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CHILDREN'S CHAPEL

SUNDAY'S at 10:30 AM - During School Year
(Children's Chapel in Lowndes Hall)

Children's Chapel is the location for "fun Bible learning." It follows the lectionary calendar with an age appropriate story told from one of the readings each Sunday. Everyone is welcome at Children's Chapel. Children from ages 0-90 are invited for this moment of Sunday fun.

PRE-K - 5TH GRADE - FOLLOW THE GOOD SHEPHERD I & II

SUNDAY'S at 9:30-10:15 AM - During School Year
(Atria classrooms on the top floor of Lowndes Hall)

 

WHY DO WE USE THE FOLLOW THE GOOD SHEPHERD?

St. Andrew’s has chosen to use the Follow the Good Shepherd as a central part of our mission to children for several reasons. We believe that children have a deep desire and capacity to know God. We nurture this need by preparing an environment where children can live in their relationship with God. Together with the children, we listen to God’s words and together we ask, “God, who are you? How do you love us? How should we try to return your love? How should we love others?” We wait for and share the child’s response to these questions.

WHAT IS THE FOLLOW THE GOOD SHEPHERD?

The Follow the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori. Children gather in an "atrium," a room prepared for them, which contains simple yet beautiful materials that they use.

 

FOLLOW THE GOOD SHEPHERD, LEVEL I (3 - 6 YEARS OF AGE)

Focuses on God's unconditional love as the Good Shepherd for each and every child.

 

FOLLOW THE GOOD SHEPHERD, LEVEL II (GRADES 1st - 5th)

Focuses on God’s call for us to be in communion with one another.

 

WANT TO LEARN MORE? (click here)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HISTORY

Follow The Good Shepherd is based on the teaching of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, which began in Italy under the guidance and inspiration of noted theologian Sofia Caveletti. Catechesis (kat i kee sis) has a Greek root meaning to teach by word of mouth and usually refers to teachings of Church doctrine and belief. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd uses knowledge of the normal development of children and sound theological doctrine to introduce children into the Christian community. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has been in use throughout the United States in Episcopal churches since 1985. It has been a central part of ministry to children at St. Andrews since 1991.

GOALS

Our goal is to involve children and adults in a common religious experience in which the religious values of the child are dominant. A strong theme for the 3-6 year old child is God’s covenant with the young child individually. This covenant promises God’s unconditional love as Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls each of us by name. The Christian proclamation for 6-9 year old children centers on God’s call to us to be in communion with God.  With the older child, we proclaim that God is directing history, from Creation to the present, and into the future. The focus for the 9-12 year old child is of the role of the individual in God’s Kingdom and the history of Jesus, Judaism, and Christianity. The child at this age is ready to take responsibility for their response to God’s call to live in the Kingdom of God with all of creation.

HOW WE USE IT

You may be wondering how these materials help the religious life of children. If an adult hears a passage from the Bible, the adult might find the passage in the Bible and reflect on it. He or she may think deeply about the words and perhaps speak to God in a thankful or hopeful prayer. However, a child too young to read needs another way to meet God. In the atrium, the child can ponder a biblical passage or a prayer from the liturgy by taking the material for that text and working with it - placing wood figures of sheep in a sheepfold of the Good Shepherd, setting sculpted apostles around a Last Supper table, or preparing a small altar with the furnishings used for the Eucharist. Older children, who can read, often copy parables from the Bible, order written prayers from the rite of baptism, or label a long time line showing the history of the Kingdom of God.