Faith Formation for Children and Youth
Nursery-12th grade
At St. Elizabeth’s it is our goal and desire for children and youth to know three things:
God loves them, no exceptions
There are adults—other than their parents—who care for them and want to know them
St. Elizabeth’s is a community where it’s okay to ask big questions and to explore things that matter: doubt & faith, life, relationships, purpose, spirituality, pilgrimage, service, and more.
For many years, St. Elizabeth’s has affirmed and supported these goals with our use of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (COGS) and Journey to Adulthood curricula. As with so much about our lives together as a Christian community, the COVID-19 pandemic presented an opportunity we couldn’t refuse to explore other curricula and ways of being together.
Going forward, we are learning new ways to help our families and young people navigate a life of faith amid all the transitions of our recent time, and are also prayerfully discerning the needs of our young people in and around the St. E’s community.
For the 2022-2023 program year, we are venturing ahead as follows:
Nursery is open for children 3 months - 3 years.
Level 1 (PK - Grade 1): Catacheis of the Good Shepherd curriculum
Level 2 (Grades 2-3): Illustrated Ministry’s Mini Revolutions curriculum
Level 3 (Grades 4-5): Illustrated Ministry’s Mini Revolutions curriculum or Acolyting Program
Rite 13 (Grades 6-8): Rite 13 cirriculum & Youth Acolyting Program
J2A (Grades 9-12): Journey to Adulthood curiculum & Youth Acolyting Program
Schedule for Levels 1-3:
First Sundays of the Month — Children’s Chapel in the Justice Library — 10AM
October 2, November 6, December 4, February 5, March 5
Second Sundays of the Month – Sunday School in individual Atriums - 9:45AM
November 13, December 11, February 12, March 12, May 14
Third Sundays of the Month – Sunday School and Service Project - 9:45AM
September 18. October 16, November 20, December 18, January 15, February 19, March 19, April 16, May 21
Fourth Sundays of the Month – Sunday School in individual Atriums - 9:45AM
September 25, October, 23, November 27, January 22, March 26, May 28
Fifth Sundays of the Month – Sunday School in Atriums - 9:45AM
October 30, January 29, April 30
On first Sundays, Children’s Chapel will meet during the 10AM service, in the Justice Library in Parish Hall. Children will sit with their parents in worship until the gospel is read. At which time, the children will gather around the Eucharistic Minister as the gospel is proclaimed and when it is finished, process with their teachers to the Justice Library for a story, discussion, and snack. The children will return to their parents when it is time for Communion. On third Sundays of the month, teachers will offer an abbreviated lesson in order to complete a service project. Projects will include: bringing a donation from the wish list of the Sudbury CARE Pantry, the St. Mary’s Food Bank, and the Sudbury Community Food Bank, hosting a Coffee Hour for the Parish, helping with a light grounds clean up outside, and reaching out to those in our community who are sick through notes and pictures, and sending care packages to college students who are away. Teachers will let parents know a week ahead of time what project to prepare for.
Schedule for Levels 4-5 (Grades 6-8 & 9-12):
R13 (Grades 6-8): Rite 13 curriculum
J2A (Grades 9-12): Journey to Adulthood curriculum
6th - 12th graders, are encouraged to join the community in worship, where they may serve as acolytes, readers, intercessors, ushers, and members of the altar guild and choir. In addition to participating in worship, these two groups meet individually twice a month on Sunday afternoons for fellowship and formation. Dates for formation meetings will soon be released.
Youth Confirmation Classes: Confirmation is the liturgy at which youth take on for themselves the baptismal promises made for them by their parents at baptism. This is also the liturgy at which baptized adults commit to living out their faith journeys in the Episcopal Church. Participation in Confirmation preparation does not obligate one to then be confirmed. Youth interested in Confirmation will be eligible for group classes led by the rector, for a series of six weeks done typically in the fall or when needed. For questions or to sign up, email: Rev. Andrew+ (andrew@st-elizabeths.org)
Children and Youth Formation Registration: please use our online registration form to register your children and youth for our formation programs.
Additional Formation Opportunities:
Students Together Opposing Prejudice (S.T.O.P.) - 6th-8th grades
This program is a seven-week curriculum collaboration among three Sudbury-area faith communities with the goal to middle school students understand the harm of prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination.
Youth Mission Trip (ASP)
High School youth participate in a week-long summer mission trip. In even numbered years, youth and their adult leaders join in a home repair ministry with the Appalachia Service Project. During the school year, interested teenagers prepare for the trip by learning how to use hand and power tools. They also study the culture of Central Appalachia so that they understand something of how that part of the US became and remains so poor. For many of our youth the ASP trip is transforming. Some go more than once, and some have even returned, years after their first trip, to participate as mentors and adult leaders.
Creation Art
painted by the children in the Level III Atrium