CHRISTIAN FORMATION AND EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN

We seek at Grace to build Christian community in which children are not merely accepted but listened to and treasured as a vital part of God’s presence among us. Children of all dispositions—quiet and introspective, loud and joyful, and everything in between—are welcome here. We hope children and their families will offer their presence, their open hearts, and their spiritual gifts to the church. In doing so, they enrich our whole community.

BAPTISM

Baptism is a powerful and radical act of Christian initiation, a threshold that is crossed only once during an individual’s lifetime. In the Episcopal Church, children may be baptized as early as infancy; they are then full members in the church, the body of Christ, and so are able to share in our whole life together.

Parents who wish to have a child baptized should speak with one of the clergy. We offer workshops several times a year to prepare parents and godparents for baptism. Clergy will also meet with older children to prepare them for the sacrament. Click here for more information.

WORSHIP WITH CHILDREN

Families’ experience of worship with children are as diverse as children themselves. Some children like the ritual of the choral services; others like the informality of family-oriented worship. Some families are most comfortable sitting up front, where they can see and hear everything that happens; others like to be closer to the back, where they can move around more freely. We encourage you to find the way of worshipping that is the best fit for your family’s needs.

A Note About the Eucharist: In the Episcopal Church, all baptized members are welcome to receive communion. Many children take bread as soon as they are old enough to open their hands for it. We offer no rite of “first communion” and require no special preparation. Some parents and children, however, choose to wait to receive the sacrament. Any child who does not want to take either the bread or the wine can cross his or her arms over the chest and receive a blessing instead. Clergy are available to talk with families who have questions about the sacrament.

Children’s Corner: In the rear of the nave, this open space offers art materials and other resources to allow children to respond to the liturgy as they desire. Parents are free to accompany their children there at any point during the service.

Food Basket Offering: When the gifts are brought forward by the ushers at the time of the offertory, children carry the basket of food donations. All children who would like to help in this ritual are invited to do so; our food basket has many handles!

Liturgy in the Round: Once a month (usually on the first Sunday), this family-oriented service is offered in the Parish Hall. Dates for Liturgy in the Round are posted in advance in the bulletin.

Acolytes: Children age 8 and up are invited to be trained and then serve as acolytes. For more information, contact Nancy Lowry at nancylowry@earthlink.net

Angel Choir: Children age 3 and up are invited to sing with the Angel Choir. This group participates in services once a month; practices are usually held before the service on the morning that the choir sings. For more information, contact Mary Hocken at mhocken@verizon.net.

SAINT NICHOLAS NURSERY AND PLAYROOM

The St. Nicholas Nursery and Playroom in the Old Rectory is open from 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. on Sunday mornings. (During the summer months, they open at 10:15 a.m.) The Nursery/Playroom can accommodate 14 children from 3 months to 5 years. Six year-olds are welcome at the discretion of the babysitters. Children may be in the nursery/playroom for all or part of the service; many parents leave small children there for the Liturgy of the Word and then bring them into church to share in communion.

Parents are asked to sign their children in, letting sitters know in advance if another adult is allowed to pick a child up at the end of the service. Caregivers do not change diapers, and parents will be summoned from church for a diaper change if the need arises.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

All children are encouraged to attend Sunday School classes from 9:15-10:15 a.m., mid-September through mid-June. A light snack is served at the end of the Sunday School hour.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: Children from age 3-kindergarten and Grades 1-2 meet in two atrium classrooms for this Montessori-inspired program. In a serene and prayerful environment, children work with hands-on materials relating to parables and liturgy. Adults serve as catechists who do not “teach” so much as “announce” the Good News, allowing children to fall in love with God on their own.

Workshop Cycles: Third, fourth, and fifth graders use this active curriculum to explore five or six bible stories in depth during the course of the year. Children spend several weeks on material, exploring it from the perspective of art, music, storytelling, or drama.

Living the Good News: Young people in 6th and 7th grade follow this lectionary-based curriculum, exploring the gospel reading for the week. They focus on biblical literacy and the application of scripture to daily life.

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES

Liturgical Arts Workshop:  Children ages 7 and up are invited to join Nancy Lowry when we prepare for Easter and come enjoy the arts!  Stay turned for the details for the workshop in 2010. Please contact Nancy (nancylowry@earthlink.net) with questions.

This summer the Liturgical Arts Camp celebrated its 10th year! Stay tuned for details about the 11th year as summer 2010 approaches.

Christmas Pageant: At the 4:00 p.m. service on Christmas Eve, the Liturgy of the Word is a dramatic presentation by the children of the parish. For more information, contact Mary Hocken at mhocken@verizon.com.

Liturgical events: Feasts and fasts in our church are marked with special services for young children, including a Blessing of the Animals for St. Francis Day, a preschool service on Ash Wednesday, and a children’s service on Good Friday.

COMMUNICATIONS

Families receive a tentative calendar of children’s activities when they register for Sunday School in September.

SAFETY

Grace Church follows the Safe Church policies of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts, which can be found in full at www.diocesewma.org. All adults who work regularly with children have been checked for criminal records and trained Safe Church procedures.

Parents are asked to ensure a safe environment at Grace by being aware of their children’s whereabouts during the liturgy and coffee hour. Sunday School teachers cannot release children to go to church on their own; parents are asked to pick them up and bring them to the nave in time for the liturgy.

GUESTS

Friends are welcome and encouraged at Grace children’s events. Repeat guests to Sunday School will be asked to complete a registration form.