Family Ministries

Children’s and Family Ministries seek to nurture your child’s relationship with God through opportunities that introduce the life, love, and example of Jesus. Our aim is to partner with families in the parent/child journey of discovery towards a life of discipleship and faith. Children bring gifts of joy and wonder to the church. As they begin their walk with God, we endeavor to nurture this vital relationship with encouragement and guidance. We also understand the significance of fostering meaningful friendships among children and creating faith-filled bonds between parents, leaders, and children. Children’s values and beliefs are first formed within the context of their family and part of our mission is to support parents as they develop and strengthen their own relationship with God. For more information, contact: 



Sunday Morning Family Worship Options 

Children are always welcome at all worship services at Holy Trinity. The 10:30 a.m. service is particularly family friendly. Everyone is encouraged to dress as casually as they wish, and children making a joyful noise are welcomed! Green worship bags in the Narthex contain a variety of ways to occupy small hands. Please return the bags and their reusable contents to the baskets after the service.

 

Nursery Care: The nursery for birth through four-year Pre-K is located on the first floor of the Parish House in Room 105 and is open on Sundays 9:15 – 11:45 a.m. (during the Sunday school hour and 10:30 a.m. service). Our paid childcare providers are supplemented as needed by volunteers. No pre-registration is required. Enter from the back parking lot by the door under the breezeway, and the nursery is the first door to your left.

 

Children’s Chapel: Offered Sundays at the 10:30 a.m. service during the program year for children four-year Pre-K through 3rd grade. Children hear a story, sing songs, and pray. They take turns serving as acolytes, crucifer, and ushers. Please have your children bring money for the offering, which is added to the offering in the church. The Eucharist is a time of discovery and full participation for children. When the alms basins are brought forward at the Offering, the young people from Children’s Chapel and their leaders will follow the ushers to the altar. There, the young people may stand around the altar for the whole eucharistic prayer. Their presence helps remind everyone that the celebration of the Eucharist is our communal feast of eternity. Children will return to their families to receive communion.

 

Host Families at 10:30 a.m. Worship Service: On the first and third Sundays, there will be a host family who serves as Oblation Bearers (members of the host family bring the bread and wine for Communion to the altar). Members of the host family can also serve as Lectors (reading the scripture lessons for the day) and Intercessor (reading the Prayers of the People), but reading is always optional. If members of the host family are acolytes, they can also serve in this capacity.

 

Children’s Sunday School Classes: We offer a combination of intergenerational, milestone, and grade level Sunday school classes. We also have a designated monthly Sabbath Sunday. Unless otherwise announced, kindergarten – fifth grade meet 9:30 – 10:15 a.m. on the second floor of the Parish House. Both classes gather to sing with Mr. Riley in Room 211 before moving to their individual classes: Kindergarten – 2nd grade in Room 209, and 3rd - 5th grade in Room 211. Each of the classes is led by two adult volunteers and use a combination of “Feasting on the Word,” a lectionary-based curriculum, and Godly Play, a Montessori-based curriculum.

 

Sabbath Sundays – Time to Rest, Reflect, Connect: The following Sundays have been designated as Sabbath Sundays for children, youth, and adults: Oct. 12, Nov. 16, Jan. 11, Feb. 22, March 29, and April 5. Between services on Sabbath Sundays, we will gather informally with our church family from both the 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. services to enjoy a coffee hour and doughnuts. An intergenerational gathering with no agenda or program, simply a time to hang out and talk with old friends and meet new friends.

 

Communion Milestone for K, First, and Second Graders: On Sunday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 26, at 9:30 a.m., the children will have special lessons on the Eucharist during their regular Sunday school class. On Sunday, Nov. 2, at 9:30 a.m., in All Saints Chapel, Fr. David Umphlett and Marjorie Donnelly will lead a family-friendly conversation with the children and their parents about the Eucharist and its symbols and then visit the sacristies. The preparation culminates on Sunday, Nov. 9 at the 10:30 a.m. service with a Celebration of Communion for the children and their families. The children will have Milestone Buddies with 13-year-olds in the Rite 13 Milestone. Our party on Sunday, Nov. 9 will be in the Youth House with our milestone buddies!



Special Events Fall 2025


Blessing of Backpacks: We will bless the backpacks or briefcases of students and teachers returning to school, adults returning to the office, and anyone who needs a boost. Sunday, Sept. 7, 10:30 a.m. service. Everyone will receive a Holy Trinity Backpack tag that says: BE KIND.

 

Middle School Lock-in: Youth in grades 6-8 are invited to an overnight Lock-In on Saturday Sept. 20-Sunday, Sept. 21. There will be a fun offsite activity, late night hide and seek in the church, crafts, a movie, and more! On Sunday, we will have breakfast, attend Intergenerational Sunday School, and worship together. No EYC that night.

 

Blessing of the Animals: In commemoration of the Feast of St. Francis, join us to give thanks for the animals in our lives and ask God’s blessing. We will collect pet food and supplies for Red Dog Farm, a local animal rescue. Sunday, Oct. 5, 4-4:30 p.m., Labyrinth. Youth in grades 6-12 will make pet treats that evening, 4:30-6 p.m., in Haywood Duke.

 

Glory Fridge High School Retreat: All youth in grades 9-12 are invited to a weekend of prayer, service, and play at Glory Ridge! We will drive there and back together. If you’ve never been, this is a great way to sample Glory Ridge before committing to a week in the summer. Oct. 24-26, 2025.

 

Trunk or Treat: All superheroes, magical animals, and spooky faces are welcome at our annual Trunk or Treat celebration Wednesday, Oct. 29. A pizza dinner will be served in Haywood Duke 5-7 p.m., and Trunk or Treat will begin in the back parking lot at 6 p.m. Parishioners are needed to decorate their trunks and provide treats for children. DJ Randy entertains, and there are prizes for spookiest, most creative, and best in show trunks and costumes. Wednesday, Oct. 29, back parking lot

 

All Saints’ Day Celebration: At 10:30 a.m. following the Peace, Mr. Riley will lead a parade of children and youth wearing crowns and waving streamers singing the spiritual “When the Saints Go Marching In”. Children in the Communion Milestone and youth in the Rite 13 Milestone will march with their “Milestone Buddies” in the parade. Sunday, Nov. 2, Nave

 

GSO Area EYC Friendsgiving: Bring a dish to share and join other Greensboro area Episcopal youth in grades 6-12 for a potluck meal! Nov. 23, 5:30-7 p.m., Robert Payne Youth House.

 

Advent Wreath Making: The tradition of lighting the candles of the Advent wreath brings new meaning to the waiting and hoping that fills the long December days before Christmas. Young and old, families and singles are invited to gather for a pizza dinner and Advent wreath making. Bring your own live greens and clippers. Other supplies are provided. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 5:30-7 p.m., Haywood Duke

 

Annual Meeting and Vestry Elections: The annual parish meeting to elect new Vestry will be held Sunday, Dec. 7 at 9:30 a.m. While the adults meet, children and youth will gather in Haywood Duke (at 9 a.m.) to do a service project together.

 

Angel Tree Shopping: Every year, EYC youth sponsor children and families in need of Christmas cheer. This year, 6-8th graders will shop at Target on Lawndale from 4:30-5:30 p.m., then eat dinner at Panera or City BBQ from 5:30-6 p.m. High schoolers will join up for dinner at either location, 5:30-6 p.m., then shop 6-7 p.m. at Target.

 

Birthday Party for Jesus: Wear your favorite pajamas to our Birthday Party for Jesus during Wednesday Night Supper, Dec. 17. Breakfast for Dinner is served from 5:30-7 p.m. in Haywood Duke with Christmas crafts for the children. Youth are invited to earn service hours helping children at the craft tables. The evening culminates with singing “Happy Birthday to Jesus” and everyone enjoying birthday cake! Wednesday, Dec. 17, 5:30-7 p.m., Haywood Duke Room



Special Events Spring 2026


Bible Milestone for Third, Fourth, and Fifth Graders: We want children from an early age to learn and explore scripture so that they understand the Bible as the living word of God. Every other year, we give our third, fourth, and fifth graders a Bible of their own. Presenting them with a Bible during worship reiterates that scripture is the touchstone of our faith and invites them to connect their lives with the great story of God’s love. To prepare children for this milestone in their lives, we have planned the following special events: Sunday, Jan. 25 and Feb, 1 at 9:30 a.m. children will attend Bible Sunday school classes in their regular classroom. Sunday, February 8 at 9:30 a.m., children and their parents will meet in All Saints Chapel with Fr. David Umphlett and Marjorie Donnelly. Sunday, Feb.  15 at 10:30 a.m. children will receive Bibles during the worship service. We will have Milestone Buddies with 9th graders in the Confirmation Milestone. Our party on Sunday, Nov. 9 will be in the Youth House with our milestone buddies!

 

He, She, We, and God: A sexuality program for fifth and sixth graders and their parents. This is a unique opportunity to place the gift of sexuality within our Christian faith. The program is only offered every other year. It is facilitated by Jenny Beaumont, Missioner for Adult and Life-long Formation in our diocese and Faith and Human Sexuality educator. Registration will open in November. Class dates are Feb. 6-7.

 

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, Burying the Alleluias, & Mardi Gras Carnival: Gather at 5:30 p.m. outside Haywood Duke and process to the Columbarium to bury Alleluias for the season of Lent. A pancake supper and Mardi Gras carnival with pancake races and pancake decorating follows. Tuesday, Feb. 17, 5:30-7 p.m., Columbarium and Haywood Duke

 

Price Scholarship 2026: Seniors in high school who are confirmed members of Holy Trinity are eligible to apply for the Price scholarship, which provides $16,000 if they attend an accredited four-year college or university as a full-time student for four years. Candidates must demonstrate commitment to achieving success during high school and in future collegiate studies and have financial need. Applications will be available online Tuesday, Jan. 13 with a due date of Thursday, March 19.

 

Easter Day Nursery, Flowering of the Cross, and Children’s Chapel: We will have nursery care during the 9 a.m. service. A large wooden cross is placed outside the church doors, and parishioners are encouraged to bring flowers from home to flower the cross at all services. After flowering the cross at 9 a.m., bring children ages kindergarten through third grade to Broome Hall for a special Easter Children’s Chapel. Children will rejoin their families at the Peace.


Easter Coffee & Lemonade and Egg Hunt: After the 9 a.m. Easter Day service, parishioners and guests are invited to the Patterson Terrace for fellowship and the start of the Easter Egg hunts.

 

Vacation Bible School registration opens in February. Open to rising four-year-old Pre-K through rising fifth graders. There is a special service-learning track for 4th and 5th graders with field trips off campus to volunteer at places such as BackPack Beginnings. Rising sixth graders and older can serve as Junior Shepherds. June 15-18.