Skip To Content

Children’s Ministry

A vibrant children’s ministry helps bring the living gospel into kids’ lives and open the door for young people to learn more about God, the Bible and their faith. It’s also a vital part of a healthy congregation.

Resources

Below are some ideas and tips for kid-friendly ministry, whether at home or at church.

Do you have curriculum or resource reviews, pictures, ideas, websites, stories or questions? Get in touch! We’re here to help your children’s ministry grow. If you don’t find what you need, email us and we’ll do our best to find the information you’re looking for.

Laura Walton

Children’s Ministry Network Coordinator
416-363-6021, ext. 228 (1-800-668-8932)

Lesson plans, lectionary & biblical resources

Faith at Home

Created by Barb Laufersweiler, an Episcopal layperson who wanted to pass on her ideas on faith formation, children, adults, sacramental Christianity and more. There’s a great deal of resource material that can be used at home or in church programs. This site isn’t updated, but it has a lot of useable material.

The Text this Week

Features resources for study and liturgy based on the three-year Revised Common Lectionary cycle. The site is maintained by Jenee Woodward, a United Methodist layperson. There are children’s resources at the bottom of each set of readings.

Worship

Lift Up Your Hearts God’s Children

From the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, resources and guides to help prepare worship for and with kids. You’ll find articles that include music, baptismal discussion, Sunday School, liturgy and much more.

Sermons4Kids

Created by a Baptist music director and teacher to help those in children’s ministry. It has weekly sermon ideas (also available in Spanish) as well as Sunday School links. The site is easy to navigate and a great resource.

Music

SmallTall Music

With a mission “to build up the body of Christ by creating and sharing songs of faith for small and tall.” Bryan Moyer Suderman is a Toronto-area songwriter whose catchy and theologically rich songs are used in homes, Sunday morning worship, Sunday School, clubs, schools and camps. They’ve also been published in songbooks. There’s a songbook and activity guide that can be used in conjunction with “God’s Love is for Everybody,” the first of his two CDs of original music.

Rabbit Ranch Music

Arecording company that produces music for all ages. You can listen, choose and download music. There’s a fairly big selection of Christian children’s music, with a link for free music as well.

Workshops

Songs of Faith for Small and Tall: On Writing and Leading Music for Children of the Church

It’s been said that much of our image of God is formed by the songs we sing by age 5. In this workshop, Bryan Moyer Suderman shares his passion for writing and leading “songs of faith for small and tall” and explores some of the characteristics and techniques of that music. Participants are empowered in their own ministries with children by exploring creative ways to learn, teach, write and experience music together. The workshop invites further discussion about music for children in the Church, with a particular focus on the significance of what we sing with children and how we sing with children. Different emphases are available, depending on the interests and needs of the group (e.g. song writing and adapting, song leading techniques, intergenerational worship, etc.).

Arts & crafts

Danielle’s Place

Created by a Grade 2 Sunday School teacher to help other teachers with their lessons. The site has a lot of great craft ideas, games, Vacation Bible School resources and other fun ideas.

DLTK Bible Activities

Offers printable children’s crafts, colouring pages, songs, games, lesson plans and ideas. It’s very straightforward and easy to use. Most of the content could be applied to small or large programs

Other helpful sites

The United Church of Canada

A great source of information and support. Its resources are well organized and continually updated. There’s an abundance of great material for both children’s and adult ministry.

Group Publishing

An interdenominational company whose mission is to encourage Christian growth in children, youth and adults. It has a great group of resources to enhance children’s ministry.

Scripture Union Canada

Helping churches connect with children and their families through sports. Interesting site with ideas pertaining to reaching families through baseball, soccer, hockey and basketball. Has information on Bible guides for all ages.

Bookstores & shops

Augsburg Fortress

A non-profit supplier of books and Bibles, curriculum and worship resources, church supplies and ecclesiastical arts, and more. A range of children’s ministry resources is available.

SmileMakers

A shop for crafts, decor and fun things for kids. Lots of theme resources for VBS.

Policies

“Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseer, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.” (Acts 20:28)

The Diocese is committed to making sure our Church is a holy place where the love of Christ can be modelled and learned. Our baptismal covenant calls us to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbour as ourselves (Book of Alternative Services, p. 159).

A fundamental obligation of that call is to look after the welfare of all members of our community, especially those who are vulnerable through age, infirmity or particular circumstances of dependency. This is a sacred trust that must be responsibly and safely managed.

  • The Responsible Ministry: Screening in Faith program holds us to this commitment and makes sure our children and other vulnerable people are safe and cared for in our churches
  • The Sexual Misconduct Policy is central to protecting our children, volunteers and clergy. It must be understood and followed by children’s ministry workers. Everyone who holds a high-risk position, such as Sunday School coordinator, must attend a workshop on the Sexual Misconduct Policy.

Events

Looking for events relating to children’s ministry in the Diocese of Toronto? Wondering what’s on for kids? Check out our online calendar.