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The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
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a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
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April 2006 |
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Spiritual nurture for childrenby Margaret Gibbs Over six days during January 2006, parishioners from the Anglican Parish of the City of Devonport undertook the third stage of training as catechists in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a faith formation and spiritual nurture program for children, led by the Rev. Carol Roth, Director of Children's Ministry in the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane. This program seeks to immerse children in the faith by acknowledging their keen sense of spirituality, by presenting the Scriptures to them as written (not paraphrased), by identifying the links between scriptures, liturgy and the mystery of the sacraments, and by providing a quiet, beautiful area in which they can work/reflect/pray. The first stage of the program is centred on the Good Shepherd and developing a loving relationship with our Lord. The second stage, for years 6 - 9, for which we have just trained, has as its theme the True Vine. At this stage that the children consider some of the Old Testament - the Creation, the books of the Bible. A prayer life is developed, the mystery of the Eucharist is explored and the True Vine presented. The catechists explore the characteristics of the year 6 - 9 child and the development of all children; how to set up the environment for the child; how to make and present materials to the child; the geography of Israel; and the moral formation of the child. What a marvellous way in which to celebrate the Centenary of St John's Church, Devonport - with a program that acknowledges that the child has a spiritual life, that encourages children in that life, that promotes understanding of the Holy Bible and of the doctrines of the Christian Church so that they can make their own choices based on valid premises.
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