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 11.00 am.
Our next J4U service is on Sunday 26th July
Date for your Diary Friday 21st August 2026 in Eastham Woods
Children’s Activity. Free bookable sessions for children to have fun, undertake crafts and enjoy God’s wonderful creation.
Sunday 30th August 11.00 am for 11.15 am
Back to School Service 📚🍎✏️at St Mary’s Parish 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, crafts, fun, drinks, cake 🍰and a whole lot more. The service will be led by Diane, one of our lay ministers. It will include a blessing of the pupils and their school bags🎒and pencil cases if they have them and want to bring them.
Free refreshments will be served from 11.00 am. The service starts at 11.15 am.
Past Events for Children and Families
Friday 10th April Easter Egg Hunt at St Mary’s Parish Church.
We held our traditional Easter Egg Hunt in our beautiful ancient Church. 175 places were booked. Children were invited to move around church and search for clues. There were also craft and activities for children after they had completed the treasure hunt.
There were free Easter eggs and goody bags with Christian materials for all of the children who attended.
Monday 27th October 4.00 – 6.00 pm Light Up the Church Event
Over 60 children, accompanied by parents and/or carers came to our ‘Light up the Church’ celebration.
The video below gives you a flavour of this very special celebration of the light, which was held at a time of year when the darkness is often celebrated.
The church was dimmed and full of light and colour, crafts, scripture and cake! Bags of Hope with Christian reading material and goodies to take home we’re given out to all the children.
We give thanks for: the work of our children’s team; the lights; scripture and the meaningful conversations which the event prompted.
Sunday 31st August Back to School Service 📚✏️
We had a busy, informal service aimed at children and families marking the occasion of children going back to school and starting new classes in 2025. The service included a story, craft and lively praise and worship.
Friday 22nd August 2025 🌳 Children’s Creation Celebration
To celebrate God’s beautiful creation, St Mary’s Church team of family workers arranged a wonderful event in Eastham Woods for children and families.
Local families booked slots through Eventbrite and children took part in activities, including: a scavenger hunt🔍, face painting, bark rubbing , leaf rubbing🍁☘️, making bird 🐦feeders and 🦔hedgehog craft.
For the last hour ‘A – Z Zoo’ presented a wonderful range of animals for children and families to see and enjoy. There were goodie bags to take home with Christian activities and crafts.
A jolly good time was had by all!
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 were 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 2026.
They learned about the real story of Easter and learned that Bertie the Easter Bunny is not in the Bible!