|
Sacramental Preparation
YOUTH Confirmation information!
Youth will be considered for confirmation provided they meet the following requirements:
1) Have an 80% attendance rate in Youth @ The CENTER activities and
meetings (or 80% participation in Choristers) in 2009 - 2010.
2) Be between 13 and 18 years of age. (13 year olds must have the approval of Julie Ross or Kathy Bozzuti-Jones.)
3) All youth, including Choristers, must attend the YOUTH CONFIRMATION
CLASSES on the following dates: February 14, February 21, February 28,
March 7, March 14, April 11 from 10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. in the Youth
Room. (All Youth @ The CENTER will also attend, regardless of
Confirmation eligibility.)
4) Be present for confirmation on April 18.
TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:
February 14 -- Sacraments and Religious Literacy
February 21 -- Holy Eucharist and Religious terminology
February 28 -- The Gospels and their Writers
March 7 -- Spirituality and Life in God
March 14 -- Living the Faith (Conscience, Morals and Ethics)
April 11 -- Final review with a member of the Clergy
All youth are welcome to attend!!
Come if you know you want to be confirmed.
Come if you've been confirmed and want a refresher.
Come if you're not sure about being confirmed.
Come if you're too young this year but would like to see what it's all about.
HE ATE BUGS?
[posted 1-13-10]
Children and Family Chapel featured John the Baptist on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus -- prior to the celebration of three infant baptisms during the 11am service. It's not always easy to catch a child's attention, but after the cacophonous beauty of our opening song with rhythm-instruments, the children's ears perked up again to hear about John the Baptist's wild hair and clothes, cave-dwelling and, especially, eating bugs! They liked this guy -- and the puppet calling out, 'You should be baptizing me!' So the children were primed to hear about John's recognition of his cousin in a wholly new way and his agreement to baptize Jesus by plunging him into the dark, cool water and then lifting him up into the bright light of day. That some people saw a dove descending and others heard a voice proclaiming Jesus the beloved Son of God only added to the vivid nature of the story. Jesus is recognized, and would soon recognize, for himself, his ministry of healing, teaching, and care of the marginalized. In the second part of the lesson, a baby doll was baptized, focusing on the welcome of God's children into the Christian community as we do it today. One child noticed that this was the same doll who 'played' Jesus in the Christmas Play. A child's connection between the very first epiphany at Jesus' birth and the indwelling spirit in God's 'own' beloved at Baptism was more than I could have hoped for.
-- Dr. Kathy Bozzuti-Jones, Director of Children and Family Ministries
[photo of John The Baptist Puppet by Millard Cook]
CURIOUS ABOUT BAPTISM at ST BART'S? CLICK HERE.
EARLY COMMUNION: A look back @ Sunday, October 25, 2009.
 Young children and their families came
together for an exploration of the mystery of the Eucharistic meal with
the Rev. Lynn Sanders and Kathy Bozzuti-Jones. The 45-minute session
introduced various concepts and traditions such as: 1. recognizing the
holiness of receiving Communion and the reverence we show God, 2.
preparing our hearts to receive Jesus at the table by talking to God
about any anger or bad feelings that might keep us from joining in the
celebration joyfully, 3. recognition that what we do on Sunday has been
done for 2,000 years and is happening around the world with our global
family today, and 4) an up-close experience of the consecration of
bread and wine as fulfillment of Jesus' request of his disciples at the
Last Supper that a holy meal be shared in remembrance of him and his
sacrifice of unending love.
Using a short form of the liturgy, children
received communion with their parents, reverently following the
directions given for how to hold their hands, choosing to sip the wine
or to dip the host in the chalice, or to cross their arms to receive a
blessing. It was beautiful to witness as priest and lay Eucharistic
minister. One second-grader, when asked whether there was something new
he had learned during the session answered, "I never realized that part
about going to Communion when I am angry and haven't said, 'I'm
sorry.'" Before leaving, children received "Prayers before Communion"
to practice at home and families received prayers to say with their
children, asking a blessing on people who hunger for food, care and
friendship.
Baptism: Welcoming Your Child into the Church Community
“Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble” (BCP, 298).
In the Episcopal Church one formally becomes a member when baptized. Infants, toddlers, children, youth and adults are all invited to participate in the sacrament of Baptism. Because Baptism is a communal event, St. Bart's celebrates Baptism within the context of our Sunday worship services.
In our tradition, four days during the church year are especially appropriate: at the Easter Vigil, on the Day of Pentecost, on All Saints’ Day, and on the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. Dates appear on the downloadable
2007 Baptism and Baptism Preparation Schedule (below). Persons desiring to be baptized, or to have a member of their household baptized, are asked to complete and fax (or mail) a
Baptism Registration Form (below), on which you will have an opportunity to select a date and time for both Baptism and Baptismal preparation.
To arrange for a baptism at St. Bart's: details here.
Early Communion ClassChildren old enough (and interested enough!) to ask for the Eucharist are permitted to receive Communion in the Episcopal Church. As the Holy Eucharist remains a mystery for children and adults alike, we periodically offer a chance for exploration and questions to any families who desire it.
 Designed for children aged 4 and older and their families/parents/guardians, the class begins a conversation about how reception of God's bread and wine helps us to know that Jesus is with us—and that taking part in the Holy Eucharist helps us to feel closer to God, to each other, and God's family outside the church walls. Suggested reading:
A Child's Guide to the Holy Eucharist Rite II, available at St. Bart's Book Store. Classes are scheduled each fall.
An Early Communion class, designed and led by Kathy Bozzuti-Jones in October for children aged 4 and above, culminated with small, family Eucharistic circles, where family members communicated each other with a mixture of joy and awe. Pictured above are Sarah Queen and her children, Emma and Bennett.
|
