Christian Formation Begins Sunday!

Welcome to a new year of Christian Formation at Christ Church! We have an amazing and dedicated group of adults volunteering to work with children and youth again this year. Our rooms have been spruced up! Our plans have been made! All we need is YOU!!

Christian formation for all begins at 9:15 am this Sunday, September 16th. Please see below for more information about each age group:

• Infants and Toddlers: Our Nursery will resume our school year schedule this week, opening at 9:00 am and closing at the conclusion of the 10:30 service (approximately 11:45 am). 
• Preschool and Kindergartners: Children in the Good Shepherd Atrium will have an abbreviated morning this week. Children who are new to the atrium this year will meet from 9:15-9:45 am. Children returning to the atrium will meet from 10:00-11:10 am and then be brought downstairs to join their families in Church. You are welcome to use the Nursery for the time when your preschoolers and kindergartens are not in atrium. ***
• First through Seventh Grade: Children in the True Vine Atrium (first through third graders) and the Golden Thread Atrium (fourth through seventh graders) will meet in their atria from 9:15-11:10 am, when they will join their families in Church.
• Eighth through Twelfth Grade: Eighth through tenth graders (the youth confirmation class) and eleventh and twelfth graders will meet from 9:15-10:15 am in their rooms on the second floor and then attend Church.
• Adults: Adults will meet from 9:15-10:15 am in the Chapel for Adult Forum. This week's topic is "Open Table, Closed Table" a discussion of inclusion in the sacrament of Holy Communion, led by our Rector, The Rev. Peter Faass.

We'll see you Sunday at Church!

*** Parents of preschoolers and kindergartners who are new to atrium this year: We are planning to see you and your child Saturday morning for the short individual orientations we have scheduled. Questions? Email Leslie at education@cometochristchurch.org. 

Suggestions for Parents

Children from the True Vine Atrium
waiting to join their parents in Church.

A new year of Christian Formation is underway at Christ Episcopal Church! There was great energy and excitement in the air on Sunday as our atria and our youth and adult classes met for the first time.


On Saturday, I met with parents who are new to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, to give them an orientation to the ministry. Included in the information I shared with them were some suggestions for parents, which I thought would be helpful for all of us involved with the Catechesis to remember as the new year begins. Enjoy!

Suggestions for Parents

As a parent, you can support child's growth by bringing them to the Atrium regularly and arriving on time as much as possible. New presentations are made to the children almost every week, and we widen our discovery of the faith as we go along. As you are able, dedicate Sunday mornings to the spiritual growth of your children.

Please know that children may not wish to talk about what they have been doing in the Atrium, or may not be able to. Going to the Atrium is more like going to Church than going to school. Just as it might feel strange to have someone question you about what you did or felt in worship, children may not wish to answer questions about their time in the Atrium, or may not be able to put into words what has happened there. You can support your child’s work in the Atrium by offering affirming comments about your child’s time spend growing with God. Also noticing elements of the Liturgy that correspond with things we are learning in Atrium can be helpful. When you have questions about what your child is doing in the Atrium, talk to a Catechist to learn more. 

There are very few papers and crafts sent home from the Atrium. Children take something home on the inside from their time in the Atrium, just as we do from Church. Art work and collages that children create in the Atrium are collected in a folder. A few times during the year, your child will review his or her folder with a Catechist and then bring all of their work home. In my family, we collected this work in a large old fashioned scrapbook, and we have enjoyed having this keepsake from atrium, and seeing how the children's work progressed over the years. 


We will communicate regularly with families about life in the Atrium via email and through our blog, Thoughts from the Sheepfold. If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to receive new blog post via email in the box on the right margin of the blog. We are always happy to meet with parents to talk about their child's development, and about what we are doing in atrium!

Welcome!

You found me!
Welcome to the new blog!  Beginning next week, I will be posting photos, information, and reflections on our Children's ministries at Christ Episcopal Church.  I'm really excited about this new vehicle for sharing our Christian formation ministry with you.  Bookmark this page and check back soon!
Thanks for stopping by!