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CALVARY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Children & Youth Ministries Newsletter
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CYM's monthly e-newsletter shares news and insights for our Children and Youth Ministries. It is one way we hope to build community and to participate together in our children's spiritual formation.
Sunday School begins September 10
Sunday School Program:
9:30-9:45 am Children's Chapel
9:45-10:30 am Sunday School Classes
10:30 am Children join their families for the service
Our Nursery (infant - 3 years of age) runs from 8:45-11:00am
On September 10, fourth graders will receive their bibles during Children's Chapel. Also, remember to bring your backpacks for a Blessing of the Backpacks during the 10 am service. Afterwards, join us for the Pot Luck Reception for Fr. Robert and Anne Harvey.
Register for Sunday School
here.
Please download, complete and return the photo waiver
here.
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FAQs about Calvary Sunday School:
What curriculum do you use?
We use the ECC curriculum developed at the Virginia Theological Seminary. This year we are using the "Chalice" year.
Click here to learn more about the curriculum and download materials. For an outline of topics for the year, please
click here.
Why do you begin with Children's Chapel every week?
We want all our young people to begin their Sunday together, as one group, and we want them to learn that our study and learning all begin with prayer - expressed in song, liturgy, and storytelling. We also want them to learn the basics of our liturgy, so that they will become comfortable taking liturgical roles in worship with adults as they get older.
What if we arrive after 9:30? Should we wait for our child's class to begin?
You and your children are welcome to come into the chapel at any time. Even if it's just for a few minutes, it will help them to feel part of the group and to be ready for their class.
What is there for me to do between 9:30 and 10?
You are welcome to visit your child's class, or any other class before worship begins in the church at 10. We also have coffee available in the Sunday School area, and places where you can sit and relax, catch up on news, texts, or email (free wifi is available), or visit with other adults. Weather permitting, you may choose to spend a few quiet minutes outside in the courtyard or the churchyard, where there are benches or room for a short walk. You are also welcome to go into the church and listen to the choir prepare for the service. Some parents like to go for a short walk in the neighborhood.
What if there is no parking available in the lot and the village lot is too far for my child, or we are running late?
There is a "drop off" lane by the entrance off the parking lot where you can leave your car for a couple of minutes while you walk your child into the Sunday School area. Then you can drive to the village lot (across Cayuga), and return to the church in plenty of time for the 10 am service.
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I will go to the altar of God / To the God of my joy and gladness.
Community Service
Acolytes actively assist the clergy in leading the worship of God. Acolytes often find their service is not only fun, but also spiritually fulfilling. They learn to serve with dignity, humility, and care, always with love of Christ. We welcome you to this ministry if you are in 4th grade or higher. We work with your schedule: it's not an "every Sunday" commitment, and you will get training and practice so that you will feel comfortable at the altar.
We will start having acolytes serve again on September 10, so a schedule will be coming out soon!
If you and your parents would like to learn more, please contact Doug Sandburg II at
[email protected]
. Patrick Brown will also be guiding our acolytes on Sundays this year.
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Children's Chapel
Ellie Yuhasz and Carol Mayo
Last year, Carol Mayo and I took an active and enthusiastic role to help bring music into our Sunday School Service.
This year, I will take an active role in leading the Children's Chapel Service
which begins at 9:30 and will be built upon the strong foundation which Mother Judith has given us.
Our children and youth are encouraged and are learning to help lead our worship through active participation in singing, praying and reading. It is but a 15 minute service, where parents are always welcome (especially if you like to sing), with the purpose to help build and strengthen our Christian Community here at Calvary.
I look forward to our new Sunday School year with excitement and generous prayer!
Ellie Yuhasz
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Nursery (infant - 3 years)
Kelly Blackey and Kiernan Hayward
Assistants: Haleigh Suffoletta & Samantha Banach
Welcome back to the nursery. Kiernan Howard and I, Kelly Blackey, are happy to be caring for the littlest members of Calvary again this year. We love hearing your children run and play, sing (cry) to us, and watching them change and grow throughout the year. We will try to keep goldfish crackers and juice on hand, but if you prefer a different snack, please include it in your child's diaper bag. The nursery is equipped with a changing table and a portable playpen/crib, lots of books, and tons of toys.
It would be helpful to Kiernan and me if you could volunteer to assist with additional coverage at least once or twice during the year, more if you feel the urge to do so.
This year we hope to do more infant related crafts, so if you have any special pictures we could use or ideas for such crafts, please let us know.
The nursery is all about a warm, caring environment for our most precious members, if there is anything we can do to make you or your children feel more comfortable, please do not hesitate let us know.
Brief bios:
Kiernan is a senior at Williamsville South and will graduate in 2018. He hopes to pursue a degree in English and/or Psychology when he attends college in 2018. Kiernan enjoyed working in the nursery so much last year, that he agreed to do it again! Along with high school coursework, he also has time for a part-time job. Kiernan is a twin! His brother Quinn sings in the choir at Calvary and is also active in his high school theater group.
Kelly was honored to be the nursery caregiver last year, which is why she wanted to do it again this year! She is Master's student at Medaille College, pursuing her degree in Mental Health Counseling. She works for Baker Victory Services in their emergency Foster Care Program. WOW, she is one busy lady! Kelly is Red-Cross certified in infant, child, and adult CPR. Her parents, Paul and Linda McKenna, are active members of Calvary Church; her sister, Heather Fleming and nieces, Madeline and Olivia, are also members of Calvary. Not only does Kelly hold down all those jobs and schoolwork, she is also a wife and mother! As she says "I would rather be busy doing what I love, than sitting around doing nothing."
Kelly Blackey
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Beginners Class (Pre-K & K)
Assistant: Andria McCarthy
Class Parents: Mark and Lora Park Bunting
Welcome back from the Beginner classroom! We are so excited to see all of our Sunday school friends, both those returning and new members, as we look forward to spending another year together. In the beginning, time will be taken to explain the purpose of Sunday school and getting to know one another. In September and October, the theme of our lessons will focus on the concept of promise. God keeps the promises made to Noah, Abraham and descendants, and Moses. Also, people can always depend on God's care. We look forward to reading stories, singing songs and creating in our classroom to bring these lessons to life. We can't wait to see you all!
Dr. Sarah English
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Primary Class (Grades 1-3)
Cinda and Wes Stone & Natalie Bottomley
Class Parents: Brian and Christina Donaghy
This year in our Primary classroom we welcome Natalie Bottomley to our teaching team.
We have stories about Joshua, Deborah and Gideon from the Old Testament to talk about around our "campfire" in our "tent" this month.
Our class is growing, there are a lot of new students joining us this year. We are looking forward to meeting each and every one of you on September 10th.
We will see you then!
Primary class teachers,
Natalie Bottomley, Wes and Cinda Stone
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Intermediate (Grades 4-6)
Mr. George Mayer & Mr. Brian Donaghy
Class Parents: Glen and Laura Joachimiak
I am pleased to inform you that Mr. Brian Donaghy and I will be teaching the Intermediate Sunday School Class of 4th, 5th, and 6th Graders this year.
We are looking forward to meeting all youngsters who will be joining this class for the very first time. And, we are eagerly ready to welcome back all those who were with us last year (and even longer!).
We know that the returning students will make a special effort to make all new members feel right at home when our class meets together.
As we pray, study, work and play together may we keep these words of the apostles Peter and John in mind:
May we "...grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever." (2 Peter 3:18)
"Whoever has My Commands and obeys them, he (she) is the one who loves Me. He (she) who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him (her) and show Myself to him (her.)" (John 14:21).
May God truly bless all of us!
Mr. George Mayer
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Junior Youth (Grades 7-9)
Christina McCormick
Rotating Assistant
Welcome back to the returning 8th and 9th graders!! A warm welcome to our incoming 7th graders. We have quite a year planned with lots of great lessons and activities. We will start the year learning about the Old Testament Prophets. Along with our weekly lessons I plan to incorporate crafts and hands on activities. Interactive sessions are planned in the form of games associated with our lesson of the week to help facilitate learning. I am looking forward to the start of the Sunday School year and I hope you will join all of us!
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Special Events Coordinators
Carl & Pat Zebrowski
Carl & I are looking forward to organizing the CYM special events for this 2017-2018 Sunday School Year. Every year we organize a CYM Breakfast and have the children perform a skit centered on a bible story. The menu usually includes pancakes (from scratch), scrambled eggs & bacon which has always been well received. Pretzel Sunday is always a hit. The children will work with soft pretzel dough and shape it into "Prayer Bread". These will be boiled, baked and then enjoyed by the little pretzel makers in training. Our Palm Sunday preparation will be the Palm Cross making with a possible class in making crosses from horseshoe nails. Don't forget Tie Dye Sunday. Will we dye socks, shirts or scarves this year? Who knows? Can't wait to see you.
Carl & Pat Zebrowski
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Class Parents
The role of class parents is to "shepherd" new parents through Sunday School and Calvary, to be a link between teachers and parents and Calvary and parents, and to take leadership in organizing family/social events and signups. We are still looking for class parents for the Junior Youth Group. If your child is in the Junior Youth Class, and you would like to be a classroom parent, please let Chris McCormick or Emily Sityar know.
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Rotating Teaching Team
Jim Marshall, Jim Greno, others tba
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CYM Parent Board News
The CYM Communications Committee have adopted two new electronic communications tools: one for online volunteer sign-ups and another for social media postings of CYM and Sunday School news.
CYM will use SignUpGenius.com as an online sign-up sheet for our special events. Those who wish to contribute to a pot luck or sign up for an activity will be able to view immediately which slots have been filled and which are still available.
Christina and Brian Donaghy worked with Alice Brown to create a Calvary CYM Facebook page. Alice Brown will be CYM's Facebook administrator and the only person allowed to post material to the Calvary CYM Facebook page in order to maintain consistency and quality control. The CYM Facebook page will also block tagging to ensure privacy. Every month, one class will be featured with a small write-up of what students are learning and a picture (photo releases respected). Sunday School teachers or parents can email any news or pictures to Alice Brown. Posts made on the Calvary CYM Facebook page will be linked to Calvary's website using a social plugin to provide access to families who don't use Facebook.
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They are like trees planted by streams of water,
bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; everything they do shall prosper. [Psalm 1:3]
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