Mission Statement |
| |
To Proclaim the Gospel to all children and youth;
To Empower them to receive and respond to God’s love; and
To Prepare them for a life in Christ through worship and service.
We are grateful to God for the gift of children and youth.
With God’s help we will nurture and support families in their Christian Formation as well as recognize and foster the spiritual growth and unique gifts of all children and youth. |
|
|
| |
Church School
Sunday Mornings, 9:30–10:15 am
Good Shepherd Nursery open from 9:15–12:00 noon |
| |
I. The supervised Good Shepherd Nursery for infants and toddlers from newborn to age three is available every Sunday from 9:15 am–12:00 noon. In addition, parent volunteers assist in a period of Sacred Story and Song. Parents are invited to bring their children up to receive Communion or a blessing at the altar rail. |
| |
ii. Living the Good News is offered on Sunday mornings during the Sunday School hour. The class allows children to think, work, and play faithfully with their own experience of God.
|
| |
III. Exploration of Faith allows those in the Fourth/Fifth Grades and Sixth and Seventh Grades to investigate how faith relates to their lives. Using a creative new curriculum called “Seasons of the Spirit”, students will follow the Liturgical Calendar as they explore how God acts in their lives through discussion, art, writing, drama, and video. |
| |
IV. Confirmation/Eighth GradE is offered for those who wish to reaffirm their Baptismal Vows in the Rite of Confirmation in the spring. The class will use the J2A component that blends reflection and action in sharing the faith and how it relates to their lives. In addition to the mandatory Sunday morning classes and attendance at worship, those preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation will attend a fall overnight retreat in Connecticut. They will also participate in a Crop Walk in April to promote the cause to end hunger.
The Youth Group for young people in Ninth through Twelfth Grades will engage in various activities such as assistant teaching, acolyting, ushering and lay reading, and will meet monthly after the 10:30 service for brunch with their advisors. |
| |
Additional Programs |
| |
|
I. Children's Chapel is offered each Sunday to children age three through Third Grade during the Liturgy of the Word, the first part of the 10:30 am service. Children follow the Procession to the Chapel, and return to the Church at the Peace. Children's Chapel offers a participatory way for children to experience the liturgy at their age level. It complements but does not replace Church School.
II. Parents and Babies Group (birth to age 2) meets Friday mornings from 10:00 to 11:30 am in the Good Shepherd Room for playtime and fellowship.
| |
 |
| |
|
III. Youth Group Fellowship for those in Ninth Grade through College meets from 6:00–8:00 pm with pizza, usually on the first Monday of the month from October through June. This utilizes the final phase of Journey to Adulthood, incorporating fellowship, peer support, and planning various worship and community service projects.
IV. Music Ministries for Second through Twelfth Grade are many and varied. For details contact the Director of Music, Mollie Nichols, at 212/289-3400 ext. 204.
V. The Acolyte Ministry provides children in Third through Twelfth Grade an opportunity to be both leaders and learners. By assisting in worship as crucifers and torchbearers and serving at the altar, acolytes grow in faith as they offer their gift of service to God and to the community.
|
| |
|
|
|
