2010, 11 am in the Wilsey Conference Center; children will join their families after the sermon, in the pews at the left front of the congregation.
June, July 4, August and Labor Day: Professional storyteller, Olive Hackett-Shaughnessy and children (ages 5 to 12) will gather to share stories.
July 11: Hands-on Eucharistic bread-making with The Rev. Vanessa Glass & The Rev. Will Scott
July 18: A summer tradition: Dr. Ron Johnson lets us drive his model trains!
July 25: Experience the labyrinth, with Lon Haack and Marlynn Murphy of the cathedral Labyrinth Guild.
Seating for Families & Children
During the 11am Choral Eucharist, families with children sit together in the first pews at the front left of the cathedral congregation: because it's fun and we like each other, and because it's practical for teachers and children to find their families when it's time.
Childcare
Children of all ages are always welcome in worship at Grace Cathedral. Infants and toddlers often find our nursery and professional childcare attendants are more engaging than our Sunday programs and worship services for adults. We provide parents with pagers, so we can reach them if children need them. The nursery is open from 8am to 1pm, year round.
between Labor Day and Memorial Day...
Godly Play
Children do not come to us as empty vessels, they are having their own experience of God! Through Godly Play, children discover the art of religious language, and they share their experiences of God in Christian community.
Play is children's work.
Godly Play is the Liturgy of the Word for children, for children from 4-years-old through 5th grade. After Godly Play, the community of children joins with their families in the cathedral congregation for the Liturgy of the Table, or Holy Communion.
GraceQuest
Honoring the spiritual lives of children is a life-long practice. Guided by professional storyteller, Olive Hackett-Shaughnessy, middle-school students gather in the youth rooms. GraceQuest engages spiritual development through story, connecting questions of today with the language and traditions of the Christian people and the stories of cultures around the world; making space for young people to enter where they feel comfortable.
Youth Confirmation
Inspired by Grace Cathedral's mission of transforming the world beginning with ourselves, a youth confirmation class will convene bi-annually, for a year's journey of discernment into the ways and teachings of the church and their own making of meaning. Youth who complete this course will be prepared to make an adult commitment to the Christian life and faith, if they feel called to receive the sacrament of confirmation.
Families With Young Children
Parents with infants and toddlers gather almost monthly for potluck suppers, in the Wilsey Conference Center. A host family provides the main dish and starts our conversation, guest families bring side dishes and fellowship! Visitors and small children are always welcome. Child care is provided during supper and the 6:00 Contemplative Eucharist which follows.
Special Events
Grace Cathedral is a spiritual gathering place for many kinds of families. We come together for worship and faith formation every Sunday, and we also gather for fellowship and community support. Together, we celebrate the feasts and seasons of the church year, we share in workshops and conversation on topics we'd like to explore, we take an annual retreat, and we gather just for fun - to dance and eat and play together.
Contact
Your questions and feedback are always welcome. For information about Ministries with Families, Children & Youth, please contact Carren Sheldon, Associate for Family Ministries, , 415.749.6369.
Our programs are funded through the annual financial commitments of congregants. Gifts are always welcome, but fees are never charged for our regular Sunday programs, and scholarships are available for special programs.