Children & Youth
Christian Education & Fellowship
For Adult Christian Education & Formation, go to this page.
Our formation as Christians continues throughout our entire lives. With that in mind, our children’s and youth offerings are intended to support the process of learning and becoming that God calls us to.
These programs below are designed specifically for young people, but their formation as Christians also requires an important intergenerational space: the liturgy of the Eucharist. Here, children take their place as full and significant members of the church. They participate in the Eucharist at their own developmental level (and interest!); we believe and know that important things are happening for them though we cannot see it. This is why all none of our education programs overlap with this central part of our life together, the Sunday Eucharist.
We are grateful for youth who help lead worship as acolytes; they can start as early as third grade and you can read more here. For more on children receiving the Eucharist, please do see our FAQs.
Children’s Programs
Our primary method of Christian formation for children age 3 through 5th grade is called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. This is a Montessori-based approach to the religious formation of children, rooted in Scripture, liturgy, and respect for the child’s rich relationship with God. Central to Catechesis is the atrium, a space containing hand-made materials that focus the child’s attention on key scripture passages or liturgical moments.
Our Atrium meets roughly twice a month after the liturgy, as it is so important for the whole community to be worshiping and learning together in the Eucharist. Children in this age group are divided into three learning groups:
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Atrium 1 focuses on the most essential elements of our faith—the announcement of God’s love especially experienced through Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who died and is risen. Materials on the life of Jesus Christ and his teachings help to make the mystery of God concrete for the child. The heart of the catechesis for children under six revolves around the Parable of the Good Shepherd.
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Atrium II focuses on the image of the True Vine. “I am the vine, you are the branches, whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” The proclamation responds to the deep need of these children to better know his or her relationship with God, family, friends, and the larger community.
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In Atrium 3, we focus on the history of salvation: the plan of God as a plan of communion, a plan which links all people together through God’s love. The emphasis is on our response to this unfolding generosity of God and recognition of the responsibilities that come with receiving God’s great gifts and seeing oneself as a collaborator with God.
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Atrium Singers is offered to Levels 2 and 3, in the second half of class. They and their catechists join our Music Director in the nave, and learn music which they sing in the liturgy a few times a year. Learn more on our Music page.
Our dedicated and trained catechists and assistants are committed to helping children “fall in love with God.” This approach towards formation is one that Redeemer has cultivated over many years, and we continue to see the rewards through the deep faith that our youngest members share with us. We take the faith of children seriously, from the pre-literate to those on the verge of adulthood.
For more information on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, visit here. (If this sounds similar to Godly Play, the curriculum developed by Jerome Berryman, that’s because Berryman learned Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and then changed and further adapted it in a different direction. Some Godly Play stories are almost identical to the original Catechesis stories, which we use.)
Youth Programs
Our youth programs are designed with community-building and shared learning in mind. Upon graduating from Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (above), students stay in a cohort for two years in the Rite 13 program. Rite 13 meets on Sunday mornings at the same time as Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Adult Forum.
This group then moves to another two-year program called J2A which expands service in and outside the church. It ends in a pilgrimage in the summer of the second year.
Once students are in 8th grade, they are invited to join Youth Group, which meets on Sunday evenings for dinner, discussion, and games.
And every other year, 10th-12th grade students are invited to attend a yearlong Confirmation Class. At the end of this class they may choose to be confirmed by our bishops in a special diocesan service. If your child is interested in attending any of these programs, or if you have questions, please email Mtr. Emily at assistantrector@ourredeemerlexington.org or call her at 617 637 6489.
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Sunday mornings, 10:45-11:45
Rite 13 focuses on forming and nurturing Christian community, helping youth explore and affirm their gifts and creative powers while grounding them in Scripture reflection. The Rite-13 ceremony occurs in Sunday worship around the young person’s 13th birthday. Our most recent cohort will begin fall of 2024. -
Sunday & Midweek Evenings
In J2A young people learn skills for faithful living, blending action and contemplation. At the end of the second year, youth go on a holy pilgrimage. Our most recent two-year cycle begins fall of 2024. -
Every other year, students in 10th-12th grade are invited to attend our Confirmation Class, which meets in the evenings before Youth Group each Sunday. We learn about the basic beliefs of Christianity, as well as the particulars of the Episcopal Church in the Anglican Communion–and we also discuss almost anything that students bring in to wonder about! In the spring, students may choose if they would like to be confirmed by our bishops as an adult statement of faith, affirming the vows taken on their behalf at baptism and receiving a special blessing passed on since the time of the apostles. Our current class starts in the fall of 2024.
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Sundays, 5:30pm – 7:15pm
Young people gather, together with our adult volunteers, to make and eat dinner each week throughout the school year. Members of the group are encouraged and empowered to take part in service, parish leadership, diocesan youth ministry opportunities and more. Our focus on a weekly basis is fellowship and community, as well as developing a shared prayer life, supporting all those who participate. The Youth group is open to all, including any young people in the congregation (and their friends), regardless of ability to take part in Sunday morning activities.
