**Children’s Church during the COVID-19 Restrictions**
We are delighted to welcome back all our families to outdoor JAM Club. JAM Club (for primary aged children and younger) has continued to meet virtually on a weekly basis during throughout COVID-19 lockdown. We are excited to now be able to meet in person, on a Sunday morning at outdoor locations around Gullane, predominantly at The Manse on Nisbet Road. Please check with Rachel or on Facebook for weekly plans.
During poor weather, or should lockdown restrictions be reinstated, we will continue to meet online using the video conferencing platform Zoom each Sunday.
Each week we share a bible story, enjoy fun crafts and activities for all ages, both interactive activities with the whole group and, if on Zoom, simple crafts to to make at home. All families are very welcome to join us. We have found both online and outdoor JAM to be a wonderful fun way of keeping in touch and maintaining a Sunday morning connection with our church. For more information see our Facebook page or contact the children’s church team on GullaneChildrensChurch@outlook.com. We look forward to welcoming you.
Children’s Church
Prior to the COVID-19 restrictions, Aberlady and Gullane Parish Church ran activities for children of all ages during Sunday worship in Gullane and throughout the week. We look forward to normal activities restarting as soon as possible.
All children (and their parents and carers) will continue to be very welcome. All our children’s activities are run by volunteers and all leaders are PVG checked and recruited according to Church of Scotland guidelines. For more information about all our children’s activities, please contact the children’s church team on GullaneChildrensChurch@outlook.com or see our Facebook Page @AberladyandGullaneChurchForChildren.
Sunday Worship
Our children’s clubs are held in Gullane Parish Church on a Sunday. At every service throughout the year, we have a Creche for babies and toddlers. For older children JAM Club (nursery and primary aged) meets during the Gullane service.
Creche (0 – 3 year olds)
Creche is run every week with two creche helpers on duty each week. Children from newborn to aged 3 are welcome to use the facility, either from the start of the Gullane service or to join at any point during it. Visiting children are most welcome! Creche is held in the Vestry (the small room just on the right before you enter the church sanctuary)
JAM Club (Nursery & Primary Aged)
The name JAM Club was chosen by the children in 2017. It stands for Jesus and Me but also signified the fact that they all liked jam! JAM Club is an opportunity for young children to explore the Christian message through a fun combination of storytelling, art, craft, drama, games and music. Each week, it is run by a minimum of two adult leaders. During JAM Club, we follow our ‘JAM Plan’ which is a song, prayer, story, craft/activity and snack. Each term, we follow a theme or themes with a variety of crafts and activites to engage the children. In the past some of our larger projects have included artistic displays for the church centre, creating a film about the people in our church, engaging in community events like our local beach clean and of course our annual Nativity performance. The children often have the opportunity to take part in (or on occasion, lead) our Sunday worship, to share what they have learnt with the rest of the congregation. During school term time, JAM Club children usually join the congregation at the start of the service at the front of the church sanctuary (there are small chairs/stools in front of the minister) and leave with their leaders after the children’s address. Visiting children are most welcome! See below for arrangements during All Age services and Holidays.
All Age Services and Holidays
We hold regular all age services (see our “Events” page for details of these), where we welcome all the children for the duration of the service at the front of the church sanctuary. We set up a children’s play area for young (and older!) children to draw, play and toddle about whilst feeling part of the service. All age services (in a similar manner to the first part of our normal services) are planned with the needs, interests and attention spans of children in mind and their participation is welcomed. Our creche does run during these services, which you are welcome to use, however all children are very welcome to join the service.
During school holidays, JAM Club does not run, however children are very welcome to join us at the front of the church where there will be crafts and activities set up to entertain them during the second half of the service, after the kids’ address. Creche will run as usual during this time for younger ones.
Craft Afternoons
Around Christmas time, Easter, Harvest and during the Summer, we hold a Community Craft Afternoon where all children from the community are invited to join us for an afternoon of crafting, teaching and to share a meal together. This is a wonderful opportunuty for the whole family to join a church event, particularly those who are unable to attend our regular Sunday morning meetings.
