Godly Play for 3-5 year olds (pre-K)
Godly play is a class for three through five year olds that teach the art of using religious language - parable, sacred story, silence and liturgical action to help children become more aware of God's presence. Bible stories are told, often using three-dimensional figures. "I wonder" questions are posed to reflect on the story and engage imaginations, and encourage the children to relate the story to personal experience. The children are then invited to spend time on any part of the story through art, movement or retelling it with the figures. They meet on Sundays at 9:15am on the second level in room 206.
Rotation Sunday School for K-4th grade
At Holy Trinity Parish, kids from five years old through fourth grade participate in an exciting hour every Sunday morning called "Rotation Sunday School." Now what is Rotation Sunday School, you ask? Well, in a nutshell: We teach a Bible story or concept and expand the theme for four weeks through kid-friendly multimedia: music, art, drama, games, computers, and storytelling with the kids rotating to a different workshop each week.
The first twenty minutes every Sunday are spent in the Gathering Room which has lots of open space for singing and dancing and storytelling for the whole group: children, teachers, shepherds, and storytellers (parents often hang around for the fun, too!) The Drama Room features a stage and lots of props and costumes for re-enacting the story; the Art Room is supplied with all kinds of exciting materials for young artists; the Game Room is stocked with lots of games and puzzles and creativity; and the Computer Room has, well, computers!!
The children are divided into four age appropriate groups. Each group has a Shepherd, an adult who goes with that group to the "room for the day." In each classroom there are teachers who have planned an exciting class around the lesson. Some people have compared the Rotation Model to Vacation Bible School, only permanent!
Gone are beige and boring classrooms. We have colorful, creative rooms that say, "We love our children and we want them to come back!" Remember how much fun you had at Vacation Bible School? Visit our Rotation Classes with your elementary aged child and you may think you've stumbled into Vacation Bible School except we do it every Sunday!!
5th Grade Acolyte Class
Many young people at Holy Trinity serve as Acolytes. They begin training for this ministry in the fifth grade with our Acolyte Class. This class meets every Sunday at 9:15am on the 2nd floor in the Chapel and runs through May 18, 2008. Every other Sunday morning, class sessions are dedicated solely to hands-on liturgical instruction. On alternating Sundays, class members experience a wide range of guest speakers offering workshops on liturgy, visual art, music, drama, church interior design, the labyrinth, the Bible, and more!
Our approach to acolyte instruction is effective and enjoyable. This class is designed to give fifth grade youth an age-appropriate understanding of our rich worship tradition. Although participants are not required to become Acolytes if they do not wish to do so, we hope they will choose to be a part of this great youth tradition in our parish.
Periodic training sessions are offered for older youth who wish to become Acolytes.
6th Grade Hands-On Bible Class
All sixth grade youth are invited to participate in this exciting new class based on the Hands-On Bible Curriculum from Group Publishing. The kids will learn weekly Bible points through innovative teaching tools, music, crafts, and fun! This class meets Sunday mornings at 9:15am in the Comer Center, Room 256.
Children's Advisory Council
The Children's Advisory Council is made up of the fourth grade Rotation Sunday School class and their adult advisors. They meet one Sunday per month for 20 minutes during the Christian Formation hour. The Council provides feedback and suggestions about the Rotation program to us grownups! They make decisions on everything from special events to disciplinary procedures. The Council meets on the 1st level in Room #110.
The Journey to Adulthood
Christian Formation for older youth focuses on the Journey to Adulthood program. This program began several years ago in North Carolina and has quickly spread to become one of the most widely used youth programs in the Episcopal church. It emphasizes growth and education in four areas: self, society, sexuality and spirituality.
The Journey to Adulthood program combines Sunday morning classes at 9:15am with regular Sunday afternoon meetings, outings, service projects, and overnight trips.
Students in 7th and 8th grades attend the Rite-13 class, 9th and 10th graders go to the J2A class, and 11th through 12th graders attend Young Adults in the Church (YAC). The YAC class also provides Confirmation preparation.
The J2A class, which is a transformative experience in the Journey to Adulthood program, features two out-of-town trips. The Urban Adventure takes place in the summer following the first year of the class; historically, our groups have traveled to New Orleans. In the summer following the second year of the class, the J2A youth experience a holy pilgrimage. Previous Holy Trinity J2A classes have traveled to England, Ireland, and most recently, Scotland.
Several parish and diocesan retreats add another layer to our youth program. Every year in March, we enjoy our annual HTP Youth Retreat at Camp Mikell in Toccoa, Georgia. The Diocese of Atlanta also sponsors several annual youth retreats including New Beginnings, Happening, Junior DYC and Senior DYC.
The Journey to Adulthood (J2A) is a program of spiritual formation for young people that is based on two key concepts:
1. manhood and womanhood are gifts from God;
2. adulthood must be earned - with privilege comes responsibility.
Following the imperatives of the Baptismal Covenant, The Journey to Adulthood...
• provides a liturgical frame for young people
• celebrates their individuality and creative potential
• instructs them in skills needed for successful adult participation in church and society.
At Holy Trinity the Journey to Adulthood is the framework for all youth programming; diocesan events, social events, outreach projects, fundraising, and other activities are incorporated into the program.
Through J2A, our teenagers experience a balance of Bible study, prayer, and both serious and playful activities that nurture the whole person during the treacherous passage from childhood to adulthood.
J2A leaders, along with the entire parish family, model living the faith and remind young people of the ever-present love and mercy of God and of The Journey to Adulthood promise: If you seek Christ, together we will find him.
The Journey to Adulthood Program falls into three distinct phases, each of which is two years in length:
Rite 13 (7th & 8th grades)
The Rite-13 curriculum assists young people as they take the first steps of passage away from their families and into their own lives. It offers a liturgical celebration of the gift of womanhood and manhood near the 13th birthday of the youth.
During the two years of Rite-13, the community celebrates the amazing creative power and potential of these young people and creates a safe haven for them to explore new ideas, new interests, and new abilities.
J2A (9th & 10th grades)
The Journey to Adulthood (J2A) class blends basic life skills and faithful living. Celebrating the transition to adulthood, this is a time of individual spiritual discovery as members of the wider community of faith. The highlight of the first year is the urban adventure. The culminating experience of the two years of J2A is a Holy Pilgrimage.
Holy Pilgrimage
All youth at Holy Trinity have the opportunity to take part in a holy pilgrimage. The pilgrimage, which takes place at the end of the second year of the J2A class, allows participants to carve out a segment of time for intense spiritual growth and reflection. Participants break away from their busy everyday lives and travel to a distant land, where they become immersed in the local history, culture, and spirituality. Ample time is given for journaling, prayer, group discussion, and public worship. The 2008 J2A class will journey to Ireland on their pilgrimage in June. There, they will stay at the Esker Community, an active monastery, and they will explore various sacred sites including Clonmacnoise, a medieval monastery; the ruins of St. Kevin's Church on the island of Inisheer; and Galway Cathedral. The pilgrimage is a life-changing experience for all who participate.
YAC (11th & 12th grades)
Young Adults in the Church (YAC) encourages older youth to take on adult responsibilities in all aspects of parish life and community. They are challenged to become good stewards of their time, talent, and treasure. Planned participation in a variety of parish ministries is a part of the program.
Studying, reflecting, voicing questions, and sharing community all lead to an opportunity for Confirmation. Members of the YAC class have the opportunity to participate in our annual mission trip to Los Hornos, Honduras.
Christian formation is a lifelong process; the Journey to Adulthood program gives young people a firm foundation on which to build their lives.
Please Contact:
Christina Bray
Minister to Children and Youth
bray@htparish.com
Barbara Ramsay, Vestry, Children's Ministry
ramsay@htparish.com
Steve Bishop, Vestry, Youth Ministry
bishop@htparish.com
Join Our Email List
