Grace Church | CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Nursery care for infants through age 3 is provided by a fully trained staff nursery. Childcare begins at 9:45 a.m. and concludes at 12:30 p.m. Caregivers are present for Sunday School and the 11 a.m. Worship Service. Childcare is also provided during these major holiday services: Christmas Eve Midnight Mass, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday. Our nursery facility is easily accessible and fully equipped with changing tables, cribs, educational toys, art and craft supplies, musical instruments, a puppet-theatre, dress-up clothes as well as many books.

If you want to complete your nursery registration form in advance, click here.

The Children's Ministry of Grace Church offers a variety of programs for all ages, starting with toddlers all the way through high school. Our educational programs run from 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. on Sunday mornings during the school year (September through June). For more information - about curriculum, teachers, or anything at all - just contact Stephanie Bauman at 212-254-2000 x113 or via email at sbauman@gracechurchnyc.org.

During the 11 a.m. Sunday morning service, children ages 4-7 process to the Chantry Chapel for a thirty minute service led by one of the three priests and adult volunteers. This is not only a great way for kids to hear the Gospel lesson in a more interactive and accessible format, but also a great way for them to get to know the clergy of Grace Church. On the first Sunday of the month following Children's Worship, children rejoin their families in the nave to receive Eucharist together.

The Christmas Pageant is one of our largest seasonal events. Rehearsals begin in late November and culminate in the presentation of the Pageant in a one-hour event on held in the late afternoon on Christmas Eve. We have a number of roles for the Nativity cast as well as scores of angels, shepherds, and villagers. All children from age five and up are welcome to this great event and garners some of Grace's greatest creative talents. Teen and adult volunteers are welcome to assist.

The Easter Eve Walk is a celebration of the events held during Holy Week from a child's perspective that is held on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. We have an Easter crafts-making celebration in Tuttle Hall followed by a re-enactment of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, the Trial, Execution and the Resurrection celebration throughout the church nave. We plant flowers, eat lunch, make lots of crafts and end the day with a joyful Easter Egg hunt. Please join us that day from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for this fun and spiritual event. A $10 donation is suggested to offset costs.

Vacation Bible School will takes place in early Summer (end of June to early July) for three days from 1 to 4 p.m., and is open to anyone 5-12 years old, with older kids (9-12) doubling as volunteers for some of the lessons and activities. Pick up a registration form on the bulletin board to the left of the elevator in the 802 hallway, or email Stephanie Bauman at: sbauman@gracechurchnyc.org and she will email you a form.

Acolyte Ministry is the ministry of liturgical helping in the church service. We need crucifers, torchbearers, and eucharistic ministers. We hold training sessions and have many fun outings throughout the city. We also participate in the annual diocesan acolyte festival at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in May. Acolytes need to be at least eleven years of age and may include adults.

If you have any questions or would like more information on any of the above listed programs, please contact Stephanie Bauman, Director of Youth and Family Ministry at 212-254-2000 ext. 113, or via email at sbauman@gracechurchnyc.org. We look forward to seeing you and your family at Grace Church soon!

The GO Project is a holistic academic assistance program serving Lower Manhattan’s public school students in need of reading, writing and math remediation. GO accepts students in grades one through five based on academic and financial need, but regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, or religion. GO currently serves 160 students from 33 public schools.

The GO Project helps “at risk” elementary school students to achieve grade-level performance and to improve self-esteem through two programs: GO Summer, a five-week, full-day summer school program and GO Saturday, an individualized tutoring program meeting on twenty-two Saturdays throughout the school year.

The GO Project staff believes in a whole system approach to address the intellectual, social, and emotional needs of its students. GO offers an on-staff social worker who works with students and parents on a one-to-one basis and also connects them with outside resources available in the larger downtown community. GO sponsors parent discussion groups and workshops.

To apply to our GO Summer or GO Saturday programs, to work or volunteer for the GO Project, or to learn more about our program, please e-mail Wendy Reynoso, Director of Programs, at wreynoso@goprojectnyc.org.

Grace Church School was founded in 1894 by Grace Church as the first choir boarding school in New York City. In 1947 Grace became a co-educational school and was admitted to the Guild of Independent Schools of New York City. In the following decade the school began to expand its facilities to accommodate a growing student body. From the original sixteen choristers, Grace has grown to its current enrollment of over 390 boys and girls drawn from a wide variety of ethnic, economic, and religious backgrounds. While the school has continued its close relationship with Grace Church, since 1972 it has been governed by an independent Board of Trustees, and it is a fully accredited member of the New York State Association of Independent Schools and the National Association of Independent Schools. You can find more information by clicking here for the Grace Church School website.