Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill, NC

The Christian nurture of our children extends beyond the weekly 45 minutes set aside for Church School. We wish to offer so much more to our children than these few minutes of formal instruction. Our Director of Christian Education, Gretchen Jordan, has encouraged the Children and Family Ministry Committee to extend our role and consider how Christians are formed beginning at conception.

Christian formation does not happen in a vacuum. The entire parish is involved in the Christian formation of our children. Faith is caught more than it is taught. It takes faithful, committed models who set an example for our very youngest - youth, young adults, middlers, and older adults sharing their faith story through word and deed. In particular, the immediate family of a child needs resources, opportunities, and encouragement as it explores how best to join God in shaping the growing Christian in its midst.

To this end our committee endeavors to support parents and their children with offerings beyond the traditional Church School education.

Throughout the year, parent education classes are offered during Church School time on topics of particular interest to parents. We welcome suggestions of speakers and/or topics.

All ages gather together for learning several times during the year. These Sundays are usually scheduled in conjunction with a Holy Day, at the beginning of a liturgical season or for a special emphasis. Intergenerational programs have included the First Sunday in Advent for creating Jesse Tree ornaments and Advent wreaths, the First Sunday after the Epiphany for engaging in outreach ministries, a Lenten program to plan our journey toward Jerusalem through the season, Earth Day to learn how to be better stewards of that which God has given us, and a Pentecost picnic to celebrate the formation of the church.

Involvement of children in worship services has been expanding every year. The Junior Choir (third grade and above) sings every Sunday during the school year at the 9:00 service. They are joined on occasion by the Training Choir (first and second graders). Both choirs practice on Wednesday afternoons. Youth Saints are children in the third grade and older who assist with Children's Chapel. Training is offered in early fall. Interested youth have been welcomed as lectors at the 9:00 service. Also, families are encouraged to become ushers and greeters.

There are various alternative services for children. Every Sunday morning all 2 to 5-year-olds may attend Children's Chapel. This service provides a first liturgical experience and includes music, stories, prayer, and the teaching of familiar worship responses. Children make the transition from Children's Chapel to corporate worship as they enter the first grade. A worship education course for first and second graders is offered once a month throughout the school year during the 9:00 worship service. Each spring, either the God and Me or the God and Family program is offered by parishioner Frank McBride. Parishioner Sarah Shapard has designed an outreach program this year for 3 to 5-year olds and their families to do hands-on mission work. In addition, families are encouraged to participate in some of the outreach programs of the parish, contributing canned goods and hygiene items for one of our shelters, baking foods for our parish's Fourth Friday meals at the Inter-Faith Council, and participating in some of the special collections. This year we will begin the year with a project to purchase a complete ark for Heifer International.

It is our committee's hope to address the needs and concerns of the children and families within the context of both the nuclear family and the entire parish, with regard to Christian formation. Our committee meets each month. Members include Jeannie Riek, Lisa Walter, Dana Campbell, Boykin Bell, Mary Kate Cunningham, and Margaret Conrad. We welcome new ideas and suggestions to enrich the opportunities for Christian nurture of our children.

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