Unfortunatley we don't have a children's program at this time becaise we don't have any children or young families in our church.  However, we would love to have children and people of all ages to participate and enrich our common life. If you have a child and are wanting a good program, please call the church and working in consultation with the parents we will get one started.

In the meantime, know that if you have young children who are at that curious age where they like to run and explore, please do not let this stop you from visiting with us.  Children are always welcome at St. Ambrose and if they want to run around or visit at the altar, that's perfectly fine.  They are just children being children.  Besides, Jesus holding a little child said: Whoever welcomes one such as these, welcomes me and the one who sent me."  So please know that you and your children are welcome.

Although this is a common phrase, one does not actually "go" to church.  We tend to use this phrase because we own buildings where the church - literally the "people of God" gather to worship.  So although we frequently speak of "going to church" the deeper meaning when used in this context is to actually think of it as the "the church gathering together to worship."  This is highlighted in the Anglican and other mainstream traditions by the "collect" at the start of worship, where the priest or other minister "collects the prayers of all the people gathered" to bring them to God.

That said, it is true that one need not be part of a worshipping community to believe in God, but that's not what church is about.  "Church" is about people journeying together, each one seeking to know God or as we might say, "to develop a God conciousness" through our rich and diverse Christian traditions, our shared stories, our rituals, our encounter with one another, and the wisdom teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.   

The gathering of the church is also a place where one can bring their gratitude to that great mystery that is the source of all life we collectively call God.  It is a place where we can bring our pain, our grief, our sorrow, our fear, and our dissapointment, giving a voice to that which we carry deeply inside of us.  It is where we learn, listen, meditate, pray, share, sing and heal - hopefully bringing us to a deeper wholeness as we grow in our faith.

Another feature of belonging to a church community is that it helps shape us to live out that which is central to our spiritual world view (in other words, what we believe) through the work and ministry of the church.  Some of us may do this by volunteering at hospitals or other secular organizations where a helping hand is needed.  Others do it within the context of the "work of the church" by visiting people who are lonely or shut in, providing meals and shelter, speaking out on issues of social justice and the environment, offering spiritual and theological growth opportunities for those seeking a deeper understanding, participating in prayer groups, etc.  Although there is great diversity in Christian beliefs and practices globally, one thing we are all agreed on is that we are to be the hands and feet of God in the world, proclaiming God's blessing, compassion, mercy, forgiveness and unconditional love.