As Church School year gets underway, please mark your calendars with these noteworthy dates for 2012-2013. More importantly, please plan to participate!

Ministries with Children

Our hope and desire is that each child will grow to be the unique individual God has created him or her to be, identifying and freely using the gifts that God has provided. We encourage families to bring children to Church School as often as possible in order to take full advantageous of our Christian formation offerings. Christian formation is very important to us at The Redeemer. We offer an extensive Christian Formation program for all ages. See the Church School page for details.

NURSERY

The Nursery (Infant to age 2 or 3)

8:30 to 11:30 am (extended hours with advance notice)

Room 202, 2^nd Floor, Parish House

Our safe, clean, and inviting Nursery is a great place for napping, playing, hearing a story, or enjoying a snack with our caregivers. These are some of the most formative years in a child’s life, and the Nursery may well be a child’s first experience of the community of faith. We treasure each child as a gift of God and welcome all.

Caregivers: Cherie Holmes, Charlotte Morris and Jeanette Mazzocca

Click here to register your child(ren) for this class.

CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level I (Age 3 to Grade K)

Level I Atrium (Room 201), 2^nd Floor, Parish House

9:00 to 11:00 am

Children join together for prayer and song circle, experience small-group lessons grounded in the Bible or liturgy, independently work with beautiful hand-made materials, and participate in seasonal celebrations, all of which serve to enliven and strengthen the bond that exists between each child and God. Youngsters of this age are capable of great wonder and joy, and they respond positively to the order, security, ritual, and movement they find in the Montessori-based environment. This provides the foundation for all Christian formation. Here children can experience God’s transforming work through the Holy Spirit. (Parents, consistent attendance enhances a child’s comfort level. Please bring your children as often as possible, and if you want to assist, there are many easy ways you can lend a hand.)

Catechists:  Nadia Jannetta, Phil Jodz and Monica Lind
Assistants:  Lainey Bouselli, Stacey Helmers and Chuck Norris

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level II (Grades 1-3)

Level II Atrium (Room 209), 2^nd Floor, Parish House

10:15 to 11:00 am

Expanding on Catechesis I, Level II offers presentations based on themes from the Holy Bible and the liturgy, prayers, songs, and opportunities for reflection through art, crafts, peer interaction and meditative work. Imagination and agility with the concept of time allow this age group to appreciate the history of the kingdom of God through large-scale presentations. The year is punctuated with seasonal celebrations. The Atrium environment offers freedom, delight and refreshment through the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit. Children begin to assume leadership responsibilities and develop meaningful relationships within the Christian community. Adults, if you would like to help, we would welcome your presence on Sunday mornings.

Catechists:  Barbara Billings and Karen Nagel
Assistants:  Kathy Fox, Hilarie Johnston, Karen Wallingford and Lizzie Helminska

GOOD SHEPHERD

Good Shepherd-4 (Grade 4)

Room 5, Lower Level, Parish House

10:15 to 11:00 am

Good Shepherd-5 (Grade 5)

Room 6, Lower Level, Parish House

10:15 to 11:00 am

Just as fourth and fifth grade serve as a bridge between elementary and middle school, Good Shepherd 4 and 5 seek to guide our young believers from Catechesis to Rite 13. This program builds on the joy and love for God cultivated in Catechesis, while providing the Biblical narrative needed to engage in spiritual discovery and fellowship during Rite 13. Monthly interactive rotations seek to illuminate key Old and New Testament passages by exploring each narrative through several different lenses – art, missions, drama, etc. Through hand-on programming, children are able to begin to make the connection between the Bible and the modern world. Good Shepherd takes advantage of this age groups increasing response to the unfolding generosity of God by asking “What is my place in the Kingdom of God?” This wondering lays the foundations for a life of commitment to furthering the church’s mission of love and justice in this world.
 

GS-4 leaders:  Prill Bradshaw, Lorraine Jones and Mary Ellen Noel
GS-5 leaders:  Becky Best, Stephen Billings and Chandra Kee

For more information on all the programs for Children Spiritual Formation, please contact Tory Kline, Director of Children's Ministries.

     
Click on the image to download a PDF
copy of the 2012-13 Christian Formation
for Children brochure

Watch a short video of our 4th & 5th grade's Christmas Pageant-December 2010.