Dear Parents, Welcome to the start of the program year!! I am excited about beginning this year as your new Director of Christian Formation. I look forward to pilgrimming together this year as we journey through the church’s seasons with our children and youth. I want to take a moment to share with you my thoughts about formation, and I hope you will share yours with me. I believe Christian formation is a lifelong process. Throughout our lives we are continually experiencing, learning and being transformed as we seek to become Disciples of Christ. Our fellow travelers on this journey are come from our households, our community of faith, and our world. I also believe formation takes place within the entire life of the congregation. John Westeroff says, “Formation is best understood as the participation in and the practice of the Christian life of faith. It is a process of transformation and formation, of conversion and nurture.” There is a difference between “religious education” and “Christian formation”. Religious education is gathering knowledge and is ia part of Christian formation, but only a part. Albert Camus says, “If a thought is to change the world, it must first change the life of the person who carries it.” Knowledge alone does not change lives. As Episcopalians we believe theological authority and wisdom come from scripture, tradition, and reason. Christian formation is made up of knowledge (Biblical literacy, church history, theology, ethics), experience, and community (the community of faith, our households and engaging with the world). Episcopal Christian formation, I believe, must also take into account our distinctive traditions. Who we are as an Anglican tradition leads us to specific perspectives that inform our understanding. Both the Prayer Book and an understanding of our heritage and polity are important components of our educational approach. This year we will engage with all three—knowledge, experience, and community. We will engage within our own classes; we will engage with the entirety of children and youth; and we will engage intergenerationally as the Calvary community. And you as families will engage at home. By making connections between church, home, school and work our faith becomes transformative and alive. Stay tuned for more information on how we can do work together to connect. I will have a schedule to you all very soon as well as more information on the year. Please know my door, email and phone are always available to you. I welcome your feedback and look forward to working with you all. Faithfully, Mother Katherine +
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 01:44:14 +0000
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