Adventure Camp
|
Sunday School & Godly PlaySunday School programs are part of our 10 a.m. service. Children and youth gather in closely-graded groups for developmentally-appropriate stories, reflection, play, craft, discussion, and the all-important snack.
Nursery Care Children aged 0 to 4 are welcome in our Nursery, which operates every Sunday year-round during our 10am service. Paid Nursery workers and parent volunteers offer care and community to our youngest parishioners. Godly Play - For children in Preschool through Third Grade. “Why does anyone tell a story? It does indeed have something to do with faith – faith that the universe has meaning, that our little human lives are not irrelevant, that what we choose to say or do matters, matters cosmically.” -- Madeleine L'Engle, quoted in The New York Times, Sept 8, 2007. Godly Play is a Montessori-based curriculum built on the premise that children want to know God rather than know about God. In the careful telling of stories, and sharing of wondering questions, adults help children develop a language to express what they already know about God. (And in the process, adults learn something, too.) Over the years, St John's has modified the ways in which we use this curriculum to fit the learning culture and spirituality of our community. Godly Play classes are grouped into two age groups: 1. FIRESIDE ROOM: Grades Pre-K through 1. 2. GARDEN ROOM: Grades 2 and 3. They may hear the same story on a given Sunday, or different ones, depending on the schedule. Additionally, there are occasional Sundays in the church year when we prefer to have all ages worshiping together in the church, and so we do not offer Godly Play on those days. For details on the lessons for each week and a way to bring the lesson home, see the class page. Weaving God's Promises - For children in grades 4 and 5. Ralph Waldo Emerson, reflecting on the process of writing, said "First we read, then we write." The same holds true of learning about God. First we hear the stories, and then we begin to tell them, drawing from experience and our observations of the real world. Children in grades 4 and 5, who have been participating in the Godly Play curriculum for several years, are ready to start applying scripture and tradition to their own lives. Under the guidance of caring adults, and using a curriculum developed by the Episcopal Church, children in these pivotal years begin developing the skills to think critically and creatively about their religious tradition. For details on the lessons for each week and a way to bring the lesson home, see the class page. Middle School and High School 6th through 12th Grade: The youth and adult leaders spend their mornings discussing what it means to be a Christian in today's world. You can find the lessons on the class page. Please see our Youth Group home page for information on other programs for Middle School and High School youth. |
|
Photo by Caren Miles