Children’s Spiritual Life at All Saints Church
Spring 2011 Calendar

May 1st- Second Sunday of Easter, Regular Schedule
May 8th- Third Sunday of Easter, Regular Schedule
May 15th- Fourth Sunday of Easter, Regular Schedule
May 22nd- Fifth Sunday of Easter, The Last Supper, Regular Schedule
May 29th- Sixth Sunday of Easter, Regular Schedule
June 5th, Seventh Sunday of Easter, Regular Schedule
June 12th- The Pentecost, Combined Group Holy Spirit Party
Required for Church School teachers: CORI check, Basic Safe Church Training every 3 years –
contact Rev. Lindsay M. Hills  508.752.3766 ext. 21 or lindsay@allsaintsw.org

Nursery care:  The nursery is located off the corridor between Huntington Hall and the Guild Room.  Child care is available from 8:45 – 11:45 a.m.  You are welcome to stay with your child as necessary to help him or her adjust to the nursery setting. Children can be brought to the church for Holy Communion if you wish.

Family Worship Resources:  At the entrance to the church from Huntington Hall there are items families can use for their children during the services.  Crayons, children’s service leaflets (that explain the Gospel reading,) stuffed animals and dolls, paper for drawing, children’s books relating to the liturgical season, copies of articles of interest to families, and Children’s “Books of Common Prayer.” 

9:00 Family Service: This Service was instituted on a trial basis in 1996, and has become a much-loved worship here at All Saints.  It is designed to be accessible to young and growing children, but many adults enjoy it for its comfortable informality and sense of joy.  Children are encouraged to participate at all levels:  to greet people as they come to worship, to read the first lesson, to write or draw their prayers on “prayer cards” (which are collected and read as the Prayers of the People,) and to bake the bread for Holy Communion.  Children in third grade and up can be Acolytes, and Confirmed young people can be Chalice Ministers.  Some children and teens have participated in the sermon as actors in Gospel skits.  The Choir Director, Peter Stolzfus-Berton, chooses hymns with children in mind, and repeats them for several weeks so that they can be learned by heart.

Church School Mission and Content

Church School at All Saints Church consists of activities themed on Bible scripture and/or varied traditions that deepen our relationships with God. We educate the whole child: “hands, heart, and head.” Games, service projects, instruction, stories, acting, discussion, creating and viewing art, sharing, cooking, music, building, moving, dancing, etc. are some of the many things we do in class. We aim to support each learner and teacher to develop in faith as Episcopalian Christians. As such we hope to live compassionately with our diverse and beautiful human family.

We have a lectionary-based curriculum, Living the Good News that brings “the weekly readings alive for all ages.*” The lectionary is an ancient cycle of Bible readings, set up to ensure that most of the Bible is read at Sunday worship over a three-year cycle.

The Revised Common Lectionary has been developed to unify the lectionaries of the mainline Christian denominations, and is the now the official lectionary of the National Episcopal Church. “Living the Good News bridges our everyday stories with the timeless stories of our Christian faith: a celebration of God's unending love and grace!*” (* From the Living the Good News web site at: http://www.livingthegoodnews.com/ .)

Parents are welcome to accompany their children to help them become comfortable, or to “drop in” to class at any time. We encourage children and youth bring friends to class.

Class Times and Structure

9:40 to 10:20 a.m.

Church School † 1   Classes held during the adult Forum time, from approximately 9:40 to 10:20 am
Grades & Locations
Preschool/Kindergarten- ages 4 & 5 (second floor, classroom # 23)
Primary- grades 1, 2 & 3 (second floor, classroom # 22)
Intermediate- grades 4, 5 & 6 (second floor, Vinton Hall)

  • Children have a short time for snack with their family in Huntington Hall following the 9:00 Family Service.  At the sound of the wind chimes, snack ends and children meet their teachers near the stage. Attendance is taken first, and then children go with their teachers to their classes on the second floor. 
  • Children who attend the 10:30 service are welcome in Church School † 1.  Parents may bring their child/ren to Huntington Hall, near the stage, at 9:40 a.m. Boys and Girls in All Saints choirs are also welcome to attend their grade-level Church School class on the weeks they are not scheduled to sing.
  • Teachers will bring the students back to Huntington Hall at 10:20 a.m. so that those who attend the 10:30 Service will be able to get there on time.

Church School † 2   A Children’s Program during the 10:30 Service.  Approximately 10:50 -11:10 am
Grades & Location
Kindergarten - Grade 6 from congregation or choir (first floor- Choir Room)

  • The Gospel lesson of the day will be explored through games, discussion, service projects or non-messy art projects. We will make every effort to include activities that span the developmental needs of this diverse age-group.
  • The Choir Director will teach choristers how to leave and return to the choir stalls in the dignified manner appropriate for worship leaders.
  • Clergy will make an announcement before the sermon that it is time to go to Church School class.
  • Children leaving the congregation for this class will exit quietly through the front door of the church, lectern side, into the hallway to the Choir Room.
  • Children will be escorted to and from the class by a scheduled parent helper.
  • Children will return to church at The Peace (either to their seats in the choir stalls or to their families in the pews.)