Christian Education for Children and Youth at All Saints

All Saints chose the following two curricula for its Christian Education program for children and youth at the Parish.  An ad hoc committee of ten parishioners came together to discuss the various options and chose and recommended the following two curricula to the Vestry for approval.  We are excited about the spiritual learning potential that these two programs bring to our children and youth at All Saints.  

From the Godly Play Website, www.godlyplay.org

“What is Godly Play?

• Godly Play is a creative and imaginative approach to Christian nurture
• It can be used in a variety of settings churches, schools, hospitals, care homes for the elderly
• Godly Play is based on long established, tried and tested approaches
• Godly Play uses symbols and objects as well as words
• Godly Play values process, openness and discovery
• Godly Play encourages people to make meaning for themselves
  

• It invites listeners into stories and encourages them to connect the stories with personal experience.
• Godly Play is a non-coercive way to encourage children to move into larger dimensions of belief and faith, through wondering questions and open-ended response time.
• It is a way of preparing children to join in the worship and life of their congregations as they develop a deeper understanding of stories, symbols and rites.
• Although it was originally developed as a resource for children, Godly Play is now being used with a wide range of age groups in a diversity of settings.
• Godly Play is one of several variations of the Montessori tradition of religious education and has been developed in the United States by Dr Jerome Berryman.”
  

From the “Gather ‘Round” Website, www.gatherround.org/faqs.html

“ What is the mission of Gather ’Round?

Gather ’Round is a Bible-based curriculum nurturing children, youth, and adults in becoming followers of Jesus: people who know and love God, interpret God’s word, belong to God’s gathered community, and share God’s good news.

What’s special about Gather ’Round?

Gather Round strengthens church-home connections. All age groups study the same scripture texts each week. Parent/caregiver materials offer daily devotions and ideas for talking about faith with children. The Talkabout, produced each quarter for home use, helps households engage the weekly scripture texts throughout the week.

Gather ’Round is easy to use. Clear, step-by-step weekly lesson plans help busy teachers feel confident. Every session includes a Bible story summary and insight, teaching tips, easy-view lists of supplies, and basic preparation suggestions. Every session element reinforces the faith focus for that session.

Gather ’Round emphasizes important biblical themes that are often absent in other Sunday school materials. Written from an Anabaptist perspective, Gather ’Round teaches all ages to embrace service and peacemaking. Gather ’Round lifts up the teachings of Jesus, and gives children and youth vocabulary to give voice to their understanding of God and faith. Gather ’Round understands faith formation as a process, and helps young people move from a faith of innocence toward an owned and accountable faith marked by a decision for baptism.”