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St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Beverly, MA
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Children & Youth at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Beverly.
Nursery Care is available during the 10 o'clock service and primary holiday services. Ann Wilder is our nursery caregiver. She is an early childhood education specialist and has completed diocesan training in abuse awareness education. The nursery is located on the lower floor directly below the church. Please ask an usher to direct you.
Christmas Pageant 2002 Photos
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Help me to fall in love with God by myself
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a religious education program based on the methods of Maria Montessori. Central to the program is the atrium, a room designed to focus the child's attention on key scriptural passages or liturgical moments. After an introduction by the catechist, the children are invited to work with material on their own to continue their meditation.
St. Peter's Atrium 1 is the first level, for 3- to 6-year olds, based on the assumption that hands-on manipulative work is essential for early learning, whether theological or academic. Young children already have a relationship with God. What remains is for adults to assist in nurturing that relationship, putting words to it and preparing a place for its growth. That place -- the atrium -- becomes the children's prayer space where they develop social bonds with one another and familiarity with liturgical materials and content and the articles of the Eucharist.
Atrium 1 has as its goals advancing the child's prayer/reflective life through representational retelling of the prophesies and parables and lessons about the historical Jesus and the land of Israel. The parables of the Good Shepherd and the Found Sheep are central to this level. The catechists are Ann Brewster Weeks and Kathy Tolvenen.
Atrium 2, for ages 6 to 9, builds upon the level one program but does not require it. In level two, more emphasis is placed on issues of moral development and children have ample opportunity to utilize new skills of reading and writing. More parables and historical stories about Jesus are added and the old ones revisited, along with the nativity story. The map work is more advanced and another major component is the Unity of the History of the Kingdom of God, which works to unite the Big Bang with Creation. The Fettucia, (Italian for ribbon) will be unrolled in the spring, showing the history of the earth -- Creation, Redemption and the Parousia. The catechists are Claire Thompson and Carrie Monahan.
Atrium 3, for ages 9 to 12, explores more deeply the covenants with God revealed in Hebrew Scripture. The three-year curriculum revolves through three major Old Testament Bible studies: 1) Creation, The Fall, The Flood; 2) Abraham and Sarah; and 3) Moses, the Exodus and the Gift of the Law. "The Plan of God" is the overarching theme of this level. A huge timeline depicts how God has had a plan throughout all of history to draw everything together with Him in a cosmic communion of love. All of history is straining toward the time of Parousia, when God will be all in all. Level 3 children participate in a variety of community service projects, including fundraising for Food for the Poor and the Good Friday Walk. They also enjoy a range of field trips to wildlife sites and major museums that enhance their Biblical studies. Deborah Gardner Walker is the level 3 catechist.
For much more information on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, see the web sites listed on our links page.
Acolytes – all ages from fourth grade to adult are welcome to assist in the liturgy by being crucifers and torchbearers.
Youth programs are in formation at this time.
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St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Beverly, Massachusetts
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