Last Friday, my son and I went to the farmer’s market in Kingstowne where we met a very nice local coffee roaster. The roaster had flags all around his canopy to show all the countries that he bought coffee from. He loved to teach people about his coffee visually (flags of countries, seeing the different beans, etc.); but of course the ultimate lesson is in the cup, where one tastes and smells the uniquely delicious character profile of each bean and blend. There was one flag that was not like the others… and my son found it. While all the flags represented various countries, there was one with keys and the Papal Tiara which represents Vatican City. They don’t grow coffee in Vatican City, so I asked why this flag was there, which led to a wonderful conversation about faith, community, and of course, coffee. I took a picture of the moment because it reminded me of what I love about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), the children’s discipleship model that we will use at the Franconia-Springfield Mission. This moment depicts a child exploring symbols of faith through the physical world around them. Perhaps my son was drawn to the color yellow, perhaps it was the shapes, but whatever drew him to this flag, it was his simple moment of observation and exploration that opened up a wonderful conversation. Exploration of faith is at the very heart of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

What is Catechesis of the Good Shepherd?

When we baptize children, the celebrant says “Let us welcome the newly baptized.” The congregation and celebrant then say the following:

We receive you into the fellowship of the Church. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in the royal priesthood of all his people.

This invitation is a genuine invitation to discipleship by being a part of the Church, regardless of how young this person is when baptized. It also invites the whole community of faith to disciple the newly baptized. All who are baptized (yes — even infants) are indeed part of the laity and therefore offer their worship alongside adults in whatever ways they are able. As part of the laity, children, like adults, deserve thoughtful discipleship and spiritual formation.

While using their gifts in the Sunday liturgy is good and formative, there is an even greater opportunity that we have to disciple children ages 3-9 in an age-appropriate, exploratory way: CGS allows the child to explore the truths of God, their Good Shepherd, through all their senses, through the Scriptures, and through the Church’s worship. One of the ways that you can begin to prepare your child even now for CGS is to build a prayer table at home. Victoria Schwartz, the Advisor for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for the Anglican Diocese of the South, has written an excellent article on how to construct a prayer table for family discipleship called “Praying Around the Table: Making a Prayer Space in your Home.”

You may be wondering what happens during CGS in the atrium (which is the classroom name in CGS). Rather than describe it in words, I’d encourage you to watch the two videos below:

Who is Leading CGS?

From Maggie:

Hello! My name is Maggie Duke.  Darren and I have been adventuring together as husband and wife for nearly thirty years.  We have seven children ranging in age from nine to twenty-seven years old. I’ve been involved in education for the past 30 years in various environments ranging from our own home, to Sunday school classes and co-ops. I am so excited to embark on this newest endeavor to become a lead catechist.  Jesus was very clear how He viewed the littlest among us and I want to follow in His footsteps as we explore creative and dynamic ways to teach these dear ones about Himself and His church.

From K.C.:

Hello, I am K.C. Laushkin and have called the DC area home for over 12 years. As a mother of four children and an art teacher for elementary and middle school, I have been immersed in the world of education and the bringing-up of children for more than a decade. I am so excited to learn more about CGS, particularly it’s focus on creating a beautiful and inviting space for children to experience the Lord, and the hands-on approach to teaching liturgical practices.

How can the Whole Church Participate?

As KC and Maggie continue to be trained in CGS, they will have projects for the church to work on so that we are all investing in the discipleship of the youngest members of this church plant. This might include painting sheep, cutting fabric, laminating handouts, or something similar. Once we begin weekly worship, there will be opportunities to serve either in the nursery or in the atrium.

To volunteer with children at TFS Mission, there will be an application to fill out, a background check, and a child safety training to attend. If you have an interest in volunteering to help with either of these, please contact me (Morgan+) through our Contact Page. If you have questions or want to learn more, please contact me and we can chat more about children’s ministry at the Franconia-Springfield Mission.