Children's Formation

Children are an integral part of the St. B's family. The children's formation staff partner with families through providing meals to new parents, teaching the scriptures and liturgy, and creating space for worship, prayer, and creativity. We offer a variety of activities, and learning/service opportunities for the children, knowing that, like adults, they have varying interests, gifts, and attention spans.


Christian formation happens primarily for children at 10 a.m. through the school year. We offer three curriculums: Spark (2s & 3s), Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (older 3 yrs. - K), and Weaving God's Promises (1 - 6th gr.). During the Sunday services, we offer the children's homily for 4 yrs. - 6th gr. and nursery for infants - 3 yrs. 


Click here to download our children's ministry brochure. 

Learn more about the children's homily here. 


Learn more about COVID-19 Children's Formation here.


Search for New Director of Children's Formation

At the beginning of October, Fr. Sammy announced that after 21 years, Carla Schober, Director of Children Formation, would be retiring at the end of the year. Plans are now in the works to celebrate Carla, but we are also in the process of beginning our search for our next DCF. Dana Mennen is chairing the search team assisting Fr. Sammy with this hire. Questions about the search should be directed to Dana at Dana.Mennen@cru.org. Read the latest communication from Fr. Sammy and Dana here, which includes information about upcoming listening forums for parents with children whom the children's ministry serves.


If you or someone you know are interested in applying for this position, view the job description here.



Nursery

Infants - 3 yrs. during both services

In the nursery, we show God's love to our youngest parishioners through rocking, holding, reading, and playing! Four paid staff work in the nursery and toddler rooms every Sunday morning. Additional volunteers assist during each service. We use texts to keep in contact with you on Sunday mornings. 


During services, children are picked up at the Peace. During Christian Formation the nursery is staffed for infants. Two and three year olds engage in Bible lessons that follow the church year and involve activities, games and crafts using Spark Lectionary. 


Please Note: Moms are welcome to nurse in the sanctuary. A nursing mom's room is in transition and will be available upstairs off the parish hall lobby. We also coordinate meals for families with newborns for four weeks on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.


For more information, please contact Gaylene Latham, our nursery director at nursery@stbs.net. 

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

For 3.5 yrs. - kindergarten

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori approach to the Christian formation of children. The curriculum’s heart lies in the conviction that God and the child are in relationship and that the spiritual potential of every child is formed through loving relationship, scripture, and liturgy. The environment, lessons and materials are to help “call forth” the child’s response rather than “pour in” information.

The catechesis community meets in an atrium and are instructed by a catechist (teacher). The catechist’s role is to present the lesson using Scripture, and handmade materials. Children are then given time and materials to demonstrate what they believe God is speaking to them. Through art, sculpted Biblical figurines, maps, Eucharistic or liturgical furnishings, or a quiet corner, the work of the child becomes a prayer, a conversation with God.


Currently we only offer Catechesis Level 1 which is for toilet-trained 3 yr. olds through kindergarten. We plan to add level 2 in the fall of 2020. 


Download our Catechesis brochure, here.  Catechesis is directed by Meredith Flynn. 

Weaving God's Promises

For 1st - 6th grade

Weaving God’s Promises is a comprehensive, three-year Christian formation curriculum, developed and written exclusively for the Episcopal Church. It provides basic exposure to Church teachings through Holy Scripture, the Book of Common Prayer, and offers ways to apply Christian principles to a child’s daily life through prayer and service to others.

 

Included with Bible instruction, this curriculum offers special themes on the Church seasons, feast days and basic overview of the Anglican/Episcopal tradition, and the principal sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. Threads, a weekly take-home, is available for families. 

 

Classes are separated by 1st& 2nd, 3rd& 4th, and 5th& 6thgrades. Elizabeth Madeira oversees these classes. 

Beyond Sunday Mornings


  • Club 56

    No longer young children, yet not quite teenagers, 5th & 6th graders are given extra opportunities to build community and work out their faith through friendships, activities, and service. Club meets once a month usually on a Sunday afternoon. Download our Club56 brochure here.

  • Christmas pageant

    The Children’s Christmas Pageant happens during the 4:30 service on Christmas Eve. No auditions, lengthy rehearsals, or extensive set building. We have one rehearsal for older children prior to Christmas Eve. All children, even visitors, are encouraged to participate. 

  • Easter egg hunts

    The children's egg hunts happen on Easter Sunday between the services. We have staggered start times for older and younger children. Parents are asked to bring eggs already filled to the church the week prior to the hunt.  

  • Joyful noise

    JOYFUL NOISE  is St. B’s music ministry to prepare our 4 yr old - 6th grade children for lifelong music making in the church and their world.  Each Sunday from 5 - 6 p.m., kids sing, play instruments and music games, learn about great composers of faith, and create their own music.  There are 4 sessions each year, with the FALL 1 session beginning Sept 8. For more information and to sign up, please contact David Madeira at dmadeira@stbs.net. 

  • Spend time with our children

    Every time a child is baptized at St. B’s, the congregation makes a promise to support him or her in their life in Christ. A practical and concrete way to fulfill this promise is by committing to spend time with our children in the nursery, in a classroom, on the kick ball field, during the homily, or at the pageant. Opportunities to serve and pass on our faith to our children range from weekly  to once a year. Please contact Carla for details. 



  • Communication

    The Cnews is our monthly, digital, ministry newsletter, providing information on children's formation, special events, ministry needs, and helpful parenting tools. To receive this email, please contact Carla.  

Children's Formation Staff

Carla Schober, Director of Children & Family Formation

Gaylene Latham, Director of Nursery

Meredith Flynn, Director of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Elizabeth Madeira, Director of Spark & Weaving God's Promises

Contact

For more information about Children's Formation at St. B's please contact Carla Schober at cschober@stbs.net.

Safe Church

All staff and volunteers with children are required to have a background inquiry investigation conducted by the Diocese and the State of Tennessee. They are also required to complete Safeguarding God's Children.