Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
At Church of the Lamb, we long for our children to encounter God grow in affection for him, and experience his abundant life.
We seek to breathe life into these desires in four ways:
Being an intergenerational community
Practicing liturgical rhythms
Baptizing and serving Eucharist to children
Giving children the story of Scripture through our children’s ministry approach, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS).
We offer 3 levels of CGS and a youth gathering. The age ranges for the levels overlap. Parents work with the Children’s Ministry Director, Renee Velker, to find the best fit for each child. If you’d like your child to be involved or if you have questions, email Renee@churchofthelamb.org. If you’d like to learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd methodology, click here.
Level One
Ages 3–6 | Our youngest parishioners can start easing into CGS at the age of three. In these early years, we learn from our children as they are introduced to the gentle shepherd who keeps watch over his sheep. These little ones interact with wooden figurines, historical maps, and the Table as they discover God’s story.
Level Two
Level 2: Ages 6–9 | Children are ready to move into Level Two once they acquire early reading skills. In Level Two Catechesis, children continue responding to scripture and teaching by drawing, praying, creating, and sitting in silence. We seek to give them the time and space to experience God’s fullness in community.
Level Three
Level 3: Ages 9–12 | As our children transition into adolescence, and their understanding of God’s story deepens, they continue responding to our friend Jesus using the contemplative modalities they’ve learned throughout their time in CGS.
Youth
Ages 12–high school seniors |Older children and youth work together to accomplish meaningful practical life projects as well as gather to pray and listen to Scripture. The approach to spiritual formation and work for this age group is consistent with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd ethos.
Calendars
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd 2024–2025
Forms
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd 2024–2025 Registration Form
Before bringing your child to a CGS event, please fill out the registration form below.
“Catechist formation in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is both instructive as well as experiential. It captivates both the head as well as the heart. It has a holistic approach for the adult, enriching the adult in a background of scripture and liturgy, theology and prayer, as well as the pedagogy of the young child, helping the adult to see what face of God the young child most needs in order to enter into a relationship with God.”
Adult Participation
in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
As we partner in the spiritual care of our own children and the children in our community, we get to not only teach the ways of Jesus but also experience the love of God in new ways.
While Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is the educational modality we use to train up our children at Lamb, it also forms and shapes the spiritual practices and experience of the adults who interact with it.
Adults can participate in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd by incorporating CGS practices in the home, or by becoming an adult catechist.
Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom so to train them, that they may love all that is true, and pure, and lovely, and of good report, following the example of their Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
(The Book of Common Prayer 2019)
