Worshiping with children centering in the Anglican tradition

"Will you by your prayers and witness help this child to grow into the full stature of Christ?"
from the Liturgy of Holy Baptism, The Book of Common Prayer.

Supported by a grant given to us by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, the congregation of Grace Episcopal Church, Newton Corner, is undertaking an extended conversation about children and youth at worship in order to strengthen the educational process by which they learn about their worship tradition, about scripture embodied in the Liturgical Year, a three-year cycle of readings from the Bible, and particularly about the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. We will use the planning process for Sunday school, our singing school, and worship during Lent and Easter of 2007 as a framework. In this self-study, we will learn more about the Anglican tradition; evaluate what we have been doing in light of this knowledge; and reorganize schedules, curricula and resources to deepen and renew the worship lives of children and youth, and by extension adults in the congregation. The questions that we ask are the following: "What values do we intend as we work together?" "In what way are these values consistent with our Anglican tradition?" "As a baptizing community, do we by our prayers and witness, help the children and youth to grow into the full stature of Christ?"

BOOKS OF INTEREST IN OUR LIBRARY
Anglican Identities by Rowan Williams. Cowley Publications, 2003.
We are Theologians by Fredrica Thompsett. Cowley Publications, 1989; reissued 2004, Church Publishing.
The Baptizing Community by A. Theodore Eastman. Seabury Press, 1982

THIS MONTH'S EVENTS:
May 6th Concert at Grace Church, 4:00 PM, the choirs of Grace and of First Church, Needham, featuring a composition by Eva Kendrick, written for adult and Junior choirs, entitled "Famous" commissioned for this particular concert.
May 20th Meeting of Steering Committee after church. 12:30 - 1:20 PM Lunch and child care provided. Evaluation of our work over the year. News and plans for next year.

EVENTS IN 2007
1/07: The Honorable Byron Rushing at Grace Discussion Group and at the 11:00 AM service. "The Baptizing Community."
Audio GDG Part One
  Audio GDG Part Two
  Audio GDG Part Three
  Audio GDG Part Four
  Audio Sermon
1/09: 10:00 AM Staff meets with Fiona Vidal-White, a consultant on worship with children and youth.
1/13-15: Weekend away: "What does it mean to be a baptizing community?"
1/21: Instructed Eucharist at 11:00 AM service.
2/ 04: Dr. Fredrica Thompsett meets with Steering Committee and Sunday School Teachers to develop plans for education and worship, given our insights on Lent and Holy Week.
2/11: Steering Committee. Evaluation of our progress; further planning for Lent and Holy Week.
2/21: Ash Wednesday: Lent begins
3/4: J2A and Rite 13 meet with Fiona Vidal-White about Good Friday liturgy.
3/11: GDG and Eucharist. The Rev. Charles Hefling speaks about baptism in the Anglican view. Download Word document or listen to audio file.

EVENTS IN 2006
9/24: The Right Reverend Steven Charleston, Dean and President of Episcopal Divinity School, Professor of Theology, and Executive Director of the National Committee on Indian Work at the Episcopal Church Center, joined us in the Grace Discussion Group and in worship. The topic was "Anglicanism as a Viable and Vibrant Tradition for Today's Church". Transcript of discussion.
10/15: Dr. Fredrica Thompsett, Mary Wolfe Professor of Historical Theology at Episcopal Divinity School, and Director, Board for Theological Education, spoke in the Grace Discussion Group and in worship. The topic was "Anglican Tradition, Its Core Values in Historical Perspective". Transcript of discussion.
Audio file of Dr. Thompsett's homily.