NURSERY REPORT

Since September 2010, a cosy corner is set up in the library each Sunday to accommodate the little ones who are of pre-school age, including babies.  While this started on a trial basis, it has proven to be very satisfactory with attendance varying from 2 to 4 children, ages 1 to 3.
 
We have much fun during the hour which flies by, with lots of interaction from the older children who show such kindness and interest in the little ones. Veronica Wright kindly includes the 3 yr. olds in some of the Sunday school activities, this they enjoy thoroughly, and always joining for juice and cookies at the end of each session.
 
A rota of helpers will soon be in place, thanks to some volunteers.  Now that the nursery is up and running, let’s hope our numbers grow and grow.

Respectfully submitted
Priscilla Archer

YOUNG PEOPLE’S REPORT

Sunday School  (ages 3 - 10)
2010 was an active year for the Sunday school. With the help of a number of dedicated volunteers, the children meet every Sunday to read and discuss Bible stories, play games and do creative crafts, and generally enjoy themselves while expanding their understanding of their faith. The children participate in Kids’ Day in church once a month, greeting members of the congregation at the door, singing, helping with the collection, and reading the lesson. Some of the readings have been cooperative group presentations, while others were read by just one individual. Molly White, at the age of ten, has proved to be an outstanding reader, and is setting a high standard for the younger children to follow in the future. We hope that through these activities our Sunday school children will feel that they are an integral part of the Holy Trinity church family.

Our wonderful teachers are Donna Shultz, Gill Leakey, Kathy Thornton, Alice Bush and Wendy White, Kathy Van Allen, Anna Morgan and her artistic mother, Vera Davey.  Karen Archer has done a fabulous job of scheduling, and as a result of the opening of the nursery in September, we have a growing number of children attending Sunday school while their younger siblings are lovingly cared for by Priscilla Archer.

Some highlights of the year for the children were painting pots to plant flowers for Mother’s Day, helping set out food bank donations around the altar, receiving their Sunday school certificates from Assistant Priest Janice Lowell, and being part of an entertaining and dramatic celebration of St. Francis in the church, led by Neil. The children also enjoyed activities such as Halloween and Christmas parties, generously hosted by the young people in Rite 13 and J2A. Many of the Sunday school children did a fine job of acting in the multi-generational Christmas pageant directed by the inimitable Frances Fagan, whose patience knows no bounds.

We look forward to many more activities planned for 2011.

Respectfully submitted,
Veronica Wright

 
Journey to Adulthood  (ages 11+)
Journey to Adulthood is a six year program of spiritual formation for youth.

The first two year group is called Rite-13.  During these two years the community acknowledges the gift of gender, celebrates the amazing creative power and potential of these young people and creates a safe haven in which to explore new ideas, new interests and new abilities.  We now have five youths in this program.  This year brings four new teachers to the program: Alice Bush, Cindy Thornton-Veltri, Doug McLean and Paul Grant.  They are all a most welcome addition to the program; I am thankful for their time and commitment.

The next two year group is called Journey to Adulthood (J2A).  During this phase the teens learn and practice six basic skills for adulthood: active listening, negotiation, assertion, research and information management, partnership and leadership.  We now have four youths in this program.

The final two year group is called Young Adults in Church (YAC).  During this phase the young adults work on identifying their gifts and commit to a specific ministry that uses those gifts.  They lay a foundation of personal disciplines to carry them along their faith journey.  We have three young adults to start the program this year.
Fundraising:  Our bake sale this year raised over $100.00; proceeds will go to our Foster Child, Lydia.

Events:  Janice Lowell and I hosted a sleepover for the J2A at Holy Trinity.  Games were played, movies watched, junk food consumed and a walk around the Labyrinth at midnight…lacking sleep but with an abundance of fun!

As you can see the program continues to grow.  Holy Trinity is blessed with very thoughtful, dynamic and faithful youth.

Respectfully submitted,
Janet Scott