Youth Christian Formation

Children and Youth are vital members of the Body of Christ. We welcome their enthusiasm and wisdom. We understand them as people of faith. We want to nurture that faith.

The Christian Formation programs for children and youth at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity provide support for each of us to uphold the Baptismal Covenant. We want each child to grasp the Good News of Jesus Christ and be empowered to live into the mission of this parish church:

To know Christ,
To make him known,
And to serve all people according to his example.

Children and Worship
Children are welcome at all worship services and are encouraged to participate. Children can contribute as acolytes, ushers, lectors, and choristers.

Children and Communion
In the Episcopal Church, all baptized Christians are welcome to receive communion. We invite baptized children of all ages to receive communion at any time. We offer communion instruction in the regular Church School curriculum

Children’s Chapel
Becky Berkenstock, Coordinator
For children 7 and under, this Service of the Word is offered during the 10:30am Sunday Service. It models the prayer book liturgy with young children in mind. The children begin the liturgy in the Cathedral with their families. During the opening hymn, they follow the children’s cross to the chapel of the Good Shepherd. The children rejoin their families in the main church at the time of the Peace and are present with the Cathedral congregation for communion.

Acolytes
Tom Kolepp, Acolyte Coordinator
Young people in fifth grade and up are invited to become acolytes. Acolytes assist with the liturgy on Sundays and at special Cathedral services. Training is required and any youth interested in this ministry should speak with the Acolyte Coordinator.

Lectors
Any young parishioner who would like to read lessons during the worship on a Sunday morning is welcome to join the lectors. They must first attend a training session, offered early in the fall. Excellent oral reading skills and regular church attendance are expected.

Nativity Choristers
Becky Berkenstock, Director
There are two youth choirs at the Cathedral. The Nativity Choristers is open to youth in grades 3 and up. They rehearse Sundays 11:45 to 12:30pm beginning in September. They generally sing during the 10:30 Sunday service one Sunday each month and at some special services. Each year the Cathedral hosts a Youth Choral Fest for all youth choirs in the Diocese. The Junior Choristers is open to children ages 4 years and up. They meet Tuesdays 4:00pm – 4:30pm beginning in October. They join the Choristers to sing a few times a year. Older youth are also welcome to audition for the adult Cathedral Choir.

In addition to regular Sunday worship, children and youth are also invited to prepare and lead special services these include:

Christmas Pageant
Pam Bayliss, Director
All members of the Church School are invited to participate in this wonderful dramatization of the Christmas story. The pageant takes place on a Sunday afternoon in Advent. Rehearsals are Sundays in December plus the Saturday before.

Youth Stations of the Cross
Canon Anne Kitch, Director
Each Lent, youth in grades 1-12 are invited to prepare a dramatic presentation of the Passion Story for the 5:30 Worship Service on Good Friday

Canon for Christian Formation
The Rev. Anne E. Kitch
610-865-0727
AKitch@nativitycathedral.org

Nursery
Tammy Gordon, Coordinator
Nursery care is provided for any child under 5 years of age. The nursery is open from 7:45am to 12:00pm each Sunday during the school year. The nursery is staffed by trained child care providers assisted by volunteers. There is also child care during special events, holiday services and summer Sunday services.

Church School
In addition to worship opportunities, the Cathedral provides a fabulous Church School program. Our curricula are chosen to nurture the spiritual formation of children and youth. We hope that they will come to know and love God more deeply, to understand what it means to be a Christian, to gain a working knowledge of the bible and bible stories, and to be immersed in the Episcopal teachings and traditions. We want them to be empowered to build faithful communities, live out mission and be able to connect their spiritual life with their real life experience.
To accomplish this we have a wonderful group of faithful and fun teachers.

Classes: Classes meet from 9:00am to 10:00am on Sundays during the school year.

Enrollment: Children may be enrolled in Church School at any time during the year by notifying the superintendents, by calling the Cathedral office, or by attending class.

Superintendent:
Mary Ann and Bob Lynn
610-866-4269
malynn54@verizon.net

Assistant Superintendent:
Dawn Mendez
610-797-1612
dmendez@starnetdial.net

Canon for Christian Formation
The Rev. Anne E. Kitch
610-865-0727
akitch@nativitycathedral.org

J2A Assistant: Susan Sartoretto

Nursery, infants to 4 year-olds
Tammy Gordon, Coordinator
Nursery care is provided for any child under 5 years of age. The nursery is open from 7:45am to 12:00pm each Sunday and is staffed by trained child care providers assisted by volunteers. There is also child care during special events and holiday services.

Church School Program Grades 1-6
The Church School teachers have designed a program to teach the Good News through storytelling, art, singing and exploration. We use a Rotation Model to teach Scripture, sacraments of the Church, Church History and Episcopal tradition.

3 years olds - Kindergarten
Tracy Eisenreich, Tammy Gordon and Liz Samuelson
Room 1, lower level Sayre Hall
Three-year-olds through kindergarteners are welcome to participate in this fun-filled class that introduces them to the bible through storytelling, art, drama, and music. With a children’s version of the Book of Common Prayer and songs chosen from our own hymnal, students will begin to learn about the traditions of the Episcopal Church. This is a place where the children can be at play with bible stories, prayer, and worship.

Grades 1- 5
Life Together
Elementary age children meet for fun and faith formation with the Life Together curriculum. This lectionary based curriculum follows the Sunday readings. Children are introduced to bible stories, church seasons, and the sacraments with a variety of approaches including drama, music, storytelling, art, science, cooking and more.

Grades 1 & 2
Barbara Iannelli and Bonnie Kuronya
Room 6, lower level Sayre Hall

Grades 3-5
Pam Bayliss and Becky Berkenstock
Room 2, lower level Sayre Hall

Substitute and assistant Teachers:
Bonnie Kuronya, Becky Berkenstock, Beth Vorosmarti and Kate Eighmy

Grades 6-12 Journey to Adulthood
The Journey to Adulthood is a 6-year Christian formation program for young people. It is divided into three 2-year phases, Rite 13, Journey to Adulthood (J2A) and Young Adults in the Church (YAC).

Rite 13 Grades 6 & 7
Jenifer Gamber and Bob Lynn
Room 21, upper level Sayre Hall
In Rite 13, youth explore their identity within the context of the Christian faith. It is based on the premise that manhood and womanhood are gifts from God, but adulthood must be earned. It includes a liturgical celebration of the young people when they turn 13.

J2A grades 8-10
Brian Gordon and Meg Storm
Room 23, upper level Sayre Hall
In J2A, the youth continue their spiritual development utilizing lectionary based bible study and discussion. They are invited to participate in the confirmation program this winter if they wish to be confirmed in June 2007. They also prepare to go on a pilgrimage the summer of 2008.

YAC grades 11 & 12
Connie Gilbert, Maureen Schenkel, Derek Storm
Bishop Gray Room, lower level of Cathedral

Confirmation Program
Confirmation is the sacrament that recognizes a person’s adult commitment to the Christian faith. Our teen confirmation program includes regular Sunday worship, commitment to the J2A program and participation in Confirmation classes. Confirmation classes are formed during the first year of the J2A class when young people are generally in 9th or 10th grades. For more information, speak to Canon Kitch.

Additonal Opportunities
Youth Group
Brian Gordon, facilitator
The Cathedral Youth Group is open to youth in grades 6-12 and is closely connected to the Journey to Adulthood program. Planned activities focus on fellowship, worship and mission. Youth also participate in Diocesan Youth activities.Click here to see the schedule of fun-filled activities or to become a member of the group, please contact the Cathedral office at 610-865-0727.

Nativity Youth Camp
Ray Arcario, Director
Each summer, Nativity offers a week of residential camp for young people who have completed second grade through high school. Staffed by dedicated Cathedral volunteers and clergy, Nativity Youth Camp offers a unique opportunity for youth to engage in music, games, Bible study, worship and fun in a spiritual environment. Camp usually takes place late in June at a nearby camp and conference facility.

Vacation Bible School
Southside Ministries KIDS
Each summer, Southside Ministries sponsors an ecumenical Bible school held at the Cathedral. Meeting for two weeks in July, children from pre-K through grade six are immersed in a wonderful program of Bible study, arts and crafts, and music.