The nursery is available for children from infancy through four years old. It is open Sunday mornings from 8:45 a.m. through the end of the 11:30 a.m. service. Families who wish to do so may bring their children into the later part of the church service to participate in the Eucharist. We also have a “PrayGround” area at the back of the sanctuary for families with young children to use during the service.
In the Trinity Nursery, two or more experienced caregivers offer loving care to our children. Filled with toys, books and craft materials, the nursery is a cheerful area with an atmosphere of warmth and fun. The children look forward to being in the nursery during services. The nursery is also used during evening meetings and church functions so that parents with young children may, more easily, participate in the full life and ministry of the church.
Our goal is to offer the children a safe, nurturing Christian environment, and to provide their parents the comfort and opportunity to pursue their own spiritual enrichment. Caregivers have passed a background check and have completed a diocesan training session called “Safeguarding God’s Children.” The nursery is also free from nuts (peanut and tree nut) during the church services to ensure the safety and well-being of all our children. The nursery is cleaned after each use and masks are encouraged for children ages 2 and older.
For more information about the nursery you may contact our nursery coordinator, Kim Clay.
Children’s Chapel is offered during the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Worship Service. Designed for children ages 4-9, Children’s Chapel is a place where young people can understand the liturgy in an age-appropriate way, helping them to grow as faithful Christians.
Children’s Chapel is more than an excuse to leave “big” (and sometimes “boring”) church. It is more than a rest for parents who need a break from squirmy children. It is an opportunity to experience God in another, sacred way. It is the chance for children to be children and to come to Christ, as they are, worshiping in a space that has been set apart for them.
The structure of the Children’s Chapel time parallels the happenings in the sanctuary. After the second reading in the service, following adult guides, children process to the chapel upstairs during the Sequence hymn before the Gospel reading. Once there, they sing songs, hear the Gospel story and a short reflection on the reading. Prayers of petition and thanksgiving are offered, many of the prayers coming from the children themselves. The children then return to “big” church for The Peace. We invite you to come worship with us and experience the sacred space of Children’s Chapel.
Interested in assisting or leading in Children’s Chapel? Please contact us at children@trinitybloomington.org or at 812-336-4466 ext. 110 for more information.
Sunday School is an integral part to our children’s faith formation. It lays a strong foundation to a person’s education as a Christian, an education which is a life-long process.
Trinity is called by God to serve youth and their families by building a community of belonging and youth leadership, fostering curiosity in our faith, and respecting the dignity of every human being.
In each of our journeys of faith, we all will encounter moments of questioning, doubt, and insecurities. The importance of hope and belief in God’s unconditional love, especially for our children and youth, who are navigating a complex world filled with unique challenges, is a key part of the formation program at Trinity.
Trinity’s children and youth are growing up in a world that has changed drastically from the one many adults have grown up in. This lends itself to challenges that are unique to today’s young people, and different from those challenges experienced by previous generations. Young people today are growing up in a world of digital overload, accompanied by the pressures and complexities of social media, which can significantly impact their mental health and self-esteem. Constant exposure to extremely polarized online content brings a seemingly endless stream of conflict to the forefront of their attention, which compounds levels of stress and anxiety. At every turn, our young people are inundated with information about environmental issues, political and societal turbulence, and international conflicts, which can create a sense of instability and fear about the future. And, unlike past generations, due to advances in technology and communication, they have to navigate these complexities with a heightened awareness and a sense of urgency that can be disorienting and overwhelming, leaving young people feeling insignificant and powerless. This is all, of course, on top of the more “traditional” challenges of growing up, such as academic and extracurricular demands.
Understanding and experiencing God’s unconditional love can provide our youth with a strong foundation, helping them navigate life’s challenges and uncertainties with resilience and hope.
Knowing we are loved unconditionally by God offers us all a sense of emotional security- a “house upon the rock,” if you will [Matthew 7:24-25]. This security allows us to face the challenges and failures of life with more confidence, knowing that our worth is not dependent on external validation, but on God’s eternal love. Understanding and accepting God’s love for us helps us to face our fears and ground ourselves in something more stable and lasting than our own insecurities and society’s ever-changing standards. This is more relevant than ever in today’s social media landscape, which encourages children to seek affirmation and validation from other people.
Our youth are forming their identities in a society that is in the midst of wrestling with big, complex, nuanced ideas and beliefs about self-identity. Understanding that we are beloved children of God and we have identity in Christ can provide a stable sense of self to build from as we grow. This identity in Christ- beloved, chosen, and loved by a self-giving God- transcends cultural labels, fashion trends, and social pressures, offering kids a chance to root their sense of self in something eternal and unchanging as they work out the big questions that we all wrestle with, such as, “who am I, really?”, “where do I fit in?”, and “does anyone truly understand me?”
It’s natural for people, especially young people, to question their faith. However, we live in a world that often demands certainty. It can be easy for that cultural attitude to cross over into faith formation spaces and leave young people feeling scrupulous and anxious. By encouraging our youth to explore the mysteries of faith, and assuring them of God’s unwavering love, we create a safe space for them to explore their doubts so they can seek answers without fear. This fosters a deeper, more resilient faith.
So, what do we offer our youth at Trinity to lead them by example and inspire them in faith?
Sunday School is a core part of faith formation at Trinity. It is a space where children and youth are invited to explore who God is, who they are, and how they belong in God’s family, with room for curiosity, honesty, and growth.
We meet during the academic year on Sunday mornings after the 9:00 a.m. service, from 10:15–11:15 a.m. Classes are open to children and youth from elementary through high school.
During the 2025–2026 program year, our Sunday Schoolers gather together as one mixed-age group, ranging roughly from 2nd through 11th grade. With a smaller group and limited volunteer capacity, this structure allows us to focus on relationships, shared conversation, and flexible learning.
Our curriculum, Foundations of Faith, is built around three guiding questions: Who is God? Who does God say I am? How do I fit into God’s family?
Sunday School at Trinity is designed as a space that makes disciples through relationship and curiosity. Lessons are designed to adapt. We focus on nurturing each child’s unique relationship with God rather than asking them to master a set of answers.
In practice, this means space for curiosity, wonder, and honest questions. We teach theology with respect for science, reason, and spiritual exploration. Our lessons revolve around open-ended discussion of each week’s focus theme, rather than scripted responses. We are grounded in a focus on God’s character and God’s desire to be close to us. Classroom engagement with scripture is enriched through music, prayer, conversation, and creative expression. We care for each child’s unique experience of faith.
Skepticism, imagination, and uncertainty are welcome here. Children and youth are met with care, attention, and the heart of Jesus: Emmanuel, God with us. Faith is something we grow into together, with a God who reaches out to us, draws close to us, and loves us unconditionally as we wonder together.
Each week, families receive a short take-home resource designed to support faith conversation beyond Sunday morning. These are not meant to add to busy schedules, but to offer simple ways to notice God’s presence in daily life. We also share weekly eNotes with families, including a brief reflection on what we’re exploring in Sunday School and ideas for continuing the conversation at home.
All volunteers working with children and youth are required to complete diocesan Safe Church, Safe Communities training. We are committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and attentive environment for every child.
Registration for Sunday School is available online, and paper forms are also available on Sunday mornings near the Sanctuary.
In addition to Sunday School, Trinity’s Family Discipleship Ministry offers opportunities for children, youth, and families to connect, worship, and grow in faith together throughout the year.
These offerings include seasonal and intergenerational events that bring the parish together in meaningful, accessible ways. Recent programs have included Lenten and Easter gatherings, intergenerational learning events, summer series designed for all ages, fundraisers, fellowship nights, and parish-wide celebrations that welcome children and families into the life of the church.
Family Discipleship also supports youth formation beyond the parish through retreats, diocesan collaboration, and shared leadership development. Youth have participated in fall retreats, and the ministry remains connected to diocesan programs that strengthen formation, safety, and sustainability.
Across all of these offerings, the focus remains consistent: creating spaces where young people and families feel known, welcomed, and invited into deeper relationship with God and one another. Some events are educational, some are social, some are creative or service-oriented. All are shaped by Trinity’s same commitment to belonging, curiosity, and shared life in faith.
Details about upcoming programs and events are shared regularly through parish communications, service announcements, and eNotes, and families are always welcome to participate as their schedules allow, whether or not they are members of our church.
Questions about Sunday School, youth formation, or family discipleship at Trinity can be directed to Megan Canonica, Family Discipleship Minister, at children@trinitybloomington.org or 812-336-4466
The Christian Education Commission at Trinity offers regular fellowship opportunities for children and their families. As our baptismal covenant reminds us, all of us (parents, grandparents, and parish members alike) are called to support the children of Trinity as they learn and grow in faith. Sunday School teachers and Children’s Chapel leaders do this when they provide formal (and fun!) lessons for children and youth on Sunday morning. But children also need time to get to know each other and the rest of the church community in a more relaxed atmosphere. Often it’s easiest for children from birth through elementary school to do that in the form of fellowship activities that include the entire family.
Trinity has offered social activities geared to children and their families for several years. These events welcome people of all ages, whether or not they are parents, but the timing and activities are intended to be especially comfortable for children and their parents. Join us whenever you can!
Do you have questions or suggestions? Would you like to get involved? We’d love to hear from you.
Contact Megan Canonica with questions at children@trinitybloomington.org
Looking for more ways to bring your faith home? Explore this resource for Episcopal families: Grow Christians: A Community of Disciples Practicing Faith at Home at www.growchristians.org. Gathering reflections, stories, images and recipes from diverse Episcopalians, this group blog inspires generations to come together as they celebrate the presence of God through the Christian year.
Looking for more ways to bring your faith home? Explore this resource for Episcopal families: Grow Christians: A Community of Disciples Practicing Faith at Home at www.growchristians.org. Gathering reflections, stories, images and recipes from diverse Episcopalians, this group blog inspires generations to come together as they celebrate the presence of God through the Christian year.
