The Episcopal Church of the Mediator

Children and Youth Christian Education

Sunday School

9:00 a.m. to 10:10 a.m.
All Sunday School classes and the Nursery are located on the lower level, below the sanctuary, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

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Nursery Care

Nursery care is provided for children up to age three.  It is available during both the Sunday School hour (9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.) and during the 10:15 a.m. service.  Our nursery is a warm and welcoming place where your child is cared for by a member of our  staff and a volunteer assistant.

Staffed by Andrea Muth and volunteers.

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Kid's Club

Kid’s Club is a program for interactive learning for children ages four  through third grade.  It is held each Sunday, except the second Sunday of the month when the church service features a Children’s Homily.  The Club begins at 10:15 and dismisses at the time of Communion when they are brought upstairs to sit with their families.  Kid’s Club is a Children’s Chapel that uses a curriculum that follows the Common Lectionary and is based on the gospel story for the day.  Children participate in prayer, Bible reading, art, music, drama and faith-sharing activities.

Staffed by Elizabeth Hain and volunteers.

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The Precious Lambs Ages 3 to 5

In this class for children ages 3 to 5, the “Catechesis of the Good Shepherd” curriculum is used.  This is a Montessori based program rooted in the Bible and liturgy of the Church.  Our children gather in an “Atrium,” a special room prepared for them, where hands-on materials on the life of Christ and his teachings help to make the mystery of God concrete for them.  The first few lessons will teach your child how to use the Atrium, followed by presentations of geography of where Jesus lived and ministered.  Children will also learn the liturgical year and colors, all about the altar, events of Advent, Christmas and Easter.

Taught by:  Naomi Winch & Barbara Dunn. 

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The Rainbow Kids Grades 1, 2 and 3 (See an Insider's View here)
The Faith Weavers Grades 4 and 5 (See Faith Weaver News here)

An exciting and interactive Church School program is provided for our children using the “Seasons of the Spirit” curriculum.  This is a creative and comprehensive teaching tool that lays the building blocks on which children can grow in their Christian faith and apply it to their world today.  This curriculum is also based on the Episcopal

Liturgy.  In these Sunday School Classes, the children will have lots of fun with crafts, storytelling, games, music, puppets, scripture and prayer.

Rainbow Kids Taught by:  Ron Esquieres, Marlene Yocum, & Marian Bade 
Faith Weavers Taught by:  Lisa Hain, Carolyn Marsland & Rossana Krick

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Rite-13 Ages 11 to 13

For middle school students, Journey to Adulthood's multiyear youth ministry is designed to build community and faith. To help our youth grow toward adulthood they are taught Bible stories that relate to their self, society, sexuality, and spirituality. Classes are based on Bible study, discussion, fun activities, food, and building friendships with each other and with our mentors. As members of the group turn 13, there is a semi-formal dinner and reception for the class and families followed by the Celebration of Manhood and Womanhood that takes place at our worship service, acknowledging a new step toward adulthood.

Rite-13 (ages 11 to 13) mentored by Kate Heflin and Jeremy Winch

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J2A - Journey to Adulthood

For our middle and high school students, “Journey to Adulthood,” a two part, multiyear youth ministry curriculum, designed to build community and faith, is used.  To help our youth grow toward adulthood they are taught Bible stories that relate to their self, society, sexuality and spirituality.  Classes are based on Bible study, discussion, fun activities, food and building friendships with each other and with their mentors.  As the Rite 13 group reaches their 13th birthday, there is a semi-formal dinner and reception for the class and families followed by the Celebration of Manhood and Womanhood that takes place at our worship service, acknowledging a new step toward adulthood. For the older group, Confirmation preparation is typically included in their first year of J2A also. Teachers for this program are known as mentors. 

Journey to Adulthood (ages 14-16) mentored by Susan Diehl, Nora Esquieres and Rick Theiner 

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MUSIC SESSIONS

We have begun a youth choir that meets at the home of one of our parishioners on Saturday afternoons in four-week sessions preparing for singing at special services, teaching them basic service music, hymns, and also preparing them to perform short pieces and even tiny liturgical operas to be used during the worship. Efforts will also be made to try working with children to write their own texts and setting those to music. These little pieces will then be rehearsed and performed as part of the worship, mainly on the Family Eucharist Sundays when our worship includes opportunities for the youth of our parish.

We are looking into acquiring Kodaly musical instruments and using the Kodaly method of teaching music, among other approaches.

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