Church School
Weekly What's Up! Print Email

This week, January 29th, the fourth week of Ephiphany

 

10:00 am

     Grades Pre-K thru 5th gather in Parish Hall: 

    ~ Music Time with Mr. Barry. 

    ~ Children's Chapel with MaryAnn Purtill in Temple room. 

    ~ Church school processional.

 

HEADS UP!!   

SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY

ORDERS BEING TAKEN THIS SUNDAY 1/29

 AFTER BOTH SERVICES.

 

SUPPORT OUR 4TH AND 5TH GRADERS

 

AS THEY WORK TO SHARE GOD'S LOVE WITH THOSE IN NEED. 

 
Grades Pre K through 5th Print Email

Catch the Faith is the name of our Church School program for children in Pre K through fifth grade.

 Our Christian education is focused upon developing and fostering Christian Discipleship. 

At St. James our intention is to provide a safe and welcoming place where children feel accepted, affirmed, encouraged and enabled to be all God has created them to be. 

The cornerstones of our program is education and service opportunities.  All the education is biblically based.  Its sole intention is to provide a holistic exploration of the biblical scriptures which shape children's knowledge of God and Jesus Christ to themselves. 

The service components give children the chance to practice their faith.  They get to test out their spiritual knowledge, and explore the uniqueness of their own special gifts.  Practicing ways to engage their unique spirituality offers them the experience to build their own relationship with God.

In this way we attend to teaching Christian Discipleship as a way of life. 

Because Christian formation is a multidimensional experience encompassing our minds, our bodies, and our spirits we strive to engage children with age appropriate learning tools.  Our curriculum of choice is The Weaving God's Promises curriculum, a litugically based educational tool with a  three year cycle.  Each lesson offers unique age appropriate activities for learning and experiencing. 

 
Youth - Grades 6-12 Print Email

At St. James', Glastonbury, we've developed an organic Christian formation curriculum that is both dynamic and current in terms of meeting the spiritual needs of today’s teens. We strive to deliver a comprehensive formation program that targets four aspects of every Christian teen’s life; self, spirituality, society, and sexuality. Both our middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12) programs engage DVD media, internet technology, special guest speakers, service projects, and teambuilding exercises that help youth delve into contemporary issues that affect today’s Christian teenagers.  Both our middle and high school youth are supported by two teams of adult mentors whose presence provides consistency, trust, and commitment.  We value our youth and we want them to know that we're investing in their future!

Because flexibility and variety are key in working with teens, we’ve modified our curriculum to include teambuilding activities, the integration of service/outreach projects, fellowship opportunities, and regularly scheduled "In Church Sunday's" where our teens serve as acolytes, ushers, lectors, intercessors, choirsters, or ministers of communion. At St. James,’ we believe that youth Christian formation and education includes study, fun, service, and worship – four components that round out our youth programs and place learning into action!


St. James' Youth Christian Formation Calendar

2010 & 2011

September

12th      Registration Day

Teambuilding Day for Rite 13 & J2A Youth – Plan for “Youth Booth” at Parish Picnic on 9/19

19th      Parish Picnic

Service day for Rite 13 & J2A Youth – Youth will have a “Youth Booth” at the parish picnic. 

26th      In Church Sunday

Today is also the first of four Church Street Eats service opportunities we’ll be participating in at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford. 

October          

3rd        Lesson plan – “The Cost of Discipleship”

10th      Lesson plan – “Giving Back”

17th      Service Day – youth work to support St. James’ “Apple Fest” booth.

24th      Teambuilding Day

31st      In Church Fifth Sunday Service“Come in Costume Sunday!”

            Possible Sunday evening “East of the River” Halloween Party

November

7th        Lesson plan

14th      Lesson plan

20th     Possible trip to Boston Commons/St. Paul’s Cathedral to feed the homeless

21st      Teambuilding day - Packing of College Care Kits during church school.

Service opportunity today after church “Church Street Eats”

28th      In Church Youth Sunday

December      

5th        Lesson plan

12th      Lesson plan

19th      Teambuilding/Service – “Christmas Cookie Bake” in support of Christmas Families

26th      NO CHURCH SCHOOL – CHRISTMAS PAGEANT TODAY AT 10:15AM.

            (In case of snow, the Pageant will be held at the 5:00PM service.)

2011

January

2nd        Lesson plan – “Compassion & Embracing Diversity”

9th        Lesson plan – Invite Brian Gossling to discuss “Choices & Consequences”

16th      Service Day – Youth will sponsor and host coffee hour today!

            Also “Church Street Eats” ministry after church at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford   

23rd     Lesson on The Parables of the Gospels  (today is our Annual Meeting)   

30th      “In Church Fifth Sunday Service ”Recovery Sunday

30th     "East of the River" Episcopal Youth Ice Skating at Bolton Ice Palace 12:15-2:15.  Come out and bring a friend!

February          

6th        Lesson plan

13th      Lesson plan

13th     Family Eucharistic Workshop at St. John's Episcopal Church, Vernon.  Confirmation class will attend and all others are invited!

20th      Teambuilding/Fellowship

25th     "Winter Party at the Pit"  Sledding, winter games, followed by a Lock-In with Episcopal Church Youth East of the River.  Drop off at 6:00PM Friday night, pick up 9:00AM Saturday morning.

27th      In Church Youth Sunday

March

March 9th is Ash Wednesday – Lent begins.

6th        Lesson plan – “What is the meaning of Lent and what does it mean to me?”

13th      Lesson plan –

20th      Teambuilding – Nick Monsarrat leads youth in the building of birdhouses during church school to sell at the upcoming Spring Fling.

Service opportunity today after church – “Church Street Eats”

27th      In Church Youth Sunday

April               

3rd        Lesson plan

10th      Lesson plan

17th      In Church Youth SundayPALM SUNDAY

23rd     Easter Vigil & Confirmation at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, CT.

24th      Easter Day – NO CHURCH SCHOOL

May

1st        Rev. Peter Dewberry's discussion on prison ministry

8th        Lesson or Service Day – This weekend is the Spring Fling and Mother’s Day

15th      Planning for next week’s Youth Sunday

22nd      In Church Youth SundayChurch School concludes.

29th      MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND – NO CHURCH SCHOOL

June

5th        SENIOR HIGH SUNDAY – CELEBRATING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR GRADUATING SENIORS!

17th     "End of School Party at the Pit," St. John's Episcopal Church, Vernon, CT  Begins at 6:00PM til ???

Notes:

Beginning in January, 2011 the first two Sundays of every month will include Confirmation prep classes from 11:45AM-1:15PM.  These classes are specifically targeted for youth who choose to be confirmed later in the spring.  These classes are IN ADDITION TO regularly scheduled church school classes…and they’re going to be educational and FUN!

 

 

Upcoming Parish Events

View full calendar

Hosted Events for the Community

View full calendar

Contact Information

St. James' Episcopal Church
2584 Main Street
PO Box 206
Glastonbury, CT 06033-0206

phone:  860-633-8333