Youth Education
Church of the Servant uses The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program for youth Christian formation. The program is based in a Montessori approach that requires lovely, child-sized material for every lesson.
Beginning September 18th, 9:30 AM
Preschool and Kindergarten will meet in the Good Shepherd atrium. The atrium focuses on stories and items that communicate God's great and wonderful love and help the children become part of the worship of the church.
First graders will use The True Vine Atrium, which continues these themes and adds material to help children with moral thinking and, as they begin to be interested in reading and writing, with the Bible. It also provides lessons leading toward an appreciation of creation and God's work throughout time.
Young Servants are children in grades 2-5. This year they will continue to use our in-house curriculum, emphasizing hands-on activities related to the day's scripture readings. Lessons include games, crafts, and art activities. Some Young Servant creations then become part of the main worship service.
Several times a year, the church offers special seasonal activities. These have included: Halloween activities and sleepover, Advent wreath and Easter Garden making, and an end-of-the-year picnic.
Young people in sixth grade and older participate in the Journey to Adulthood program. It has three parts:
First, Rite 13. The students discuss spiritual and practical issues and are recognized in a worship service at approximately 13 years old. This service marks their movement into adolescence and offers the support of their peers and the whole congregation.
The J2A program is for 8th to 10th graders. At the end of the second year, the group goes on a "pilgrimage" to a carefully chosen destination. Through the process of building a group, planning together, and fund-raising, the young people learn to be increasingly independent and practice working cooperatively in a group. On the pilgrimage itself they experience a culture unlike their own, serve others, and reflect on their personal spiritual journeys. In 2010 they went to Cody, WY.
The final step is Young Adult Leaders in the Church (YAC). After the pilgrimage, the young people continue to learn about themselves and their faith while offering leadership in various adult roles and serving as models for the younger groups. Members of the YAC group currently participate in the choir, vergers, and children's programs.