J4U ( Jesus for You) 👨👩👦👦 😀
This is a very informal fun-filled family service. It involves songs, 🎶 musical instruments 🥁 for all, fun, stories, prayers 🙏 and a whole lot more. It is aimed at children and their families and is usually held on the 4th Sunday in the month at 11.15 am. Refreshments served from 11 am. Our next J4U service will be on 27th July.
School Holiday Activities 2025
Friday 22nd August 2025 Children’s Creation Celebration
To celebrate God’s beautiful creation, St Mary’s Church have arranged a designated space for children and families in Eastham Woods on 22nd August, with a ranger and our children’s team to do some woodland craft activities and have a light picnic. Activities will include a scavenger hunt🔍, bark rubbing , leaf rubbing🍁☘️, making bird 🐦feeders and 🦔 hedgehog craft.
This event is free, but places are limited and booking is essential. Children will need to be accompanied by an adult at all times. A link for booking will be put here nearer to the time.
Back to School Service 📚🍎✏️ at St Mary’s Church
This will be a short, relaxed service, aimed at children and their families to mark the occasion of children and young people going back to school and joining new classes. It will include, 🎶 songs, 🥁 musical instruments for all, 🙏 prayers, puppets, crafts, fun, drinks, cake 🍰 and a whole lot more.
The service will include a blessing of the pupils and their school bags🎒and pencil cases if they have them and want to bring them.
Children’s Area in St Mary’s Church
There is a children’s area at the back of church with books and toys for families to use with their children. Most Sundays, colouring and other craft activities are provided for children and young people who would like to use them.
There are bags at the back of church with toys, books, drinks and snacks. They have been prepared for children of different ages.
School Visits
We are delighted to have the opportunity to welcome school children to visit our church. Children from Millfields C of E Primary School and Heygarth Primary School visited St Mary’s for Easter 2025.
They learned about the real story of Easter and learned that Freddie the Easter Bunny is not in the Bible!
The schools had also visited in June 2025. Below are some extracts from letters of thanks received from children in Y2 of Heygarth Primary School.
