Children & Families are important to us!
Our mission is to resource and encourage children and families so they may grow together in Christ and live as Jesus’ followers in mission and ministry. We welcome children and their families to worship with us; we provide age-appropriate learning experiences on Sundays and we help families grow in faith together at home. See below some links to resources and ideas, as well as details on different ministries you can connect with here at Good Shepherd.
Home Resources
During this time of physical distancing, please check out these clickable links for Growing Faith at Home. They will be updated weekly.
Growing Faith at Home Downloadable Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost – 17th September 2023
Growing Faith at Home Downloadable Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost – 24th September 2023
Equipping- Encouraging Faith at Home
Equipping- Sharing your Faith with Your Children
Equipping- Encouraging the Faith of Your Grandchildren
Click here to find out more about Faith at Home.
Click here to watch the Grow Ministries Faith Formation Research video.
Baptism
Through baptism, God joins people to Jesus and his saving work, adopts them into his family, and brings them into his Church. That’s why we celebrate baptisms in our Sunday worship services on allocated Sundays throughout the year.
For children
Baptism is the start of a journey with Jesus, requiring the ongoing nurture of parents and participation in a local church. If parents are looking towards baptism for their first child at Good Shepherd, we require them to attend a Having Your Child Baptised class offered two or three times each year.
For more information, please click on:
Baptism – Having Your Child Baptised at Good Shepherd
What next?
After reading the above information, if you have any questions about baptism, or are considering baptism here at Good Shepherd, please contact Georgie Schuster through the church office: Ph. 8263 5087.
Step Up (Holy Communion)
Step Up is a program run annually at Good Shepherd that is designed to support you in preparing your child for receiving Holy Communion. Children who participate are usually around the age of 10 or are in Year 5 at school. It is vital that at least one parent attends each session with their child.
The program involves a Sunday shared lunch after the 10:30am service and four Friday night sessions which run for approximately an hour each. Each session is interactive with some stories presented from the Bible and opportunities for parents and children to explore questions together.
For more information, please click on: Step Up .
To express invest for the next Step Up program, please contact the Church Office (08 8263 5087) or email the Young Families Coordinator georgie.schuster@paravista.org.au
Little Lambs Playgroup
Little Lambs Playgroup is an opportunity for children 0-5years to learn and have fun through play and exploration and for parents, grandparents and caregivers to join in the fun while connecting with other adults in an encouraging and relaxed environment. Children learn through all of their senses and we aim to creative a variety of activity stations that inspire learning and most importantly are lots of fun.
Children are able to enjoy creative, sensory, natural, imaginative and social experiences and have fun being a kid.
When: Fridays during school terms (currently on hiatus)
Time: 9:00 – 10:30AM
When: church hall, and other locations as advertised
Please bring $2 per child, water bottle and a fruit/veg snack
Find us on Facebook or contact the church office for more details
Resource for Primary School Graduation
Grow Ministries has developed ‘Growing Faith Moments’ to encourage congregations and families to celebrate special moments that happen in life. It’s a gentle way of bringing God into everyday life.
Click here for the Primary School Graduation resource to enjoy with your child.
