Education

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Infants and young children (through age 3) are provided safe, healthy, clean, loving care in the Nursery. The Nursery is open from 9:00 a.m.

GODLY PLAY

Children ages 3 through Sixth Grade participate in a very special classroom, called Godly Play. This is a Montessori-based educational experience, in some ways highly structured and in other ways allowing free discovery and self-expression. It is taught in 4 rooms:

Our first room is for 3 and 4 year olds and Kindergarteners; it is called “Following Jesus”. The children in this room will hear stories throughout the year that will help them get to know Jesus. All 3 and 4 year old children are invited to attend. This is a very relaxed, calm room. Your child should be able to freely walk into our room each Sunday. As a parent, it is O.K. to visit the first time, however, keep in mind our room is small. If you wish to be involved in our rooms as a doorperson or a storyteller we are always looking for help in any of our classrooms.

The next room is for First & Second Grade. It is called “Young Children and Worship” or “YCW” for short. This class will hear a variety of stories from the Old and New Testaments, as well as a few that help teach the children about the church calendar, Baptism etc.

The third classroom is for students in Third - Fourth Grades. This class is called “Godly Play I”. These students will also hear a variety of stories that have a bit more detail.

The fourth classroom is for students in Fifth - Sixth Grades. This class is called “Godly Play II”. These students will also hear a variety of stories that have even more detail.

ADOLESCENCE

This year, we continue the exciting Journey to Adulthood (J2A) program. It structures a process of spiritual formation for young people. Journey to Adulthood is based on two key concepts:

Manhood and womanhood are gifts from God

Adulthood must be earned.

J2A includes in-depth exploration of:

Self

Sexuality

Spirituality

Society

There are two distinct phases:

Rite-13
The Rite-13 curriculum assists young people as they take their first steps of passage away from their families and into their own lives. It begins with a liturgical celebration of womanhood and manhood. During the next two years, the community acknowledges the amazing creative power and potential of these young people, and creates a safe haven to experience new ideas, new interests and new abilities. Rite-13 is for youths in grades 7-9. The Rite-13 experience occurs on Sunday mornings, and other times as planned.

J2A (modified)
We will adapt J2A (Journey to Adulthood) for young people in grades 9-10. Six basic skills will be learned:

active listening

negotiation

assertion

research/information management

partnership

leadership

J2A classes will be held on Sunday mornings, and other events will be scheduled for special times.

Altar servers are assigned a variety of duties, to assist with ceremonial movements and ritual actions of liturgical worship. Children in grades 3-12 are needed. Contact the Rector for training and scheduling.

BIBLE STUDY

There is a long-standing group of Bible readers, who meet on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. for a one-hour conversation led by the Rector. Other groups, other times, other formats remain open at the call of other religious seekers.