The goal of our church school program is to enable our children to learn about the Bible, Christ and our Church through experiences as part of a loving Christian community beyond their immediate family. We hope to achieve this by offering a curriculum which includes outreach activities, special parties and events and age-appropriate exploration of our Christian faith.
Sunday Church School Progams
Church School Classes
- Age Range: 3 to 12 years
- When: Sundays, 9:00/10:00 – 11:00am, During the school year.
During the school year, Church School classes meet from 10:00-11:00 am, between services. Children 3 to 6 years-old are invited to participate in classes during the 9:00 am and 11:00 am services as well.
If you have someone at your house between 3 and 12 years old who might be interested in joining our church school classes, it would be of great help if you would let us know, so we will be expecting them.
The Preschool and Kindergarten Group
- Age Range: 3 to 6 years
- When: Sundays, 8:45am – 12:15pm
- Level: Atrium Level I
The Preschool/Kindergarten Group offers a first experience with group activity and religious instruction. The curriculum from Catechesis of the Good Shepherd provides a prayerful approach that focuses on helping each child develop a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Based on Maria Montessori’s theories of learning, the “Atrium” is organized to allow the children to independently explore activities that help them to deepen their understanding of God’s presence in their world and how we worship. Activities are chosen which are approachable at a variety of levels. An activity that provides simple “doing” by the 3 and 4 year olds, often takes on deeper meaning and contemplation when done by the 5 and 6 year-olds.
The Primary Group
- Age Range: 6 to 9 years
- When: Sundays, 10:00am – 11:15am
- Level: Atrium Level II
The Primary Group continues the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program; using presentations and materials from the second level of the curriculum. At this level children are ready to reflect in more depth about the parables of Jesus and understand more a “cosmic” view of God’s work in the world. This reflective approach invites the students to create their own prayers and responses to God’s word as read from the Bible, and to consider how this is lived out in the liturgy and our world.
The Intermediate Group
- Age Range: 9 to 12 years
- When: Sundays, 10:00am – 11:00am
- Level: Atrium Level III
The Intermediate Group provides the older children with a place to examine their own developing beliefs within the context of the Bible, liturgy and church traditions. This group also uses the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd curriculum to continue their studies of the Old and New Testament and explore the Episcopal liturgy in greater depth. Presentations also include exploration of prayer, organization of the liturgy and the Episcopal tradition. The children are encouraged to consider how God’s Plan takes shape in our world and how they contribute to that plan.
Supplemental Progams and Activities
Children’s Outreach Projects
- Age Range: 9 to 12 years
- When: Varies
All Saints’ Church School organizes or encourages children to participate in a variety of projects to benefit others. Our children often participate with their families in the Food Pantry and Community Kitchen. Each fifth Tuesday we hold a Family Night at the Food Pantry and Community Kitchen. Parents and children are invited to join us to help serve up a delicious meal. The menu will be designed with tasks perfect for little hands (ages five and up with adult supervision, of course) – it’s a guaranteed fun time!
The Intermediate Group is encouraged to take a more active role in outreach, planning and leading the planting of a vegetable garden that raises vegetables to contribute to the All Saints’ Community Kitchen and Food Pantry and organizing the “Africa Bake Auction” each February that raises funds to support education, medical care, LGBTQ rights and clean water projects in South Sudan, Uganda, and Kenya. Learn more about our Outreach and Advocacy work here.
ASYG (All Saints’ Youth Group)
- Age Range: 12 years and up
- When: 2 Sunday evenings/month
- Special activities may be scheduled on other days.
Our All Saints’ Youth Group program is offered for young people who are at least 12 years old, from 7th grade and up.
This program meets two Sunday evenings per month from 3:30-7:30pm as well as for special programs. During the year a variety of special events are planned for and by our young people. For upcoming ASYG dates and events view our calendar here and you can also contact the Youth Group Leaders for more information.
Solemn Communion
- Age Range: 8+ years
- When: Meets for five 2-hour Saturday sessions
The Solemn Communion program offers children who are in their third year of the Primary Group the opportunity to consider in a more serious way what it means to receive the Eucharist. Although in the Episcopal Church children receive the bread and wine from the time of baptism, as they grow older they are able to examine the meaning of this gift more deeply.
To do this a special time and place is set aside, apart from regular Sunday classes, for the group to meet. The children meet for five two-hour Saturday sessions, then finishing with a day-and-a-half-long retreat. This retreat ends with a celebratory Eucharist planned by the children for their families.
Christmas Pageant
- Age Range: All ages
- When: December
A highlight of the year is our slightly non-traditional version of the Christmas story. While adults take supporting roles in our annual pageant, our children portray the main characters of the story. This encourages them to spend time thinking about the Biblical traditions.
Children don’t have to participate in the church school program to take part in the pageant. Often being in the pageant helps children get started with their involvement prior to joining a church school class or stay connected to the church when they have outgrown church school. A strong tradition has begun; as we now watch children “grow into” roles that they watched someone else do in years past.
Free Childcare during Sunday Services
Nursery and Childcare
Age Range: children under 4 years
When: Sundays, 8:45am – 12:15pm
The nursery provides free child care for children under four during all Sunday services. The nursery is overseen by two paid adults as well as volunteers from our congregation. The nursery provides our younger members an inviting place to be when they are not participating in the service and is furnished with attractive toys and art materials that provide an interesting and safe environment for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
Youth and Children’s Formation Committee
Without the hard work and commitment from our congregation, our Church School program would not be able to continually expand and improve. We are very fortunate to have members of the congregation who are willing to make this service their ministry. Teachers and committee members meet regularly to share expertise and give support to make Youth and Children’s Formation a strong part of the life of our church. Special thanks to all who spend time on a weekly basis planning, preparing and showing up to love and share God’s word with our children. Anyone interested in joining is welcome.
