Sunday Club
Sunday Club is held during the 10am Parish Eucharist Church Service, during school term time and half term holidays. It is available to children above the age of 3 years old.
At Sunday Club we aim to promote a knowledge of Christian faith and values in a friendly and fun way.
We have a rota of enthusiastic volunteers, who have been carefully checked for their suitability. During the session we help the children to explore a wider knowledge of our faith using many exciting activities. These may include story telling and drama, poems and prayers, singing and the use of simple instruments, art and craft, cooking and decorating, fun and games, to name but a few.
The group is sometimes split into Primary and Secondary age children, depending on the activities we cover, to ensure that different age groups can participate at their level. In this way we can provide activities that are ideal for every child.
To help us we have guidance from special magazines, books and web sites, produced for this purpose. Also training is available, as well as an excellent resource centre.
We also encourage the children to take an active part in our wider Church Family. As part of this the children thoroughly enjoy sharing with the congregation what they have learnt in Sunday Club each week, as well as taking part in our special church services, in which children are encouraged to read prayers and Bible readings.
Other Provisions
Babies and Toddlers (Pre-Sunday Clubbers)
Children, accompanied by a parent, can play on soft mats with a selection of toys and books, provided in the Parish Room on the days when Sunday Club takes place.
In Church
Toys and books are provided in the Toy Box situated in the lobby of the Church. There is also comfortable seating and an audio link to the service.
At the back of the Church we have a table and chairs for the children with colouring sheets, as well as an area to play with a selection of toys and books.
We also provide a number of activity bags that may be used by children during the service, when they sit with their families.
Second Sunday Service
Every second Sunday at 10am (excluding August) we have a service in which the children play a major role: leading prayers or reading the lesson etc. There is a shortened communion to complete the service, which enables every child to hear a great prayer of thanksgiving once a month (another requirement of the policy to offer children communion before confirmation).
At harvest and on Mothering Sunday children from the school and playgroup are invited to lead part of the service. And twice a year Beaudesert School Senior and Junior Choir join us, and take part in the service by singing an anthem.
Communion and Confirmation
Our church has a policy of offering communion before confirmation to church families, who are baptized, and regularly worship and attend Sunday Club. There is a course to supplement the teaching in Sunday Club that will be presented periodically. We also hold a Confirmation course each year to explore more of our faith, which is open to children over the age of ten.
Since Holy Trinity, Amberley is in an Anglican-Methodist partnership – all those being confirmed will also be offered the hand of fellowship signifying membership of the Methodist Church.
The Church Choir
The church choir, which helps to lead our worship, welcomes children from the age of eight. Our younger members are encouraged to learn and sing a wide variety of music and to take part in external activities with the Royal School of Church Music.
The Servers Team
Church children are welcome to join the team beginning as acolytes (carrying the processional candles) before becoming a crucifer (leading the choir and ministers into the church behind the processional cross).