Children

At Holy Trinity we value the smallest of children as vital and important members of the Kingdom of God. Our ministries to children and their families reflect our deep commitment to them and their spiritual formation.

NURSERY

For children ages two and younger, we offer Nursery all morning: for the 8:30am and 11 AM worship services as well during the 9:45am Fellowship & Formation Hour. Parents are encouraged to pick up their children from the nursery just after the sermon so the children may join their families for Eucharist.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the Christian formation of children that is rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori. The Atrium (or prepared environment) is one of the important elements that helps the relationship between God and the child to flourish. The beautiful handmade materials aid the children in their understanding of the teachings of Jesus, worshiping God, and the essential tenets of our faith. To learn more about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, watch this short video.

For the Sundays when we do not have Atrium, we provide art clipboards. We encourage families to come to worship services even when we don’t have Atrium. Our children are being shaped by worship and their development is impacted by the rhythms we live with them.

What is the Atrium?

You will hear the term “The Atrium” used a lot when referencing the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. The Atrium is the room that is prepared for the children. It is not a classroom. Instead it is a place of religious experience, community, and worship. Everything in this room is intended to be appropriate for the ages and sizes of children who gather there. The furniture is child-sized to foster moving about freely, working comfortably, using and moving objects. The materials aid the children in their understanding of the teachings of Jesus, worshiping God, and the essential tenets of our faith.

What ages may participate?

Our current Atria are designed for children ages 3 years (on or before August 31, 2023) through 6th grade. We welcome parents to come to the atrium to observe anytime! Most are amazed to see the child working contemplatively.

Level I is for children who are potty-trained and three years old by August 31st through Kindergartners.

Summary of CGS Level I Content

Level II is for children who are in first through third grades.

Summary of CGS Level II Content

Level III is for children who are in fourth through sixth grade. (Sixth graders are eligible to participate in youth group in addition to Level III atrium.)

Summary of CGS Level III Content

When does it take place?

Currently we offer Level I, II, and III Atrium on Sunday mornings for children ages 3 (by August 31st, 2023) to 6th grade. We will meet at 9:45am and go until just after the sermon at the 11:00am service. To help the children and catechists with a smooth arrival, children are encouraged to arrive at 9:45am or 11:00am but are welcome to join us anytime. After the sermon, they rejoin their families for Eucharist.

If your child prefers to hear the sermon, you are welcome to come get them to let them know when it is time for the sermon and to accompany them to the worship service.

How can I help?

We need folks who would be willing to serve as assistants, preferably on a minimum one-month rotation. Screening and minimal training provided. No weekly preparation is needed, just a willingness to serve the children by reading Scripture booklets aloud to our youngest children, light an occasional candle, and observe the children as they spend time with God. The catechists will prepare and offer meditations for the children. 

Even if you are not with the children each week, there are plenty of other opportunities to help with the Atrium. For example, we could use help with some light woodworking, modeling Sculpey figures, painting, constructing materials, sewing, and refurbishing some found items for use in the atrium. Nancy has very specific written instructions for folks to follow and will be available for questions. We would love to have fresh flowers for flower arranging most weeks!

For more information about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, contact Nancy Robinson.

Supporting Families

We believe one of the most valuable services we can offer is to help families pray with their children at home and so continue to assist children and adults to live a common Christian experience in which the spiritual values of childhood, primarily those values of contemplation and enjoyment of God are celebrated. We want to continue to:

  • Equip parents to pray, read the Bible, and worship God together with their children.

  • Support parents to encounter Christ with their children and live the liturgical year within their homes

  • Help families strengthen their relationships with each other, with our Good Shepherd, and with their faith community.

To that end, we offer some additional opportunities: 

  • Prayer: Your catechists are praying for you and your families. We pray for parents who give witness of their Christian lives, a witness that is often without words, but which perseveres throughout a day-to-day life lived in accordance with the Gospel. And we pray for your children.

  • Celebrations: Celebrations include:

    • Feast of the Epiphany (sometime around January 6)

    • Liturgy of the Light (sometime around Easter)

    • Feast of Pentecost (sometime around Pentecost)

  • Podcast: We highly recommend The Good Shepherd and the Child podcast. 

  • Book Club: We may offer a book club for parents, to discuss The Good Shepherd and the Child : A Joyful Journey.

  • Coffee: We offer coffee during the Formation Hour (9:45-10:45am) so parents may have a time to hang out and connect with one another.

For more information, please call (919) 504-3007 or email Children's Catechist Nancy Robinson.

Health & Safety of Your Children

In addition to our deep commitment to the spiritual formation of children, we are committed to their safety. We require all adults working with children and youth up to age 18 to undergo a background check, submit references, attend an IN-PERSON Child Safety Protection Policy lunch, as well as ONLINE MinistrySafe Sexual Abuse Prevention Training every two years. You can read our Policy for Supervised Individuals and Registered Sex Offenders. We require any such persons to self-report with this form.