Children and Youth Ministries 2009 – 2010
We Welcome Your Family to Redeemer
Children and youth have an honored place at Redeemer. They teach us about spirit, integrity, and trust, and they deserve our respect. As baptized Christians, children and youth are full members of the church. In this guide, you will find suggestions to help your children participate in the community and worship life of Redeemer.Sunday Mornings
The 8:00am Service of Holy Eucharist uses traditional language and does not include music.The 9:30am Service of Holy Eucharist uses contemporary language. It 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. During Advent and Lent, worship takes a more formal setting with the adult choir leading psalms and service music, and offering classical anthems.
10:45 am Education Hour – Church School, Youth Programs, and Adult Education run 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 9:00 am to 12 noon. The Nursery, which accommodates infants through and pre-schoolers, is located in the Lexington Play Care rooms on the ground floor. Our trained care givers, Kathy Carcione and Laura Kelley provide 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 10:45 am Sundays or 3:30 pm Tuesdays. We use a Montessori-based
program called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Children work with
materials of their choice in response to the proclamation of God’s
word.
4th through 6th graders meet Sundays at 10:45 am to explore the history of the people of Israel, the Liturgy, and Scripture through storytelling, music, and games.
Worship Leadership
Acolytes
Young people grades four and above are invited to serve at the
altar as acolytes. After training, acolytes may participate
by carrying the cross or the torches, and by assisting clergy at the
Eucharist. Acolytes may fly the dove kites for special
services, such as Easter and Pentecost.
Children's Choir
Tuesdays, 4:00-5:00 pm - The Children’s Choir Program seeks to give children in grades three and up the joy of discovering the divine in themselves and the ability to express all the wonder of life through music while being centered and secure in the love of God. We use incentive, motivation and peer leadership to teach choral music of the Western liturgical, Anglican and American traditions.Liturgy Teams
Children, youth and their families are invited to serve at the
9:30 am Sunday service. Teams work together for one calendar
month to set up the altar, welcome, read, pray, present the offerings
of bread, wine and money. Liturgy Teams meet the first
Saturday before the first Sunday of the month they are serving to
schedule and prepare for the Sunday services.
Youth Programs
At Redeemer, we use the "Journey to Adulthood" program which keeps students and mentors together for 2-year segments, with each group incorporating an age-appropriate rite of passage.Rite 13 (6th & 7th grades)
Sunday 10:45 am - Rite 13 focuses on forming and nurturing
Christian community, helping youth explore and affirm their gifts and
creative powers. The Rite-13 ceremony occurs in Sunday
worship around the young person’s 13th birthday.
J2A (8th - 9th grades)
Sunday 10:45 am - In J2A young people learn skills for faithful living, blending action and contemplation. At the end of the 2nd year, youth go on a holy pilgrimage.YAC (Young Adults in Church: 10th - 12th grades)
Sunday 10:45 am - The YAC curriculum encourages these young adults, some of whom have been on pilgrimage, to enter all areas of parish life and claim their status as adults in the church. They are challenged to become good stewards of their time, talent and treasure, to share their knowledge and leadership skills, and to reach out to those in need.Youth Group (9th-12th grades)
Sunday 5:30 - 7:00 pm - Young people gather to make and eat dinner together each week. They are encouraged to participate in service projects, mission trips, and a celebration of adulthood as they graduate from high school.For Additional Information about our Children and Youth Programs, contact The Rev. Sabeth Fitzgibbons at (781) 862-6408