The Adult Forum
Adult Forum meets on Sunday mornings at 9:15 in the Browne Room in Weber Hall (education building). Over the course of a year a variety of subjects may be discussed, from a study of the Gospel of John to what it means to be an Anglican (Episcopalian). Adult Forum provides a relaxed atmosphere where participants can sip a cup of coffee while they learn, grow and share their faith experiences.
How can I Be Part of the Adult Forum? You are invited to join the forum at any time. Adult Forums and classes can be led by adults with the interest and expertise. If you are interested in leading an Adult Forum please contact the Rector.
Please read the Upcoming Events page to learn of Lenten educational offerings for adults and youth.
Journey to Adulthood
Our program for young people ages 11-18 is called Journey to Adulthood (J2A). We spend Sunday morning education hour together, have movie nights and activities, and serve fully in our church’s corporate life of worship and outreach. In the past year, we’ve run the Shrove Tuesday pancake breakfast, raffled a J2A-baked cake for Souper Bowl Sunday, and participated in several fund raisers.
J2A focuses on aspects of the whole person in light of the Gospel to strengthen, encourage, heal, correct and empower the lives of our young people by the life and wisdom of Jesus. Through following Jesus, we see “that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals.” (Book of Common Prayer p. 829).
Our young people enter J2A when they are 11 to 13. When they turn 13, they are celebrated at Calvary with a coming-of-age ceremony not unlike the Jewish bar or bat mitzvah. This celebration is held once a year for all those turning 13 during that year. The young persons are charged to use wisely the creative power unleashed at puberty. The congregation, too, is charged to renew their commitment to our youth as full members of our community.
J2A is fun–we laugh, play, watch movies and learn a lot. We explore serious matters, too–the great stories ofscripture and the living, active presence of God in scripture and in our lives. We pray, encounter God, consider how we relate to our possessions, and trust in God on our faith journey together as the Body of Christ.
Episcopal Children's Curriculum (ECC)
The Bible, liturgy and traditions of The Episcopal Church come to life for children in first through fifth grades in the Episcopal Children's Curriculum. ECC is rooted in scripture and incorporates The Book of Common Prayer and The Hymnal to teach church traditions and standard responses used during worship. The curriculum was recently updated to provide teachers with new resources for building stimulating and effective lessons. The three-year curriculum was developed in cooperation with the Center for the Ministry of Teaching at the Virginia Theological Seminary. Materials include teacher's guides and instructional support materials, student books, newspapers, take-home cards and puzzle pads.
Overview*
ECC offers nine years of fully developed material for three age groups: Preschool/Kindergarten, Primary, and Intermediate. There are three years of material available for each age group: Shell (in the year Baptism is studied), Chalice (in the year the Eucharist is studied), and Cross (in the year Worship is studied). This format allows churches with multi-age classes to alternate study material.
Each year of the curriculum is organized into four units—Old Testament, New Testament, Sacraments, and the Church. This format is consistent across all age levels, so that students' understanding of core concepts grows week by week and year to year.
*From Living the Good News and Church Publishing Incorporated
Godly Play
On Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. our pre-school through kindergarten children enjoy Godly Play. Godly Play invites participants to come and play with God, using the language of our sacred stories and parables. Children learn to experience the Holy as they walk softly, talk softly and listen for the sometimes very soft voice of God. The Godly Play classroom is set up to catch the eye of a child as he or she enters the room. The storyteller (teacher) and children sit in a circle on the floor to experience the story of the day. Children move around as they use various art forms to do their work and then come back to the circle to have their feast. When parents come at the end of class each child receives a blessing from the storyteller before he or she leaves the room.
Godly Play was developed by Jerome Berryman, an Episcopal priest and author. It grew out of his own childhood experiences of God and the "Church God" and the difficulty in sometimes reconciling the two. Dr. Berryman calls Godly Play his interpretation of Montessori religious education.
How Can I Become Part of ECC/Godly Play? All children age 21/2 through fifth grade are invited to join our Godly Play and ECC classes. Parents, all you have to do is call the parish office and let usknow you are interested, or just bring them to class any Sunday morning. You will be most welcome. All classes are held at 9:15 a.m. in Weber Hall, our education building. Weber Hall is the square white building diagonally across Second Street from the church.
Adults interested in becoming an ECC or Godly Play leader are invited to sit in on a class to experience firsthand how much fun the class can be. All adult class leaders (age 18 or older) are required by the Diocese of Virginia to take a four hour Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse course, sponsored by the diocese. For more information on training and dates for the course please contact Jean Mary Taylor, Lay Assistant for Program.
Nursery
Calvary's nursery is a bright, sunny room on the second floor of Weber Hall (education building) that was repainted and refurbished in the summer of 2007. The nursery is open on Sunday mornings for the 10:30a.m. service, and staffed bya paid attendant plus a volunteer from the parish each week. Nursery workers usually arrive between 10:15 and 10:20 a.m.
How can I Help With the Nursery? If you are interested in being a nursery volunteer, or would like more information about the nursery, please contact Jean Mary Taylor, Lay Assistant for Program, at 635-2763. All nursery volunteers are required by the Diocese of Virginia to take the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse course offered by the diocese. |
