children’s formation

Sundays from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m., September through May, in the Parish House (enter via the door marked “office” on the circle drive in front of the church)

See the schedule of classes for the coming program year.

register your child(ren) for formation.

Scripture tells us of Jesus’s love for children: “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs” (Matthew 19:14). Seeing the world through the eyes of children is an invitation to appreciate God’s creation and God’s gifts to us with wonder and imagination. At the Church of the Good Shepherd, we eagerly welcome the presence of children in our midst, and we take seriously the task of forming children in the faith of Christ.

At Good Shepherd, formation is available for children aged 3 through high school. Holy Communion instruction is given during the year by Father Kyle so that all children come to appreciate the mystery of Christ’s Real Presence in the Sacrament of the Mass. There are two classes for children based on ages.

Ages 3 - 9: uses the Montessori-based Godly Play curriculum. In this curriculum, children are introduced to the great stories of our faith, from both the Old and New Testament, as well as to the liturgical year and sacraments of the Church.

Learning goals:

  • Begin to reflect on where God is present in one’s life

  • Learn a basic way to pray through “please” and “thank you” prayers and talking with God

  • Engage Scripture with imagination and heart through an introduction to core stories from the Old and New Testaments

  • Understand the difference between the Old and New Testaments

  • Begin to learn where to find certain books in the Bible

  • Begin to familiarize oneself with the liturgical year

  • Learn about the major parts of the Mass

  • Learn what the Book of Common Prayer is

  • Learn how to find hymns in The Hymnal 1982

  • Explore a basic understanding of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist

  • Learn by heart the Lord’s Prayer, a morning prayer, a night prayer, and a grace at meals

  • Be able to name the seven sacraments

Ages 10 and older: uses Weaving God’s Promises, an Episcopal-based curriculum that introduces children to three years’ worth of stories from the Bible, as well as liturgical lessons that come out of the Episcopal/Anglican tradition.

Learning goals:

  • Read and explore more stories from the Bible, using the text itself

  • Deepen one’s prayer life by understanding prayer as a conversation with God, with or without words

  • Deepen one’s understanding of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist

  • Gain a greater familiarity with the Biblical text, including finding the location of books

  • Learn the Apostles’ Creed by heart

  • Be able to name the four Gospels

  • Be able to name the major sections of the Holy Eucharist

  • Become more adept at navigating the Book of Common Prayer

  • Begin to discuss basic theological doctrines such as creation, salvation, the Incarnation, and the Trinity

For more information on children’s formation at Good Shepherd, please contact Father Kyle.