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Formation For All Ages
About Our Peregrini Program: Church without Walls
We are a parish that goes on pilgrimage, literally seeking God's presence and blessing in places apart from our daily lives and surroundings (peregrinatio). Team Peregrini oversees our pilgrimages, envisioning the where and the why of proposed travels, overseeing plans and preparations, and going and learning along with other pilgrims. Ninth grade marks the beginning of pilgrim opportunities at Saint Peter's, after that the only age that matters is that one be young at heart. Our first intergenerational group excursion of 23 parishioners was the Triumphant Suffering pilgrimage to the Capitol Mall, Arlington Cemetery, the Holocaust Museum, the National Cathedral and Saint John's Church, Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. on Columbus Day weekend, 2004. Since then we have gone to the Adirondacks for a Creation and God's Nature weekend pilgrimage. Team Peregrini is preparing for our next off-campus faith adventure, a Standing on Holy Grounds pilgrimage to Gettysburg, PA.
About Our Teen Confirmands
As our youths mature and raise questions of faith and doubt, they are invited to participate in an informal, ongoing process of Holy Confirmation led by the rector and adult mentors, throughout their high school careers. The Peregrini Program which includes Peregrini Half-Days of faith discovery is an important part of the Confirmation process. In these experiences our students come to realize Christianity is a lifetime relationship with God and others. Teen Confirmands meet weekly during the academic school year on Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m. in the rector's study. They also go on guided monthly mini-Peregrini adventures as part of their ongoing faith discovery experience. In 2007 our confirmands are helping their peers at Grace Church, Syracuse design an Anti-Racism Youth Day in September.
About Our Faith Adventurers
Not yet young adults, no longer kids, Faith Adventurers gather together to share fellowship among themselves and to explore the wonders of faith around them.
Guided by gifted spiritual mentors who also happen to have firsthand experience with 7th - 9th graders at home, this group meets each Sunday in the parish library for the Ministry of the Word their style! Afterwards they climb the balcony steps in church to their special place above the nave, to watch over the rest of the congregation before receiving Holy Communion.
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About the Imago Dei Youth Guild
The Imago Dei Guild seeks to assist the congregation in worship occasionally through liturgical drama, chiefly role play and mime. Acting out themes and personages of the biblical story, seventh through ninth grade youths delight in engaging and challenging their fellow parishioners by portraying God's presence and power for today by recollection of ancient events and peoples.
Advent and Christmas annually feature visits at each service by Saint Nicholas, Boy/Girl Bishop of Myra, dressed in resplendent custom-made vestments, blessing the congregations. A ritual enactment of the Stations of the Cross in Holy Week 2000 was highly praised.
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Youth Acolytes and Lectors
Among our 7th - 12th grade youth are a strong core of ministers who serve as acolytes assisting the clergy in the administration of the altar and sacraments, and as public readers of the Divine Word. If interested in this special calling, please speak with the rector or worship commission chairperson.
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We Treasure Kids! |
From baby-sitting and pre-nursery to sixth grade, we treasure kids! Sunday morning is prime God time and we are up and running to welcome our youngest generation of fellow parishioners.
Our teachers are well equipped to lead the kids in the discovery of faith. Whether it is a dramatic group lesson from our Episcopal Church Curriculum or a hands on craft project led by a professional artist, our kids engage in lively learning appropriate to each grade level, every Sunday excluding school and summer vacation times.
What pride and joy when the kids process into church at the time of the Peace. They take their rightful place in the congregation and prepare to receive Holy Communion with all the grown ups!
Habits of grace are best acquired early if virtues for living well in community are to be sustained in adulthood. Our kids receive the Sacraments at the earliest ages. They are truly our most precious sign of the blessing of His presence and power in Saint Peter's Church.
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