Gratis Grans at Saint Mark

• What is Gratis Grans?

It is a monthly baby-sitting service, free to members of St. Mark who have children between the ages of three months and 5^th grade.

• When do you meet?

We usually meet on the first Friday of each month from 6:00 until 9:00 PM, unless other church-wide St. Mark activities are already planned.

• Who provides the service?

The sitters are mature men and women of St. Mark who love the Lord and love children.

• Where do you meet? 

      We meet in the children’s wing of the main building.  Come in through the playground gate and ring the doorbell.

• What do you do for three hours?

We read, play games, make cards for shut-ins, and watch movies.  There are enough adults that we can divide into smaller groups to meet different needs and interests of the children.

• Do the children eat there?

Some parents pick up Happy Meals, which the children can eat when they arrive.  We also provide simple snacks but are learning to avoid sugar and caffeine.

• What kind of security do you provide?

First of all, all the doors into the church are locked, and parents must ring the doorbell to come in.  Secondly, parents must sign-in, giving children’s names, special instructions, and contact numbers.  We, in turn, give parents a cell phone number through which they can reach us at the church.

• Why do you do this?

Obviously, we’re providing St. Mark parents with a free baby-sitting service, but it’s much more than that.  We, the sitters, are getting to know the precious children of St. Mark that we probably wouldn’t know otherwise.  It’s also a time when children of different ages can play and get to know each other.  Even the sitters are establishing new friendships with each other!!  And finally, in January a group of young St. Mark parents, whose children were being lovingly cared for, met together for dinner during Gratis Grans.  Scripture tells us, “For where two or three are gathered together because they are mine, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20)  We encourage you and your family to become a part of one of these groups.

• How can we become a part of Gratis Grans

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• Gratis Grans is a childcare ministry which gives our young parents a time for errands and fellowship. It meets on First Fridays, 6:00-9:00 pm in the Ed. Building and cares for children, ages 3 mos. to 5th grade.  We could use some more "grandparents." For info, call Donna Terry at 596-8555.     
• GRATIS GRATS IS GROWING

Call Donna Terry at 596-8555 or the church office at 327-3376 to make reservations or to volunteer.

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