We are excited to welcome your children and youth to Trinity! Thanks for being here. We hope you find what you are looking for in our children and youth offerings.

Children’s Formation

Children’s & Family Ministries Committee: This committee, with staff support, is responsible for the development, implementation and oversight of all children’s & family ministries at Trinity Cathedral. They publish an annual calendar of events, recruit volunteers, facilitate annual events, and support all other children’s ministries. This committee reports monthly to the vestry.

Baptism at Trinity:  We are delighted to offer the Sacrament of Baptism to anyone in our parish who has added a child to
their family. This is a joyous occasion where the entire congregation celebrates the addition to our parish family and to the Body of Christ. We regularly have baptisms on the days appointed for the occasion in the Book of Common Prayer. Those days are: All Saints’ Sunday (November 7, 2010), Baptism of Our Lord (January 9, 2011), Easter Vigil (April 23, 2011), and Trinity Sunday(June 19, 2011). Additional dates may be arranged by contacting the Parish Office. Baptism preparation for parents and
godparents will be scheduled before each baptism date.

Nursery:  Children younger than 4 are welcome in the bright, sunny, well staffed nursery. It is open from 8:30 a.m. until the end of the 11:15 a.m. service during the school year, and from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. during the summer schedule. The nursery is also open during some other services and special events.

Activity Folders:  There are folders for children with crayons, paper, and children’s bulletins in the baskets as you enter
the church nave. The bulletins have pictures and activities that are related to the day’s scriptures.  There are also colored pencils, coloring pages of our own stained glass windows (created by Dean Jensen) and a variety
of books on the table.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word:  During the 10:00 a.m. service, children under the age of 6 are invited to attend Children’s Chapel next to Morrison Hall. There they hear the “story”, sing, pray, and have an age appropriate time of worship. The children process out of the service during the hymn before the Gospel reading and return at the Peace. The liturgy is lead by volunteer parents and parishioners. Parents are always welcome to stay with their children during the liturgy.

Sunday Morning Formation Programs (Sunday School): Classes are held for people of all ages (two year olds through adults) during the school year. The children’s classes are each taught by teams of dedicated volunteers.

• Two years olds: The two year old program consists of simplified stories using the Early Christian Awareness Program. “Wooly Lamb” looks for all his friends each week.

• Three year olds: The three year old curriculum is designed to prepare children for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. We use the Montessori style of storytelling as a primary means for encountering God, so God is not just learned about, but experienced. The key to this approach is a worship context, rather than a school environment, for telling and understanding biblical stories.

• Four year olds – 3rd Grade: These groups use the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. Catechesis is an “experiential” Christian formation curriculum designed for children ages 3-12. Catechesis helps the child “come close to God all by myself.” Using Montessori techniques, the catechist explores with the children: Jesus’ life, Kingdom Parables, Prophecies, the meaing of the words and actions of the Eucharist, ways of worship, and growing into being the church.

• 4th & 5th Grade: “The Adventure” – In a new offering for this year this group will explore the great narrative arcs of our Scriptures. They will use creative drama techniques to delve into several Bible stories, getting to know them in new ways. Through that process they will have the chance to write, rehearse, stage, and perform their own versions of these stories.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

• Advent Events: In November we help families get ready for Jesus’ coming by making Advent wreaths and decorating a Jesse tree. We also have an alternative gift market featuring the Rice Depot, Christ Church bookstore, and Heifer Project.
• Christmas Events: In December the children of parish prepare and present a Christmas pageant. All children ages 3 – 5th grade are invited to participate.

• Feast of Lights:  The Epiphany Feast of Lights service traces the path of the Magi as they follow the star. It concludes with the burning of the greens from our Christmas trees and Advent wreaths. It is followed by a parish- wide chili supper.

• Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras:   We have a gumbo cook-off, a parade through the neighborhood, eat pancakes, listen to jazz and celebrate the blessing of our common life together.  As is customary, we hold this celebration on the last day (Fat Tuesday) before we begin our fasts the following day (Ash Wednesday) for the season of Lent.

• Palm Saturday:  The day before Palm Sunday we gather and sing Hosannas to welcome Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. We make and share bread as well as wash feet at the Last Supper. There is much activity in living the story of Holy Week: storytelling, baking bread, singing, banner making, and dancing our way into the season of Easter.

• Cathedral Camp (Vacation Bible School):  This is our week-long, half-day camp for children held during July each summer. Youth and adults act as group leaders on our 6 year biblical journey through the Old Testament. In 2011 theCathedral Camp theme is “The Great Escape.”

For more information about any of these events please contact Dawn Howe at 501-372-0294 or dhowe@trinitylittlerock.org