Here for Families
At Grace, we love families, and we want to support and encourage them to thrive! Our clubs and groups help children to build friendships, have fun, and hear about Jesus for themselves. On a Sunday, our meetings are intentionally designed to be accessible for the whole family, learning together. And we provide families with access to great materials, seminars, courses and resources.
For 0-4s + parent
Thursdays 10-11.30am
The Addison Centre
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Our playgroup for families, where children can enjoy a big hall full of toys, craft, storytime from the Bible, snack, songs and bubbles. Babies can enjoy soft mats and toys in the baby corner. Parents will also receive a warm welcome and refreshments.
Cost: £2/week; (£1/additional sibling). Or pay for a whole term upfront: £20 (£10/sibling).
Contactless available.Essential: Please ensure you complete the Parental Consent form 2023-24
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Leaders:
Anna EvansMore Information: Contact fcy@graceinthecommunity.com
For up to Year 1 + Dad /Grandad
First Saturday of the month 9.30-11am
Soft Play at John Bunyan Sports & Fitness
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Spend a Saturday morning with your kids (give mum the morning off!). Enjoy coffee and cake and hang out with other Dads.
Cost: £2/week; (£1/additional sibling). Contactless available.
Essential: Please ensure you complete the Parental Consent form 2023-24
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JAN 6th
FEB 3rd
MARCH 2nd
APRIL 6th
MAY 4th
JUNE 1st
JULY 6th
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Leaders:
Graham AlbansMore Information: Contact fcy@graceinthecommunity.com
Years 1-4
Wednesdays 6-7pm
The Addison Centre
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A full evening of fun: Crazy challenges, games galore, scrumptious snacks, fab craft, dramatic Bible story-telling and oddles of other awesome activities.
Cost: £2/week; or pay for a whole term upfront: £20. Contactless available.
Essential: Please ensure you complete the Parental Consent form 2023-24
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Leaders:
Andy & Caroline PaxonMore Information: Contact fcy@graceinthecommunity.com
Years 5-8
Fridays 7pm-8.15pm
Kempston Youth Centre
and Kempston Centenary Hall
(alternatively -see below for venue details)
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Our programme includes firm favourites like: a chip crawl, glow-in-the dark night, nerf battles, giant cluedo, wide games, paint wars & pizza, with massive amounts of sport, games & crafts too. Each week will also include some tasty tuck and a chance to ask big questions as we dig into the Bible.
Cost: £2/week; or pay for a whole term upfront: £20. Contactless available.
Essential: Please ensure you complete the Parental Consent form 2023-24
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26 APR - Centenary Hall
03 MAY - Kempston Youth Centre
10 MAY - Centenary Hall
17 MAY - Kempston Youth Centre
24 MAY - Centenary Hall
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Leaders: Tim & Sian Eaves
More Information: Contact fcy@graceinthecommunity.com
Years 9-13
Sundays 7pm-9pm
The Addison Centre
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Each session will ordinarily be a combo of games, chat, banter, snacks and a look at the Bible.
Any teenager is welcome, you don't need to have been coming to Grace for years to qualify, you could be brand new, or anywhere in the middle.
Cost: £2/week; or pay for a whole term upfront: £20. Contactless available.
Essential: Please ensure you complete the Parental Consent form 2023-24
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Leaders: Vicky Atkinson
More Information: Contact fcy@graceinthecommunity.com
Invite a friend!
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Tweens
Bible Study
Years 6-8
Two Mondays a month
6.30pm-7.30pm
At leaders’ home (Kempston)
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Enjoy the dreamy combo of food, games & explore more of what the Bible has to say.
Essential: Please ensure you complete the Parental Consent form 2023-24
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Leaders: Dave & Emma Holloway
More Information: Contact fcy@graceinthecommunity.com
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Mon 15th Jan
Mon 29th Jan
Mon 12th Feb
Mon 26th Feb
Mon 11th March
Mon 25th March
Mon 22nd April
Mon 13th May
Mon 10th June
Mon 24th June
Mon 8th July
Havoc
Bible Study
Years 9-13
Mondays 7-8pm (Girls group)
Tuesdays 7-8pm (Boys & Girls groups)
At leaders’ homes (Kempston)
VOX Explore course running instead of the normal sessions from 5th March MORE INFO
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A midweek chance to dig a bit deeper into the Bible, as well as hanging out with others in homes of friends.
Essential: Please ensure you complete the Parental Consent form 2023-24
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Leader: Karen Jones
More Information: Contact fcy@graceinthecommunity.com
Important Information
Relating to all of our groups and clubs
Costs
At Grace, we never want costs to prevent people attending our groups or events. If finances are a burden, please feel able to speak to your group leader or contact us if we can help with the costs.
Additionally you may want to see if any of our financial support help is relevant to you.
Parental Consent
Please complete a form for each child attending any of our groups. This is important for safety, safeguarding, proper care and communication.
NB To be completed once per academic year.
Safeguarding
All of the volunteers and staff involved in our children’s groups are DBS checked and have regular safeguarding training.
For more information, or to raise a concern: Go to our Safeguarding page
Family Life
Partnering with you
We put on, and flag-up helpful seminars, courses and resources to help parents be even better parents! You’ll find loads of resources - from podcasts, books, videos and articles to help support you and your family, whatever age your children are, and whether things are going ‘to plan’ or not…
Sunday Services for families
At Grace every Sunday is a Family Service
We value the importance of worshipping together as a family -intergenerationally, therefore do be reassured we don’t mind the noise & movement that come with young families!
The services are intentionally accessible for the whole family, including a Bitesize slot and a follow-along activity sheets for young children. There is also a retreat space in the foyer if little ones are getting too fractious for your liking. This is set up with a few toys for them, and a livestream screen for you to continue following the service.
You may want to listen to our regular songs together at home so that they are more familiar.
Additionally, we do offer two groups for the younger children to access during both morning services:
For 0-3s
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A ‘drop off’ creche facility that allowing you to leave your child and return to hear the sermon yourself. During this time (approx 40 mins) they will be cared for, have time to play, do some simple drawing /craft, have a snack, Bible story time and songs and start to form friendships.
Essential: Please ensure you complete the Parental Consent form 2023-24
For 3 year olds - Year 1
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Children can be ‘dropped off’, and you can return to the church service to hear the sermon yourself. During this time (approx 40 mins) they will have fun learning about Jesus with an engaging Bible story, linking craft, songs and time to play and get to know others in church their own age.
Essential: Please ensure you complete the Parental Consent form 2023-24
Special Events
Especially for Families, Children & Youth
Throughout the year we have events to look out for. In a typical year, we have Easter Weekend Special, End of Year Family Special for our children’s groups, Big Sunday Picnics /Lunches, family-friendly Remembrance Service and a lively Kids Carol Service at Christmas.
Coming up…
Join us for a big buffet picnic and hang out with other families!
26 MAY 23 JUN 28 JUL 25 AUG 22 SEP
1 - 2.30pm, Food served in the Addison Centre. Picnic in the park adjacent. Anyone can come along, bring food if you can, but don’t worry if you can’t! Hope to see you there!
“If there are ways we can support your family at the moment, or you would just like to know more about our various groups, get in touch.”
Hazel Davies - Families, Children & Youth Co-ordinator