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Programs for Children and Youth at All Saints Parish

That which we have heard and known, and what our forebears have told us,
we will not hide from our children. We will recount to generations to come
the praiseworthy deeds and the power of God, and the wonderful works God has done.
(Psalm 78:3-4)

Click here for the 2011-12 Church School registration form (MS Word document)

At All Saints Parish we celebrate the vital role of children and young people in our community of faith. Our ministries to and with children and young people tap into the unique gifts of our younger members: a sense of wonder about the sacred, a curiosity about issues of faith, a desire for ritual, and a passion for justice. From an early age, children are encouraged to become active members of the parish family.

A Prayer for the Care of Children

Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the
joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient
wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love
whatever is just and true and good, following the example of
our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer, p.829)

Children and Worship

Each week at All Saints Parish we look forward to the chance to worship God and to share the table fellowship of the Holy Eucharist. We celebrate the wonderful diversity of our community gathered as one body, in Christ's Name.

Everyone is welcome to receive Holy Communion, regardless of age or baptismal status, at All Saints. Parents may question whether their young children should receive the sacrament. The Rector or the Director of Children's, Youth & Family Ministries is available for conversation about this and other matters related to raising children in the faith. Please feel free to give them a call or reach them by email.

Baptism

Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body the Church. The bond established by God in Baptism is indissoluble. Anyone who is baptized at any age is marked as Christ's own forever.

Baptisms normally occur in this parish when the community gathers to worship on four liturgical feast days: All Saints Sunday (November 6); the first Sunday after the Epiphany (January 8); Holy Saturday/ Easter Eve (April 7); and Pentecost (May 27). Alternative dates for baptisms can be arranged by contacting the parish office. The Rector always meets with parents for pre-baptismal instruction.

Nursery Care

Our Nursery is open every Sunday morning, starting at 9:00 a.m. It is a clean, safe environment where children 3 years of age or younger can play and be cared for during choir rehearsals, Church School classes, and the worship service. Childcare is offered free of charge.

Our Nursery is staffed by four paid childcare providers. One large space is stocked with toys and equipment for children who are walking and potty trained (or on their way). Another adjacent space is set up for babies who are not yet walking and/or who need to nap during the morning.

The parish's annual blessing of the animals service is always a fun event!

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Church School & Youth Ministry

At All Saints Parish we know that children and young people experience God in their lives. However, we also know that they may lack the scriptural knowledge and religious vocabulary that can help them describe and understand God's mysterious presence. Adult teachers and mentors guide them in this aspect of their faith formation. Our Christian education program helps children and young people to

• Become familiar with scripture and discern its relevance to their daily lives;
• Appreciate the sacramental life of the church as they engage fully in it;
• Learn spiritual practices that deepen their personal connections to God; and
• Use their unique skills and talents to respond compassionately to human need in the world.

Contact: Ms. Becky Taylor, Director of Children's, Youth & Family Ministries
Monday-Thursday, 10:00am-5:00pm, 617-738-1810 Ext. 104, reled@allsaintsbrookline.org.

Sunday Morning Schedule

  9:15am   Nursery opens for childcare - Parent discussion group meets once/month
  9:30am   Schola rehearsal (Grades 2-12)
10:15am   Church School classes (Grades PreK-12)
               (Cherub begin their class time with Cherub Choir, then go to Godly Play)
10:30am   Worship begins
11:15am   All kids join the rest of the congregation for the Holy Eucharist
11:45am   All parish social hour in Guild Room

Cherubs (Pre-School to First Grade)

We introduce our 3 to 6-year-olds to the Church School program by using Godly Play. Developed by an Episcopal priest over 30 years ago, Godly Play is a method of Christian education and spiritual direction that is especially well-suited for young children. In Godly Play sessions, children listen to and reflect on

• Sacred stories about encounters between God and God's people;
• Parables that Jesus told about the Kingdom of God;
• Liturgical actions that show how Christians worship God; and
• Silence.

All the activity in our Godly Play classroom takes place in a circle on the floor as adults and children wonder together about sacred mystery in their lives.

Scope & Sequence plan for PreK-Grade 1, 2011-2012

• September – November: "Circle of the Church Year" followed by 5 Old Testament stories (6 sessions)
• December: Advent stories (3 sessions)
• January – February: "Baptism" followed by 4 parables and "The Mystery of Easter" (6 sessions)
• March: Faces of Easter stories (4 sessions)
• April: "Good Shepherd & World Communion" and "Synagogue & Upper Room" (2 sessions)
• May: "Mystery of Pentecost" and "Paul's Discovery" and closing class (3 sessions)

Grades 2-5

With children ages 7 to 11 we use Workshop Cycles, developed by LeaderResources, an Episcopal Christian education organization. Workshop Cycles is designed as a "rotation model" program. Instead of meeting in grade-level classrooms all year, children divide into small, multi-age groups of 6 to 8, each guided by an adult "shepherd." These small groups visit different learning stations, or "workshops," over the course of a few weeks. The rotation model enables children and adults to work together on the same story or concept for a sustained time period, using different learning approaches. Each unit of study includes workshops that use art, drama, music, storytelling, computers, movies, and cooking.

Scope & Sequence plan for Grades 2-5, 2011-2012

• September – November: "The Moses Chronicle" (6 sessions)
• December: "Stations of the Creche" (3 sessions)
• January – February: "When Jesus was a child" (4 sessions)
• Late February – March: Lenten mission & outreach project (5 sessions)
• April – May: "The Body of Christ: Using our gifts for the good of the Church" (6 sessions)

Middle School (Grades 6-8): Making It Real & Relevant

Our young teens meet on Sunday mornings with their adult mentors to explore issues of faith using the youth Bible study curriculum Making It Real & Relevant. Class sessions include fun activities designed to bring Bible readings to life, small and large group discussions, listening to music, watching movie clips, and praying and sharing a light breakfast together.

Each year we honor the middle school kids in our congregation who are reaching their 13th birthday and officially beginning their journey through the teen years towards adulthood. That celebration will take place on Sunday, January 22, 2012.

Our middle school teens also participate in the Charles River Deanery Youth Collaborative, a youth group for kids who worship in Episcopal churches in Brookline, Dover, Needham, Newton, and Wellesley. Youth Collaborative events in 2010 – 2011 include:

September 24: A day-long hike in the Blue Hills, Milton, MA
November 20: Pie-making for local food pantries at Church of Our Saviour, Brookline
March 23-24: Overnight retreat at Good Shepherd, Waban
May 12: Clean up day at Adelynrood Retreat Center, Byfield, MA

Some of our middle school young people ad their adult mentors at deanery youth events

High School (Grades 9-12): OMG

In our culture, and very often in teen culture, "Oh my God!" is a throw-away phrase, used in response to a variety of experiences. "OMG" is how this is conveyed when texting on cell phones – the primary way teens stay in touch with each other. But what if we appreciated "OMG" for what it really is: a prayer reminding us that God is always present, all the time, in all that we do? God's love for us and for the created order is steadfast. Always. Forever.

The steadfast love of God. This is what high school youth and their adult mentors will explore together this year during their Sunday morning class time.

Over the course of the year we will wrestle with these questions of Christian faith:

When do we think or believe we hear Jesus calling us to follow him?
What are the risks and benefits of doing so?
Where do we see signs that God's love is transforming the world?
How, with God's help, can we participate in that transformation?
Who do we trust in our networks of relationship to be spiritual companions, guides, and mentors?
Why does being a Christian matter at all?

Our high school teens will also help launch a new initiative this year, the Brookline Episcopal Teen Alliance (BETA). BETA is a Friday evening program for high school youth from the 3 Episcopal congregations in Brookline. We will gather for supper, discussion, prayer and service in the community. Details will become more firm after our first meeting on September 30th. We hope to go on a mission trip to Honduras together in the summer of 2012.

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Confirmation

Confirmation is a sacramental rite in which baptized members of the Church make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commit themselves to the responsibilities of their baptism. The rite includes the laying on of hands by a bishop.

It is the policy of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts to confirm young people and adults in multi-parish liturgical events. High school teens from All Saints Parish can be confirmed at a service in the spring of 2012. A period of instruction and preparation will take place during the winter.

Acolytes

Anyone in 4th Grade or older is welcome to become an acolyte. Acolytes lead the altar party procession into the worship space each week and assist, as needed, during worship. An acolyte training & refresher class will take place on Sunday, September 25th. Any new acolytes who join the team during the year will receive 1:1 instruction and support.

Contact: Meg Bridge, Acolyte Coordinator, margaret.bridge@post.harvard.edu

Nightwatch

It is a special tradition at All Saints Parish for children and young people (Grades 3 and older) to keep an overnight vigil in the church each year from Maundy Thursday evening to Good Friday morning. Participants in Nightwatch gather for supper and fellowship before participating in the Maundy Thursday liturgy, which includes the foot washing ritual. Afterwards, for three hours, they walk the Stations of the Cross and consider the events of Jesus' trial, suffering, death, and burial. Then the sleeping bags are unrolled in the worship space, and yes, sleep eventually comes. Nightwatch ends on the morning of Good Friday with a simple Way of the Cross liturgy. Nightwatch 2012 will take place on April 5-6. Details will be available in early March.

Contact Information

Becky Taylor is Director of Children's, Youth & Family Ministries. She is a graduate of Andover Newton Theological School and has extensive Christian education/formation experience with children, young people and adults in parish settings. Becky can be reached Monday to Thursday at 617-738-1810, Ext. 104, or by email at reled@allsaintsbrookline.org.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with Becky to learn more about the parish's ministries with children and young people, or how to get involved.

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Clip art © 1994, Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, art by Steve Erspamer, SM.