Worship

Discover Communion! at St John’s, Upper Norwood

Preparing Children Aged 7–11 for First Holy Communion. Ready to begin your child’s journey of faith? Explore what makes Discover Communion! a joyful and unforgettable experience below.

A large group of people, including children and adults, dressed in choir robes and choir gowns, gathered inside a church for a photo. They are smiling and raising their hands, with candles and stained glass windows in the background.
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A joyful journey of faith for children

Discover Communion! is a creative and welcoming course for children aged 7–11 in Upper Norwood, preparing them for their First Holy Communion at St John’s, Upper Norwood. With stories, science, baking, and prayer, we explore what it means to belong to the Christian community.

  • Sunday 1st March during Mass: Session 1
    Sunday 8th March during Mass: Session 2
    Sunday 22nd March during Mass: Session 3
    Sunday 29th March during Mass: Session 4

  • We will be discussing the possibility of a day trip to Go Ape Battersea Park.

  • Easter Sunday, 5th April at 10:30 AM

Join the journey today
A group of six young girls in colorful dresses and two adult women, one dressed in clergy attire, posing for a photo inside a church with intricate stained glass windows and gothic architecture.

Discovering Holy Communion through play, prayer and adventure

At St John’s, Upper Norwood, we help children aged 7–11 explore the meaning of Holy Communion — also called the Eucharist — in a fun, age-appropriate way. Communion is when Christians receive bread and wine as a sign of Jesus’ love and unity with the Church family.

Through four hands-on sessions, children dive into faith and big questions using:

  • Storytelling and role play

  • Science experiments

  • Baking and creative crafts

  • Reflective prayer activities

  • A joyful group trip to Go Ape Battersea Park

Every session builds confidence, friendship, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be part of the Body of Christ.

A girl receiving Holy Communion from a priest during a religious ceremony, with other children and adults watching in the background.
A stone baptismal font with carved religious figures and columns, topped with small white and pastel-colored flower pots containing green plants, against a yellow brick wall.

Open to all: Welcoming every child to Discover Communion!

A person holding an undercooked bread roll in their hand with a small cross slash on it, on a wooden table with flour and baking tools, and a plate with more baked bread rolls in the background.
Three children gathered around a kitchen counter looking into a purple device, possibly a blender or food processor.

Discover Communion is open to all children aged 7–11 (school years 2–6), whether they’re baptised or not, regularly attend church or are exploring faith for the first time. If your child hasn’t been baptised, we’ll gladly talk with you about arranging baptism before their First Holy Communion.

At St John’s, Upper Norwood, we are committed to inclusion and support. Children with additional needs, those from adoptive or foster families, and anyone needing extra care will be welcomed, celebrated, and supported every step of the way.

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Child Safeguarding

At St John’s, Upper Norwood, we are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for children and young people. All our staff and volunteers are DBS checked and trained in safeguarding to ensure their safety and well-being. To learn more, please visit our safeguarding page or get in touch with us directly.

 

Contact us to register

Want to sign up or learn more? We’d love to hear from you.

📧 Email Mthr Rachael at mthrrachael@sjun.org.uk
📧 Or contact Fr John at vicar@sjun.org.uk

📍 Location: St John’s, Upper Norwood, Sylvan Road, London SE19 2RX
📞 Phone: 020 8771 6686