In case you are looking for a parish to join... (this is not an ad!)

Dear All - I hope that no one minds this post - it's just informational.

Our playgroup is not connected to any religious tradition, but it is sponsored by The Church of Our Saviour, an Episcopal parish, and our play space is in the church school "atriums". The Playgroup Coordinator is Josh Frank, who is the Youth Minister at COS. Josh has a toddler son who participates in the playgroup.

I'd like to share some info about the very special children's church school at COS, in case you're looking for a truly exceptional program. Children's Formation ("Sunday School") at COS uses "The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd", which is a Montessori based program. It is a gentle and thoughtful program. Please feel invited to explore this special type of "Sunday School" even if you are not affiliated with COS. About it from the COS Newsletter:

Fall Focus - September 2009
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd - Beginning September 20th at 10:00am with a family breakfast.

What is wonder? Could it be the source of activity? Like a magnet that pulls you forward, is a sense of wonder what moves you to reach?
Wonder is different from just being interested in something.
Wonder causes us to respond.
Wonder is a precursor to faith.
In Catechesis of the Good Shepherd wonder is cultivated at every age by giving children choices that will allow them to reach on their own, and with others, toward God.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children age 3-12 years. It is based on the conviction that God and the child are in relationship. Drawing upon Holy Scripture, the Church liturgy and Montessori methods of education, the catechist (a carefully trained and dedicated, catechist is Greek for "teacher of faith") is able to foster the child's natural sense of wonder and love for God. Catechists work with small groups of children to help them develop their own unique relationship with God.

Some of the materials available in the atriums draw upon events in Jesus' life, including the Last Supper, the Kingdom parables and the infancy narratives. Other materials include a relief map of the Holy Land, a model of the city of Jerusalem, a liturgical calendar; and replicas of the articles of the Eucharist.

The Atrium is a classroom where Catechesis presentations take place. The term dates back to the early Roman Church where the atrium referred to a room where those coming into the Church were taught. It is "a place of preparation."

The catechist's strive to foster a sense of sacred space within the atrium. The child's experiences in the atrium helps to prepare them for involvement in the larger worshipping community. Some refer to the atrium as a place for conversation with God.

This formation grounds children with Christian roots, strengthens the foundation of their faith, and nurtures their development into a whole, joyful human being.

Atriums open at 10:00 am at Church of Our Saviour.
Families are encouraged to bring their children at that time to have the fullest possible experience. While a presentation takes place at some point, the opportunity for wonder has already begun. We understand all the work that goes into getting a family to church, and deeply appreciate your efforts to respect the atrium, catechists and other children by entering the atrium as close to 10:00 am as possible.