Families at All Saints’
TINY CHURCH | EXPLORERS | TWEENS | TEENS
Forming the Fabric of All Saints’ Parish
All Saints’ values children, celebrating their uniqueness and teaching them that they are unconditionally loved. We welcome families of all sizes, ages, descriptions and configurations to worship, pray, play and grow at All Saints’. We offer children and youth Christian education programs through age 18. Partnering with young people on their journey to adulthood is the main focus of this ministry. Our goal is to plant seeds of faith that will nurture and sustain them—to root our young people in a Christ centered life.
Children, Youth and Families ministries are inextricably linked and yet distinct. At All Saints’ Beverly Hills, we are pleased to celebrate the spectrum of who we serve; from the expectant parent to the graduating teen to the busy moms and dads and families of all configurations through unified programs and foundational support.
In addition to the full spectrum of our programming, we are also thrilled to celebrate each individual age group and stage as our young people grow on their journey to become young adults in Christ. We invite you to take a look at the number of ways to for children to be involved and in relationship with and within our church community. Through benchmarks, milestones, transitions and growth, we are with your child every step of the way. Please take a moment to look through our programs and see just where you and your child fall along that journey.
Jesus said, “…Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” (Matthew 10:14). We’re just thrilled to be caring for these cherished members of our church family and we look forward to continuing to build the kingdom of God with you.
Tiny Church
O - 2+ Years
That journey begins in Tiny Church, a low threshold, soft start for our littlest saints. Through interactive play in the nursery, quiet play in the soft space, Baptism class in preparation for Christening or simple exposure to the campus and playground, babies and toddlers (ages 0–2) and their families are warmly invited into our Christian family.
The NEST
(Grades 4 - 6)
Young people in our parish enter the NEST — Next Exciting Steps for Tweens — when they reach the fourth grade. We use the Weaving God’s Promises curriculum, focusing this branch of our ministry to expose parish tweens to a rich spiritual life outside of themselves. How do they see the world around them? How do they respond to that world in their own circles of family, school, and church? The NEST covers these topics and more, in a way that promotes community and fellowship in Christ.
Explorers
3 Years - 3rd Grade
Children transition to become Explorers starting at age 3. Explorers use the Godly play curriculum designed to help children “explore their faith through story, to gain religious language and to enhance their spiritual experience through wonder and play.” Through this structured, Biblical story telling, children bond and learn about God’s love for them.
The CAST
(Grades 7 - 12)
Teens in the CAST — the Community of All Saints’ Teens — use “Lesson Plans that Work” to discuss current events, peer dynamics, and more, while also venturing into the world to learn about themselves, each other, and to spread the love of God. Opportunities for our parish teens span the Diocese, and focus on fostering a relationship between our youth and the larger church through events like the Episcopal Youth Event and the youth summer camp through Northern CA in June.
Simple Church
Children Youth and Family Ministries are almost a church within a church. Children and adolescents celebrate God in their classrooms, join worship and prayer in the sanctuary, and plan and host fundraisers to support individualized youth and family outreach. Our young people help lead worship through choristers and acolytes. They facilitate chorister led evensong, youth led Stations of the Cross and children led Christmas Pageants. Families seek pastoral care publicly on social media and privately with staff, including parent-to-parent and peer-to-peer relationships, weekly at the Sunday sign in tables, in the hallways and on the playground. Families are encouraged to participate in the Love. Serve. Give Children’s Stewardship Model and all of our young people know how to evacuate the campus due to rigorous safety and emergency standards. This is one of the largest volunteer guided ministries at All Saints’ Parish—all of the wonderful offerings, outings and classes are facilitated, led and taught by trained, dedicated, and vetted volunteers. Their involvement and commitment further underscores the vitality of this ministry.
Holy Days and Family Fellowship
We also value family fellowship, offering ways to interact both in and outside of Sunday mornings with outings such as the summer Dodger Night, the Advent Caroling Party, the Spring Fair, special Easter offerings for children, the Pre-Lenten Pancake Supper and the upcoming exciting Labor Day Family Camp.
