Church School at St. Peter's
The St. Peter's Christian Education program provides a nurturing spiritual environment while offering a variety of activities and lessons to support the faith and education of our children. Our program is small enough to allow each child to receive individual attention and to engage in active participation. All parents and guardians are encouraged to visit our classrooms at any time, and volunteers are welcome! New members usually find that this is a place to make friends quickly and comfortably.
Our Sunday School meets at 9:45 a.m. most Sundays for a Godly Play presentation followed by a craft or free time. The group then joins the rest of the congregation for communion. The last Sunday of the month is our new Children's Chapel, a fully recognized service in which the children participate. This begins at 9:15 and all parents are invited to attend with their children. Children's Chapel is held downstairs in our largest classroom. The first Sunday of the month is our Family Eucharist and Family Choir Sunday. Members of all ages attend the 10:00 a.m. service together for a family-oriented service.
In addition to Sunday School, the children at St. Peter's are involved in several annual events. We have an annual Christmas Pageant and Easter presentation. The children make Valentines for shut-ins and organize a bake sale to raise money for needy children. Many children share their gifts by joining Family Choir or volunteering to acolyte or crucifer once a month.
What is Godly Play?
Godly Play is Jerome Berryman’s interpretation of Montessori religious education, an imaginative approach to working with children. This approach supports, challenges, nourishes and helps guide their spiritual quest.The lessons are taught with the help of beautiful handmade pieces that allow the children to watch the story unfold in front of them in a tangible way.
Godly Play assumes that children have some experience of the mystery of the presence of God in their lives, but that they lack the language, the permission and the understanding to express and enjoy that spiritual experience in our secular culture. In Godly Play, we enter into our parables, sacred stories, silence and liturgy in order to discover God, ourselves, one another and the world around us.
We value being present to the moment when we may be able to hear and understand God by valuing a slower pace than the world often permits by patience and quiet.
During Godly Play, children and adults:
- Enter the space and are greeted individually by the co-teacher, (the door person), and by the storyteller.
- Get ready for the presentation, quieting thoughts and actions
- Enter into a presentation based on a parable, sacred story or liturgical action
- Respond to the story through shared wondering. Respond to the presentation with their own work, either expressive art or with the lesson materials
- To prepare and share a feast
- To say goodbye and leave the space
One Godly Play lesson tells children about the "Ten Best Ways" to live. This is the story of the Ten Commandments that God gave to God's People.
We invite you to share more fully in the best ways to share in your child’s Godly Play experience.