Christian Education for Children and Youth

For more information on Church School and the Trinity Youth Program contact Family Ministries Coordinator Charissa Simmons, 503-478-1220. Visit our Worship page for information on childcare at Trinity.

Teacher Education

Godly Play Children's Spiritual Formation Program

Godly Play is deeply rooted in Christian theology and storytelling. It is an approach to children’s formation founded on the belief that children don’t just want to know about God, they want to know God. As a method of Christian education and spiritual growth, Godly Play encourages children to become more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives. Developed by Episcopal priest and life-long educator, Jerome W. Berryman, Godly Play is used worldwide by diverse Christian denominations. For more information about Godly Play, visit the website.

SUNDAY MORNINGS

Childcare

Childcare is offered during the 9:00 education hour and the 10:00 service in the nursery in the basement. There is sleeping and creeping space and lots of room to toddle, as well as toys, games, snacks, and lots of t.l.c. from our qualified staff. Parents are given vibrating pagers just in case they are needed in the nursery. Contact: Charissa Simmons, 503-478-1220.

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Kaleidoscope

A studio arts class in Studio C in the basement that explores all kinds of media while we look as through a kaleidoscope at the many designs of God’s handiwork. Contact: Charissa Simmons, 503-478-1220

Choristers

Children in grades 1 - 5
Choristers is our beginning choir for grade school aged children. The Choristers receive an introduction to choral singing and many opportunities to sing at First Sunday services, Cathedral services, and special events throughout the year.
Contact: Amy Polo, Director, 503-771-9871.

Coventry Singers

Grades 6-12
The Coventry Singers sing in the Cathedral at 10:00 several Sundays each year. This choir is open to all musicians from 6th grade to seniors in high school. Mia Hall Savage, the founder of Pacific Youth Choir, directs Trinity’s Coventry Singers. You do not need to be a musician to be trained as an outstanding singer and join this energetic choir. All are welcome.
Contact: Mia Hall Savage

Family Worship

These seasonally oriented, child-friendly worship services are designed to help children join more completely in the Eucharistic service. 10:00 – 10:45 in Kempton Hall on these Sundays: November 15, December 6, January 10, February 7, March 7, and June 6.

Church School: Ages 3 – Grade 5

Every Sunday morning Sept – May (except Family Worship Sundays- January 3, 2010; February 7, 2010; March 7, 2010; June 6, 2010)
Church School classes meet on Sunday mornings at 10:00, while the Service of the Word is held in the Cathedral. Children in grades 1 and older will join their families in the Cathedral for the Eucharist. On Family Worship Sundays in October, December, January, February, March, and June, a service is held in Kempton Hall in lieu of church school.

Children aged Three to Six

Children aged three to six (through kindergarten) participate in Godly Play. This program gives children access to the Christian language of parable, sacred story, liturgy, and silence, helping them to become more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives. Story, creative response, and a feast are all part of a Godly Play session. Children remain in the classroom throughout the entire 10:00 worship service.

First Grade

1st grade uses a curriculum called ’Seasons of the Spirit’. The lessons are based on the lectionary readings we hear in church each week. One of the scriptures is used for the class focus. Children hear the story and respond with a variety of activities including art, drama, music, and more. Consistent opening and closing rituals also introduce children to the liturgy and seasons of the church. At the beginning of the year, 1st graders participate for several weeks in instruction about the Eucharist. They celebrate their Special Communion in the Cathedral 0n October25, 2009.

Second Grade

2nd grade also uses ‘Season of the Spirit”. The class will focus on one of the lectionary scripture readings for the day, and explore and respond to the reading with a variety of age appropriate activities. In the spring, the second grade class spends a few weeks traveling back in time to learn about the life of Jesus.

Third Grade

3rd grade also uses ‘Seasons of the Spirit”. In addition, they spend some time in the spring learning more about liturgy and help lead the family worship service on March 7, 2010.

Fourth Grade

4th grade studies the Bible as an historical document. They explore and try out archeology, anthropology, linguistics, art, translating, and more as they learn about how we got the Bible as well as what is in it. The archeological dig is always a popular week in the 4th grade! During Advent and Lent, this class will focus on seasonal scripture readings using ‘Seasons of the Spirit’.

Fifth Grade

5th grade spends the year learning about our worship practices and traditions. They study the Jewish roots of Christian worship, early Christian liturgy, and look in depth at how we worship today. To help make this study come alive, they participate in three Sunday evenings events with their families; a Seder meal, a 2nd century Eucharist and Love Feast (the toga party), and an Instructed Eucharist.

Youth Program: Grades 6 - 12

Sixth Grade

6th grade is a rite of passage year at Trinity. This class spends the year creating their own church through the imaginative, highly creative StoryLine process. They also participate in monthly social service projects with their adult mentors as well as three overnights which involve some serious work and lots of play. The final part of the year they develop their own Service of Affirmation at which the whole Trinity community celebrates their passage from childhood to young adulthood.

Middle School

Middle School 7th and 8th graders gather on Sundays to discuss and explore their faith and how they live and express that faith. A variety of hands on experiences, projects, and art explorations help bring these sometimes abstract concepts into focus. The middle school also heads up a fundraiser for Heifer International each fall.

High School

High School 9th – 12th graders meet in the Youth Loft. Discussions, projects, and outreach are fueled by issues important to the group, centering on the question of just what it means to be a Christian in today’s world.