Christian Formation of Children and Youth
Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. Matthew 18:4-5
Welcome, Rejoice, and Come in!
We offer children and youth engaging learning, outreach, community building, and spiritual development opportunities including nursery, toddler care, church school classes, youth program/classes, Choir, Hand bells, Dance choir, Acolyting, Christmas Pageant, Lenten programs, Special Communion classes, Confirmation classes, mission projects and social activities.
Church School Mission Statement
We the teachers of the Church of the Good Shepherd, seek to invite all and provide the children and youth of our parish with a safe and loving religious education experience where they will know that they are loved by God and continually invited into relationship with Christ.
Our goal is to ensure that each young person has the opportunity to learn personally that they are loved, respected, and accepted in the way that Christ taught us and to instill in them the benefit of following those teachings in their own lives.
With programs that offer opportunities for learning, active ministry, and meaningful outreach, our children and youth are spiritually nurtured in their faith as it develops, are called to worship actively, and are invited to demonstrate their faith in the world around them.
Sunday Morning Classes
Classes for all ages are held during the 10 am service for 40-45 minutes, at which time the young people join their parents in church for Holy Communion. Youth sometimes come into church as a class.
2011-2012 Curriculum (September - June)
See the top of the home page to download the 2011-12 Registration Form
Nursery: Babies to age 3. Our youngest members and visitors enjoy free play, making friends and hearing stories, guided by parent and teen caregivers, 2 per Sunday. The goal of the program is to provide a safe and happy place for children to begin their church experience, feeling God’s love through the nurturance of the caregivers and in the smiles of their friends. This fall we are experimenting with the addition of a program called Kindermusik , a multisensory musical experience for very young children.
PreK-Kindergarten: Ages 4-6. The curriculum for this age group is Let the Children Come: Exploring Bible Stories. As with grades 4-5, it starts out with the Old Testament stories in the fall, “Meet God’s First Friends”, then moves on in the winter and spring to “Happy Birthday, Jesus” and “Jesus is a Friend of Mine.” Each story is selected for its age appropriateness and meaning within the story of God’s creative and redeeming love. Teachers choose from a variety of activities to enrich the story experientially, then allow some time for free play, which often mirrors the bible story.
Grades 1-3 Primary grade children experience the story of God’s people through the Godly Play curriculum. After a prayerful opening, the children will hear and see a bible story told by heart and presented with handmade wooden figures and colorful cloths. Then the children are invited to respond to the story experience through wondering questions and open-ended creative activities and/or a simple but prayerful feast. Our Godly Play program is based on Children and Worship by Episcopal priest, Jerome Berryman and Christian Educator/Professor Sonja Stewart.
Grades 4-5 In the Gather ‘Round curriculum, students will start the year studying “God and Moses: Stories from Exodus” in the Hebrew scriptures, then move on to the Christian scriptures learning about “Jesus, our Teacher: Stories from Matthew” and “Living the Gospel: Stories from Matthew and Acts.” With open-ended questions and creative and cooperative activities, these lessons bring God’s Word into the children’s own experience.
Grades 6-7 Rite 13 is the first two years of the Journey to Adulthood program. It focuses on forming and nurturing Christian community among the youth. It also helps students explore and affirm their gifts and creative powers. A Rite 13 Liturgy will take place in the spring during Sunday worship.
Grades 8-9 J2A/Pilgrims is the second two years of the youth program. The young people learn skills for faithful living, blending action and contemplation. At the end of the second year, youth go on a holy pilgrimage.
During the summer, children join together on Sunday mornings for an inviting and engaging multiage, K-6, lesson. There is often a scriptural or liturgical theme these lessons are connected by. Youth are invited to attend church or help in the nursery.
Vacation Bible School
In the summer of 2011, we joined with St.Matthew's United Methodist and Acton Congregational for a very exciting Vacation Bible School experience. It was a joyful cooperative effort--fun and faith-filled for all, so we will do it again! A joint VBS will be held at St. Matthew's the last week of July, 2012, from 9am -12pm, for preschool through grade 6. Mark your calendars now!
The Church of the Good Shepherd, Acton, MA employs Safe Church practices.