CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
FOR ALL AGES
Make me know Thy ways, O Lord; Teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, For Thou art the God of my salvation; For thee I wait all the day.
Psalm 25: 4,5Goals of St. Peter’s Christian Education
. To deepen an understanding of, and personal relationship with, God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and of His Church
. To welcome every young person and adult into this Parish Family and the Christian Church, and especially within our Anglican Episcopal tradition.
. To provide a nurturing and loving atmosphere for all.You, and each member of your family, are welcome to participate in Christian Education every Sunday at 10:15 a.m., and throughout the week as noted below:
St. Peter's Sunday School and Youth Groups offer an array of fun, meaningful programs that reinforce lessons of God's love. A team of volunteer parishioners leads our children each week in Sunday School, using the Episcopal Children's Curriculum and the Episcopal Curriculum for Youth. This curriculum covers the important faith stories in the Old and New Testaments, and stresses both the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist as well as Church History. Our children and young adults learn how to live out their faith through leadership in worship as members of the choir, readers, and acolytes, as well as through various Outreach opportunities, such as our annual Habitat for Humanity trip. Opportunities for youth include:
NURSERY (Lower level of the Barn): A professionally staffed nursery allows to parents with infants and very young children to attend services and adult Christian Education without distraction.CHILDREN'S CHAPEL, offered during the 9:00 a.m. service in the Barn, provides a fun environment for our younger children (ages 3-6) to experience worship and storytelling. Our parishioners pair up for 6-8 week blocks to co-teach pre-kindergarten through 6th grade during our Christian Education hour on Sunday mornings at 10:00. New teachers and helpers are always warmly welcome!
PRESCHOOL (ages 3 & 4) (Lower level of the Barn): Bible stories come to life, and each Sunday is filled with games, songs and crafts that bring alive God's love.
KINDERGARTEN (Lower floor of the Barn): The children hear Bibles stories that make God's active role in people's lives accessible and interesting. Godly play and hands-on creativity feed inquisitive minds and reinforce lessons.
GRADES 1 & 2 (Lower floor of the Barn): Exploration of Bible stories through crafts, games, and discussion fills each Sunday lesson, making the people of the Bible and the Church come alive for the children.
GRADES 3 & 4 (Lower floor of the Barn): As Bible stories become more familiar to them, older children actively discuss their meaning and impact on children and the world around them. Creative crafts, role-playing, and reading enliven each class.
GRADES 5 & 6 (Lower floor of the Barn): Building on earlier lessons, fifth and sixth graders examine in greater depth their relationship to God the Father, His son our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP (Grades 7 & 8) and SENIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP (Grades 9-12) (Rector's and Associate Rector's offices in the Parish House): As our children grow into adolescents and young adults, they begin to challenge and question the world around them. This class seeks to explore questions of their faith and how to live out that faith, grounded in their Baptism, in an ever-changing world. We strive to give them the tools to make good and life-giving decisions as life becomes more complex. Youth group activities throughout the year range from church lock-ins, ski trips, a trip to St. John the Divine Cathedral in New York City, outreach opportunities in Coatesville, PA, and our yearly Habitat for Humanity mission week. You will find a variety of youth group activities throughout the year highlighting aspects of service and mission, fun and fellowship, and faith development.
There is also a wide array of ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION opportunities including:Our Adult Forum takes place at 10:10 a.m. every Sunday from September to June. Adult Christian Formation classes for fall 2006 includes special programs on our parish discernment process as we put together our parish profile and prepare to search for a new rector. We will also have an Open Forum in October with our Bishop when he makes his visitation, and we will have special forums highlighting Stewardship. On all other Sundays, please join in our discussion, "Opening the Bible." Anglicans proudly proclaim that we sit on the "three-legged stool" of Scripture, Tradition, and Reason. This fall we will explore the first leg of the stool and learn how the Bible came to be, how it is read and understood by people of faith, and how we can use it in our spiritual journey. Held during children's Sunday School studies, parishioners can either stay after the 9:00 service or come early for the 11:15 service to attend. Our parish takes our continuing adult Christian education seriously, and we welcome you to join us!
Operation Christmas Child, an early Christmas outreach project in which our youth (and any interested parishioner) will be participating this year, provides an opportunity for families to get involved in a simple, hands-on outreach project that reaches out to children around the world by providing a gift-filled shoebox to a child who is a refugee of civil war, survivor of a natural disaster, or a victim of extreme poverty. Families can work together to fill a shoebox with small toys, school supplies, hygiene items, and other small gifts for either a girl or a boy in a specific age category. Details, labels, and empty shoeboxes are available in the Barn. Additional details will be provided to all Sunday School classes. The shoeboxes must be returned to the church on or by November 12. Questions can be directed to Debi Lynch (or 484-320-8299).