Marietta Church Continues Children's, Youth Ministry Online

MARIETTA, GA — A local Marietta church continues to minister to their homebound members mixing new technology with traditional worship and liturgy. Although church services have been canceled, the church has continued with Children’s Church, just online.

Nancy Eubanks, the Director of Christian Education at St. James Episcopal Church, said in a news release that she still conducts lessons via YouTube, with discussion questions for the whole family to participate.

Eubanks is also utilizing at home games like an Outdoor Bible Scavenger Hunt and an online meeting webinar platform to keep children active in their bible discussions.

Children are also able to volunteer to write notes of encouragement and love to older parishioners who are ill or are sheltering in place.

She said that parents and children have been grateful for the online lessons provided by the church. Parent Cynthia Roberts has been using the lessons with her daughter.

“Seeing our beloved Ms. Eubanks and her warmth permeating the internet in her Sunday morning video was reassuring to my daughter and also gave her a sense of connection and normalcy to her Sunday,” she said. “I even shared the video with a friend whose church did not have a children's program online.”

The youth program at St. James will continue to thrive online with trivia games and bible study on video chat, they said.

“We did trivia with mostly youth and some families joined in,” said Matthew Bowers, Director of Youth Ministries. “There was a ton of laughter and energy. I think they are just craving socialization. It's honestly not that different than regular youth group, except the youth aren't in the room.”

St. James church said it’s no stranger to church closures. In its 175 year existence the church was temporarily closed and converted into a Confederate hospital during the Civil War. In 1964, the church was shuttered due to fire and reopened two years later.

This Sunday, the church will live broadcast their 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist via Facebook Live for the first time.

“Even though we can't be together right now, the love and support from our church body is with us. We are blessed,” said Adina Ayala, a member at St. James.