A four-year program for Christians who want to delve more deeply into their faith and discern its practicality for their lives
Church School
Christ Church offers classes for children at the 10.30 a.m. service, year round. Children from pre-school to Grade 5 are included.
The 3- to 6-year old program at Christ Church is a fun mix of free play and art time, story-telling and lessons, craft time and game playing. We follow the church calendar loosely, mixing lessons about pivotal Christian events such as Christmas, Baptism, Palm Sunday, Easter etc. and lessons focused on stories from the bible such as Daniels and the Lion’s Den, the Creation story, Noah’s Ark, and the Prodigal Son with lessons that are more personal about community, forgiveness, generosity, family, peace etc.
Resources used include the Akaloo curriculum, and a variety of online resources to supplement the curriculum.
Class size ranges from 5 to 25 students, as many families come when they can. Open registration and drop-ins are always welcome.
In grades 2 to 5, three themes are explored to help grow a faith which can remain robust beyond childhood.
1. God loves us: Each child makes and names a colourful puppet from supplies we provide. The children love these critters, and we explore that relationship to help them understand how it is for God (and a parent) to love them. The puppets stay here with us until the child graduates, when we create a graduation ceremony for them.
2.God lives in our hearts: We believe in God Incarnate within and around us. We experience this by practicing the Lord's Prayer with actions (a yoga sun salutation) to embody our spirituality. And we act out or draw weekly stories from the bible and our lives, using our minds, bodies, and emotions to experience what it means to have God live in us, and we in God. By helping promote active lives, these energetic and social activities help build friendships, making church a fun place - beyond neighborhood and school - where children can expand their social horizons with others.
3. God is happiest when we love one another: With the above activities, we find this message in our lives and in the bible, learning how God's love inspires us to love others day by day.
All children begin in their classes, and in this sense mirror the emphasis on the Word which is taking place simultaneously in church. At the Offertory, when the focus of the service changes from the Word to the Table and the Eucharist, the children are escorted into the church, where they join their families.
Christ Church also organizes special events for children and their families, provides opportunities for children to assist in the leadership of the liturgy, and encourages their participation in community outreach projects during the year.
For more information, please contact the Coordinator of Children's, Youth, and Family Ministry
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Nursery
The Christ Church nursery is open year round at the 10.30 service, and is staffed by a professional caregiver. We welcome infants and toddlers up to the age of three, and offer a caring and nurturing environment while their parents participate in worship. The nursery is located on the second floor of the "program wing". (top)
Re-Affirmation of Baptismal Vows
The Re-affirmation of Baptismal Vows is available to any baptised Christian, young or old, any number of times. We usually call this Confirmation the first time it is undertaken.
Christ Church offers Confirmation Classes for young people, and Catechesis for adults who are considering the renewal of their baptismal covenant. Adult catechesis is generally undertaken in Lent each year, and provides a wonderful opportunity to raise and consider questions which have grown larger since one's youth. Please speak to one of the clergy for more information. (top)
The Confirmation program for teens runs annually for 8 - 10 weeks. This includes in-class instruction, field trips, a service project, and retreat-experience. Candidates are expected to participate fully by attending both the classes and worship on Sunday and Holy Days. The purpose of this program is to inform, challenge, and inspire inquirers as they seek to make their personal commitment to the Christian journey. Opportunities are provided to examine the Bible, our Christian roots and heritage, worship and prayer practices, spiritual gifts, and the Creeds and Sacraments. We require teen participants in our confirmation program to be in Grade 9 or above.
Parishioners and clergy share the leadership of these programs. (top)
Education for Ministry (EFM)
Old Testament, New Testament, Church History and Contemporary Theology: these are Education for Ministry’s topics over a four-year program. In a group not larger than 12, students work through their particular level, and share with the whole group their spiritual autobiographies, different methods of theological reflection, and the great vista of faith lived out by the people of God since Abraham. "EFM” is a distance program of the of the University of the South (at Sewanee, a school of international recognition, and is undertaken at Christ Church annually. Mentors and coordinators are certified, and those who complete the entire four years receive a certificate of completion.
Education for Ministry looks to equip lay people with that strange joy of knowing how it all fits together (or not!).
Bible Study
For one hour on Thursday mornings, our group studies selected books of the Bible. It is not haphazard: we are looking to understand how God has appeared in great lives, such as Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jesus, and Paul, in order to enlarge and deepen our faith.
A lot has happened in the Bible. A lot has happened in everyone's life. How do the two match up? We are listening always to a God who has spoken through a common, and yet deeply personal, history. (top)
Men's Breakfast
The Christ Church Men's Breakfast meets monthly (usually the first Saturday of the month) for fellowship, and to hear and interact with a speaker. As a group run by men for men, its purpose is to recognize and meet the particular needs of men when it comes to Christian friendship and spirituality.
Guests are most welcome. Please contact the Church Office to confirm the date of the next meeting. (top)
Youth Groups
EMMAUS: Christ Church Calgary's Youth Group with Mission.
With a new name for 2010, our youth group has defined a new and exciting purpose of bringing compassion into our world using the words of Matthew 25:35-36 to inspire various ministry projects throughout the year. Whether it is "feeding the hungry", making pillowcase dresses to "clothe" girls in Uganda, or to perform plays for "the sick," we are looking always to put our faith into practice. We meet weekly on Sundays and approximately once a month for fellowship and as needed for what ever ministry project we are involved with. Often, senior students will enjoy lunch together after a service.
A highlight for members of our group in both 2008 and 2009 was a mission trip to New Orleans to help with the rebuilding of schools and playgrounds following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
We will be raising funds this year for another mission opportunity in 2011.
If you are interested in joining our group, or just have some questions about what we do, feel free to contact Ilona Bevan, our Coordinator of Children's, Youth, and Family Ministry (familyministry@christchurchcalgary.org)
(Contact info).
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20's & 30's Group
We are group of young Anglicans who attend Christ Church, who gather occasionally for fun and bible study. Where some Churches classify our demographic under the constrictive title of "Colleges and Careers," our group includes the full gamut of individuals at various points in their lives: some single, some married, some with children, some in school, and others long since graduated. (top)
50's+ Afternoon Out
Once a week, a group of seniors and near-seniors gather for fellowship, bridge, board games, conversation, and the occasional day-trip. Now that our renewal project is complete, Christ Church is looking forward to expanding this ministry to include other programs to enhance seniors' well-being -- for example, to cook take-home meals together.
For further information, please contact the Church Office. (top)