SUBCOMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS:

• Dennis Hobb
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Topics Addressed at Last Meeting on May 29:

The sub-committee discussed various needs that children’s programs have. For instance, the Nursery currently shares space with the Altar Guild, and the children in the Godly Play Room are frequently interrupted by people looking for another restroom. Several observations were made, most notably that there are many infants and toddlers in the parish now, but fewer children in the various age groups as the children age. There were questions about whether or not this meant that the parish might tend to serve infants and toddlers because their parents live in the immediate area, but might move to the suburbs as their children become school age.

The sub-committee will likely make several recommendations to the Discernment Committee, and they will tend to follow these:

1. Space for children’s programs should always be exclusive space.
2. Though these might not be seen as “programs”, services are provided to infants and toddlers through the Nursery, to school-age children in Godly Play, and hopefully to adolescents through Journey To Adulthood.
3. There should be separate and distinct space for the Nursery, and for a separate Cry Room or Quiet Room for infants.These should be close to where worship services are being held.
4. Godly Play space needs to conform to the standards set by the Diocese (these need to be researched).Space should be identified for Journey To Adulthood. Even though the parish has but one teenager currently, perhaps ‘if we build it they will come’. At any rate, space could be created and used for something else until our current children age into JTA and new teenagers join the parish.
5. Walls should be able be “fun”—OK to have murals, maybe some chalkboard, etc. These rooms should be carpeted and there should be toilets nearby. It would be helpful to have a sink in the Nursery.
6. It might be fun to have a miniature indoor “playground”, hopefully close to where parents and other adults will have coffee hour.

Next Meeting:

June 5, 2008, 6:30pm, St. Thomas' Parish

Agenda Items: Discussion of space needs for those programs that serve and nurture adults in the congregation

Feedback Needed from Parishioners: The sub-committee’s next meeting will be on June 5th and we will be talking with parishioners who are interested in the programs that primarily nurture our adults. We’re especially interested in talking with Parish Life and with the Inclusion Committee, as well as Pastoral Care. All parishioners with an interest in these and other similar areas are welcome to attend and add their comments and ideas!