Children's Ministries 2006 – 2007:
We Welcome Your Family to Redeemer
Children have an honored place at Redeemer. They teach us about spirit, integrity, and trust, and they deserve our respect. As baptized Christians, children are full members of the church.
In this guide, you will find some helpful suggestions for how we can all help our children participate in the worship life of Redeemer. You will also find many opportunities for children to be part of this community - to learn, play, and grow with us.
Sunday Mornings
The Eight o'clock Service of Holy Eucharist uses traditional Rite I language with no music.
The 9:30 Service of Holy Eucharist uses contemporary and traditional language to celebrate Holy Eucharist with Rite II liturgy, depending on the church season. More traditional forms of language and liturgy are used during Advent and Lent; contemporary language and liturgical style prevails in other seasons.
In all seasons, the 9:30 service is designed with children's active participation in mind as they greet, usher, light candles, lead music and present the offering with their families as part of the Liturgy Team. After Eucharist, children process with their teachers to Church School classes.
Church School runs from 10:45 AM to 11:50 AM. Parents are always welcome to accompany children for all or part of their classes. Parents may also volunteer as class helpers!
Church School Classes
Nursery Care
Each Sunday morning childcare is available from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Nursery, which accommodates infants through 3 year olds, is located in the Lexington Playcare rooms on the ground floor. Our care giving staff, led by Kathy O'Brien-Carcione, provides a consistent presence throughout the year! You may ask an usher to show you the Nursery, or follow the signs on the ground floor.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Three to Six year olds are invited to the Good Shepherd Atrium at 10 am Sundays and 3:30 pm Tuesdays. We use the Montessori-based program called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Children work with materials of their choice in response to God's word. Contact: Evelyn Hausslein 781 861-0378
Six to Nine year olds are invited to the True Vine Atrium at 10 am Sundays, and 3:30 pm Tuesdays.
This second level of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd focuses on the moral stage of development. Parables, maxims, Eucharist presentations and the History of God's Plan of Salvation all speak to the child's curiosity about how to live as a moral being. We invite this age group to join in a Reconciliation Retreat in the spring to practice reconnecting and celebrating in Eucharist.
Contact: Linda Kukolich 781 862-1299
Nine to Twelve year olds meet in the Conference Room Sundays at 10 am to explore the history of the Bible, with storytelling, acting, music, and games.
Contact: Bob King 781 862-8437
Worship Opportunities
Acolytes
Young people grades six and above are invited to serve at the altar as acolytes at the 11:00 am Service. After training, students may participate by carrying the cross, the torches, and the offering plates, and by assisting clergy at the Eucharist. Acolytes also have social gatherings and cook pancakes on Shrove Tuesday!
Contact: Sharlene Begley (781) 275-2617
Children's Choir - Grades 3 and Up
The Children's Choir Program seeks to give children the joy of discovering the divine in themselves, able to express all the wonder of life through music, and growing into compassionate adults, while being centered and secure in the love of God.
We employ the principles of the Royal School of Church Music – incentive, motivation and peer leadership– to cultivate both the musical and leadership potential of the children and to teach choral music of the Western liturgical, Anglican and American traditions. Tuesdays 4:00-5:30 pm
Contact: Cheryl Duerr (781) 862-6408; or (781) 860-8893
Cheryduerr@aol.com
Liturgy Teams
Children and their families are invited to serve at the 9 am Sunday service. Teams work together for one calendar month to set up the altar, welcome, read, pray, present the bread and wine and offering plates. Liturgy Teams meet the first Saturday of the month they are serving to schedule and prepare for the Sunday services.
Contact: Bob King (781) 862-8437
Christmas Pageant
The Christmas Pageant is held at Four o'clock on Christmas Eve afternoon. It is designed to be inclusive for all children who wish to participate. Cast members and readers are selected from our older youth.
Rehearsals are December 16 and 23, from 9-10:30 am.
Contact: the Parish Office 781 862-6408
Youth Programs
At Redeemer we use the Journey to Adulthood program with our young people. This program keeps students and mentors together for a 2-year curriculum, which centers around an important milestone for each age-group.
Rite 13 (7th & 8th grades) Sunday 10:00 am
Rite 13 works toward a Christian type of bar/bah mitzvah, celebrating a first step toward becoming young men an women in the Christian community.
Leah Archibald 781 956-3196.
Journey to Adulthood (9th - 12th grades)
Sunday 10:00 am J2A works towards a spiritual pilgrimage and confirmation, as continuing steps to deepen our relationship with God and the Christian community.
Janet Needham 781 862-0591 Bill Vogele 781 863-5825
Young Adults in Church (9th-12th grades)
Sunday 5:00 pm
YAC students gather to make and eat dinner together each week as they work towards a mission trip, a continued individual ministry, and a celebration of adulthood as they graduate from high school.
Contact: Chris Needham 781 862-0591
Confirmation at Redeemer
Young people who are active in Redeemer choir, liturgy teams, youth groups, or Diocesan youth programs are invited to consider this sacramental rite as they claim their full participation in the church. Attendance at six evening classes in April and May and a Saturday Deanery Confirmation Retreat is required.
Please speak with the Rev. Andi Taylor
Worshiping with Your Child
Attending to your child can be a deeply moving part of your worship. When you arrive, pick up some paper and a pack of crayons available at both entrances to the church. Sit near the center aisle so your children may see the altar clearly. If little ones need to stand on a pew, let them do so. As they grow, children will learn what is expected from observing adult behavior.
Sitting in the same general area each Sunday will give your child a sense of security and routine. Familiarize your child with special features such as banners and furnishings that mark the place in their memory.
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, children may not settle into the rhythm of the service. When this happens, you may take your child out of the service for a little while. If the weather is nice, try the front steps. Sometimes, just a little fresh air in a quiet place can do the trick. You may also try taking your child to the nursery downstairs. If nothing works and you are at wit's end, you can always try again; the church service will still be happening another Sunday.
Eucharistic Practices; for Children
Holy Eucharist is the family meal of Christians. All baptized children from the very youngest are invited to receive communion. Having children share in the mystery with us reminds us that no one receives because we understand, but because we are loved and accepted at Christ's table.
Eucharistic instruction is an ongoing part of our Church School program with special emphasis placed on it in 1st-3rd grades. The True Vine Atrium has an annual Reconciliation Retreat, which parents play an integral part.
All children are invited to come to the altar with their parents whether they receive communion or a blessing. Children who prefer a blessing are asked to cross their hands over their chest. The priest will then give them a blessing.
Children's Calendar 2006 - 2007
September 10: Registration and Picnic after 10 am Service
September 17: 10:00 AM Church School Classes begin
September 19: Tuesday Atrium begins at 3:30 p.m.
October 13-15: Family Retreat at Barbara C. Harris Camp
October 22: Evensong
November 26: Advent Wreath Making
December 2: Advent Procession Rehearsal 9 am
December 3: Advent Procession 5:00 pm
December 16: Pageant Rehearsal 9-10:30
December 23: Pageant Rehearsal 9-10:30
December 24: 4:00 pm Christmas Pageant
December 25: ;School Vacation/No Church School
December 31: School Vacation/No Church School
January 28: Children's Activity during Annual Meeting
February 20: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
February 21: Ash Wednesday
March 19 and 26: Mondays 5-7:30 pm Reconciliation
March 30 and 31: Reconciliation Retreat
April 1: Palm Sunday/Easter Gardens
April 5: Maundy Thursday Supper
April 6: Good Friday Children's Service 10 am
April 8: Easter Sunday/No Church School
May 27: Pentecost Service
June 17: Teacher Recognition and Last Day of Church School