Children and Young People
St Peter's aims to be a welcoming congregation for children and we certainly value their attendance in church, at all services and functions.
Sunday School & Creche
In school term time the Sunday School meet during the church service, in the extension behind the church: enter by the second of the side doors. We are grateful to the Girl Guide Association locally for the use of their Guide Hall on Dog Well Wynd, but what an improvement it is to be in the same building as the the Sunday service. Sunday School starts at 09:30. There is a creche available for the under 3's (though do remember, the creche is an offer for the ease of parents: young ones really are welcome throughout the service!). There are currently upwards of a dozen children ranging in age from birth to 10 years.
The children join the congregation for communion and the later part of the service and collectively they give a short presentation to the congregation about what they have been doing. The syllabus is normally in line with the weekly lectionary, but singing and craftwork also feature.
For those of S1 age and upwards there is a monthly Youth Group, presently meeting in the nearby premises of Fenwicks.
Children's Corner
There is a children's corner in the church, equipped with books and toys for use during the service. Changing facilities for young ones are also available, either immediately behind the main church or on the upper level.
Family Service
To celebrate special events in the church calender, or as it seems appropriate, St Peter's holds a Family Service where children are encouraged to take part. The sermon that week is more informal and directed at all-age worship. On those days (which are advertised in advance - see the current pew leaflet, or the news section of this website) there is no Sunday School so that the children can be in church for the whole service.
Contacts
Contact details for the Sunday School organiser can be found on the people page, which also identifies St Peter's child protection officer and tells you how to register for the weekly email sheet.
Warning for Parents
Finally, just a small note of warning: especially at the end of a service, it is all too easy to lose track of children whilst talking to other people. We will all do our best, but do remember that the vestry (being small, and often with hot liquids) is no place for unaccompanied small children, and the same is true of the garden, which, being built on a steep hill, has some significant drops. Such things are properly labelled - but when did a warning notice ever stop a small child?
