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.
Godly Play
Children do not come to us as empty vessels, they are having their own experience of God! If you want to meet someone who knows God, gaze into the eyes of a newborn: if only she could tell you what she knows! Through Godly Play, children discover the art of religious language and share their experiences of God in Christian community.
Play is children's work.
Godly Play is the Liturgy of the Word for children. After Godly Play, the community of children moves to the nave, to join with their families and the wider cathedral community for the Liturgy of the Table, or Holy Communion.
Godly Play is for children ages four through nine.
GraceQuest
Honoring the spiritual lives of children is a life-long practice. In the middle-school years, human existential questions and real-life dilemmas can take on new layers of meaning. GraceQuest engages spiritual development through the oral tradition, connecting the questions of today, 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
Youth Confirmation Class meets approximately twice each month, from September to May, for an interactive and collaborative program which welcomes and honors questions of faith. Designed with the cathedral context in mind, this class utilizes cathedral architecture, city landscapes, congregation members’ expertise and Diocesan connections to shape an experience inspired by Grace Cathedral’s mission of transforming the world, beginning with ourselves.
Childcare
Children of all ages are always welcome at Grace Cathedral. Sometimes, infants and toddlers find our nursery, and professional childcare attendants more engaging than our Sunday programs and worship services. We provide parents with pagers, so they know we can reach them if their children need them. The nursery is open from 8am to 1pm.
Seating for Families with Children
During the 11am Choral Eucharist, families with children are encouraged to sit together in the first few pews on the left, at the front of the nave. This is fun, and it helps children to find their families when they have finished Godly Play and GraceQuest and join the congregation for Eucharist.
Summer Sundays
During the summer, our Godly Play and GraceQuest storytellers, greeters and mentors take time off to re-create for the new church school year. During this time, children are welcomed into the congregation to worship with their parents in the family seating section of the nave. During the sermon, they retreat for a sermon of their own, re-joining their families for Holy Communion...and on a few special summer Sundays, the children gather in the cathedral crypt for model trains, or a visit to the World Peace Village.
Families With Young Children
Parents with infants and toddlers gather monthly for a potluck supper, in the Wilsey Conference Center. One family acts as host, providing a main dish and starting the conversation; others bring a side dish and their ideas to share! Children are always welcome, at the suppertable and/or in our nursery. Child care is provided during supper and the 6:00 Contemplative Eucharist which follows.
Family Retreat
Grace Cathedral families gather at the Bishop’s Ranch, in Healdsburg, on Memorial Day weekend each year. Together, we hike and swim, sing and play, rest and worship.
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 meet to learn, we go on retreat and on summer outings and we share potluck meals.
Contact
For more information about Ministries for Families, Children and Youth, please contact Carren Sheldon, Associate for Family Ministries, , 415.749.6369.
There is no fee for any of our Sunday morning programs; they are funded through the annual financial commitments of congregants and the wider community.