Children's Ministry News

We Need You!

We are blessed at St. George’s with an active and growing group of children participating in Christian Formation. This year, we have 200 children enrolled in our program and an average attendance of about 130 children each Sunday. These children represent over 260 parents, yet only 13 are committed to weekly involvement in our Children’s Christian Formation on Sunday mornings. Only with your help can we provide the quality formation our children deserve. Won’t you consider getting involved? A variety of opportunities are available to fit your schedule and talents. Many hands make light work!

Catechists lead the activities in the atrium each week. Current catechists need co-teachers in the atrium. A team teaching approach means that no one person carries the entire responsibility each Sunday. Course options both here and at Christ Church are available to fit a variety of schedules. Child care is also available.

Assistants provide support for the catechists each week. This role can also be shared with another adult. A one morning training session is all that is needed to be prepared to give in this way. Assistant’s training sessions will be held during the month of August in preparation for the fall program.

Greeters help newcomers find their way to the appropriate atrium as well as help children transition from the service to the atrium. No particular training is needed.

Room parents help the catechist communicate with parents, send out any special notices, and help coordinate weekly parent helpers.

Parent helpers assist in the atrium one Sunday each semester (fall or spring) and lend an extra set of hands when needed.

Please contact Joanna Williams, Director of Children’s Christian Formation, at 385-2150 x 243 or

Survey for Parents

The Christian Formation team at St. George's would like to hear from you about our children as they enter the 6th grade. We are asking parents of children who will soon be affected, or have recently passed this milestone. This will include children in grades 3 through 8.

An electronic survey has been sent out via email to parents of children enrolled in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. If your email address is on file with the church office, you or your spouse should have received one already. Please fill out only one per household.

If you or your spouse have not received a copy of this survey, and you would like to give your feedback, please contact Joanna Williams to request one.

Vacation Bible School

July 14th-17th, 9:00am-12:00pm

VBS 2008 Application

Children registered for VBS will soon be receiving a music CD and room/teacher assignment in the mail. Adults will also be receiving their volunteer assignments. The Ice Cream Social will be on Thursday evening, July 17th, at 7:00pm and the children will be singing one of their VBS songs in the 10:00am service on Sunday, July 20th.

Surf’s up at Outrigger Island where kids will learn to know, speak, and live God’s truth. Based on Psalm 86:11, this tropical adventure will help kids develop the stability they need to become unshakeable in a world of shifting sands.

We are teaming up with Christ Church to bring you another fun week of fellowship and excitement from July 14th-17th. Once again, VBS will be held at St. George’s from 9:00am-12:00pm each day, and we encourage everyone and anyone to take part. So spread the word! In order to secure a spot, you will need to print the application (one for each child) and mail it in as directed. Pre-registration is highly encouraged and we ask that you return the application no later than July 1st to ensure that we have enough materials and space for everyone who is interested. And, as always, we ask that you volunteer one day for each child that will be attending. Mark your preferences and we will do our best to accommodate your choices for days and areas.

We are really excited about this year’s VBS and look forward to having you join us! If you have any questions, please e-mail Paula Kinard at pbkinard@comcast.net or Jennifer Taylor at taylorjenn@comcast.net.

We still have a need for lead co-teachers! Contact us if you can help.

Upcoming Events

Materials Making Days

Through the summer, we’ll host several materials making days to prepare for our fall session of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. No particular skills are necessary to be helpful. Parishioners of all ages and stages are welcome!

Saturday, July 12th, 9:00am to 12:00pm
Thursday, August 7th, 9:00am to 12:00pm


Catechesis Training

Are you interested in going deeper into scripture and the liturgy as a way of living that scripture out? Do you have questions about your child’s Christian formation experience? Would you like to consider joining the children’s ministry team?

If your answer is yes to any of these questions, we invite you to join us in a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd course beginning in September. A level one (3-6-years-old) course will be led by Joanna Williams. A level two (6-9) course will be led by Rebekah Rojcewicz. Rebekah has been working with children and CGS for over 20 years. She is a member of the International Consiglio for CGS and a formation leader for all 3 levels. She brings a wealth of experience to the course. If you’re interested in joining either course, contact Joanna Williams at 385-2150 x 243 or joanna.williams@stgeorgesnashville.org .




Come for Coffee!

Throughout the summer, various parishioners will be hosting coffees where we can meet, get to know each other, and talk about the spiritual formation of our children. If you’d like to host a coffee, please contact me at the church office at 385-2150 x 243 or joanna.williams@stgeorgesnashville.org .


Save the Date
August 24th, 11:15am

This year’s Children’s Christian Formation Kick-Off will immediately follow the 10:00am service on Sunday, August 24th. In addition to some fun for the kids, we’ll be announcing some additions and changes to what we offer the children during the next program year, so be sure to mark your calendars to attend.

Walking in the Truth

I remember those first few weeks after my oldest child’s birth. It seemed I could not take my eyes off him. I was amazed at how tiny he was, and how tightly he could be bundled in that little receiving blanket. Wrapped up just as tightly were all the hopes and dreams I carried for him. I found myself asking, who is this child? My experience is probably common. We look at each new life and ask “What will she be when she grows up? Am I holding the next Frank Lloyd Wright or Madame Curie in my arms? Will he marry? Will she choose to be a mother, too?” The possibilities for their future seem endless.

In his letters, the apostle John refers often to the people of the early churches as “my dear children.” He goes on to say in his third letter, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” Isn’t this really the very best we can imagine for our children? The greatest of all the many possibilities for their lives? What would our lives look like right now, what would we do differently each day if this was true for us? What if seeing our child walking in the truth was a joy greater than seeing him or her chosen as varsity team captain, going to Harvard on a full academic scholarship, or even winning the Nobel Peace Prize? No greater joy. Nothing better, more important, more worthwhile. May this be our goal, our highest good, and the motivation for all we do for the children of St. George’s!

Joanna Williams
Director, Children’s Christian Formation