We love welcoming people of all ages to our church, and we currently have a number of babies, children and young people in our congregation. In the Sunday morning service there is usually a children's talk most weeks during the first half of the service, and there are Sunday school groups for 3 year olds up to the end of Year 6, and a crèche for 0-3s, during the talk in the second half of the service.
There are also lots of regular groups and activities for children and young people on other days of the week, which we currently run jointly with Wheelock Heath Baptist Church:
Little Fishes is our weekly 'parents and tots' group. It is held in our Winterley church building every Monday and Tuesday morning during school term time from 10:00 to 11:45 am. This is a time where parents, grandparents or carers can get out of their home environment and come along for a time of relaxation and chat whilst their young children can mix and play within a friendly, safe environment.
Wheelers is a club open to all children from Year R to 6 that meets every Friday (at 6.30 to 7.30pm) during school term time in our Winterley church building. We currently have around 35 (extremely energetic!) children attending each week. There is singing, "good news and bad news" sessions, quizzes and activities which can be anything from making things to boisterous games which give the children (and the leaders) a chance to let off steam. Every week there is also a Bible story (usually following a theme) where we learn how God's word is relevant to all of us today. During the school summer holidays a Holiday Bible Club (HBC) event is organised for Wheelers' aged children. HBC has become an eagerly awaited event attracting around 50 children each summer. HBC is based upon a different theme each year but with a consistent, underlying emphasis on the importance of Bible truths and how they should affect the children's lives. Previous themes have included the Olympics, Ancient Egypt and the Wild West.
X-plorers is an extension of our primary school aged Wheelers club but designed towards the older Year 5 to Year 7 aged children. X-plorers meet each Thursday (6.30 to 7.30pm) during school term time in our Winterley church building. The activities are similar to Wheelers but geared towards the older age group. Children who attend X-plorers and are still primary school age are also welcome to attend Wheelers on a Friday if they wish.
YP meets in our Winterley church building every Friday evening during school term time from 7.45 to 9.45pm. It is a lively event for those in Years 7-13. We run lots of active group games and quizzes followed by a chill-out time with drinks, tuck shop and table tennis. We also go 'off-site' to do activities too (including ten pin bowling, ice skating and outdoors activities - wide games, etc.). As a Christian youth group we take the opportunity to explain the Bible's message in an age relevant way, followed by discussion groups. And it's fun!