By Mary Chalon
Children’s Ministry Director

My favorite time on Sunday mornings is when we gather in the Children’s Chapel just before the 10 a.m. service. Children rush in – some early, some late. Some enter dressed up in their petticoat dresses with ribbons in their hair, others come rushing in wearing comfortable clothes they can happily run around in, and a few shyly peek around the door and edge their way tentatively into the chapel. Mothers and fathers drop in, then leave, making their way into the sanctuary once their children are settled. Other mothers and fathers stay in the chapel readying themselves for their turn to lead a group of children after we move into the different age groups and their respective rooms for Sunday “School.”
For about 10 or 15 minutes we are all together. Children from ages 4 to 10 sit on the carpeted floor, and grown-ups on seats or little chairs. It takes us a little time to settle. We talk about our week. We share God moments, birthday celebrations, travels to new places, events at school, moments when things didn’t work out so well for us, and how we might make them better next time. We speak about how God loves and treasures us in a way that teaches, forgives, encourages and surrounds us with wonder. The children seem to understand this immediately. It’s as if they look at the adults and say, “What? We know that already. We have known about God since we were born! Where have you been?”

We especially look forward to the moment when the Rev. Peg Bradley comes rushing in, guitar in hand, and sweeps the room with her loving smile toward each and every one of the children. She tunes her guitar as the children watch intently, and then she looks up at us with such affection that we know we are going to remember those words and sing that song.
We sing and we sing and we sing again until almost everyone has joined in. Once more, we are a church family, and we know it. We can feel it. We will always watch out for one another.
It’s time for us to move on to our Sunday school time. The younger children leave with Allison Rector to go to the atrium for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd; a group of first- and second-graders leaves to go upstairs in the school building with their volunteer leader to explore the lesson of the day, as do the third- and fourth-graders. The older children gather with their leader to discuss the lesson in, and go up to the church building.
After half an hour or more, we return to the sanctuary and enter the larger church where we always feel welcome. We join the grown-ups in sharing the Eucharist and become part of the larger church family. We know we are at home at St. James’.