“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.” Matthew 7:24-25
Dear Friends:
The Children, Youth, and Family Ministry team is excited to begin a new year of Sunday School and EYC! We are deeply devoted to making faith formation a meaningful experience for all through teaching and mentoring. The current age distribution led us to add another Sunday School class and combine some grades a little differently. We are thrilled to be able to offer faith formation for children in preschool through high school!
Our younger classes, Preschool & Kindergarten and 1st & 2nd grade will continue in Godly Play. It is a creative, imaginative approach to Christian formation and spiritual guidance. Godly Play invites us into Scripture and teaches us to listen for God and to make authentic and creative responses to God’s call in our lives. I encourage you to volunteer with one of these classes and experience a Godly Play session for yourself. The style of storytelling does such a beautiful job of drawing us in, even as adults, and allowing us to revisit stories that invite us to wonder about God and how God works in our lives.
The 3rd & 4th grade class will use a curriculum called Building Faith, Brick by Brick where we will express stories creatively with Legos! Each week, children will hear a Bible story that is action-packed. We will wonder together, in a very similar manner to Godly Play, then the children will have time to retell the story in their own way with Legos. We will build a prayer wall over the course of the year by writing our prayers on Post-It Note “blocks.”
The 5th & 6th grade class will follow Connect, which is designed to help pre-teens make associations between biblical themes and their own lives through activities, projects, and videos. This class will also spend the 2nd Sunday morning each month sorting items for Food 4 Thought in preparation for the congregation to pack bags after worship. We would love to have you as a helper in any of our classes. I feel certain you will be blessed by the children and will discover something new!
EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) will now consist of 7th -12th graders, moving forward. They will continue to meet on the 2nd and 4th Sunday each month after worship to deepen their faith and strengthen their relationships. Youth will begin together with lunch then split into a middle school (7th-8th) and high school (9th-12th) group with adult leaders for further discussion on the day’s topic.
Another offering this fall will be Youth Confirmation sessions beginning September 29th. For most of us, promises were made for us at our baptism when we were babies. As we mature, it’s our turn to own those words for ourselves, to renew and confirm the covenant promises made on our behalf. Each Confirmation session invites youth to learn more about our faith tradition and continually seek God’s presence and strength in our lives.
It has been incredible to watch our Children and Youth programs grow and evolve over time. I’m so grateful for the expanding number of people who invest in our children in a variety of ways. Your care and devotion makes all the difference and weaves us ever-closer together.
This Sunday, we will be blessing backpacks during worship. Everyone who is beginning a new school year, bring your backpacks, briefcases, whatever bag you carry as you teach and learn! Kids of all ages are encouraged to write or draw their back-to-school prayers in sidewalk chalk outside the main entrance. Offer up your prayers of excitement, uncertainty, and hope. Let us carry your prayers with us as we leave the building and pray for wonderful new beginnings.
See you Sunday!
Dana