Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Summer 2012 Issue | Page 10

LESSONS LEARNED IN CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
With a strong focus on youth and young adult outreach, it’s
sometimes too easy to forget about supporting the Christian
formation of the youngest among us. We asked three
churches in the Diocese to share with us what they’re doing
in the field of children’s ministry that’s new, exciting or just
plain effective. Here’s what they had to say.
ADVENT MINI-CAMP AT ST. STEPHEN’S, RICHMOND
ABIGAIL WHORLEY
On July 5, 2010, I looked at our registration numbers for
Vacation Bible School – set to begin the following week
– and panicked. We had 30 kids registered compared to
registrations of 80-100 in years past.

While we ultimately ended up having 85 kids for Vacation
Bible School that year, having such a low number so close to
the start date ended up being the first step toward Advent
Mini-Camp.

That summer, I also began training to become a level II
catechist in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program
and became engrossed in the presentation – especially those
that were Advent-centric. Beginning this training proved to be
the second step toward Advent Mini-Camp and precipitated
our discernment about how we could better serve our
parishioners and, more importantly, the wider community.

While evaluating Vacation Bible School and considering
the presentations and theory I had learned, I realized that
throughout all of our programs, one of my primary goals is to
essentially reset the child’s internal calendar.

As Episcopalians, we are fortunate
enough to have the Church calendar
around which almost all of our worship is
based. If you allow yourself to fully live into
the lectionary and the seasons, it quickly
becomes apparent that time, at least in the
life of the Church and our own spiritual life,
is cyclical, not linear as we are taught in our
secular lives. But what if we can ingrain the
idea that December doesn’t only mean that
winter break and Christmas are coming?
How could we teach about Advent, the
season of preparation?

Vacation Bible School curricula
typically aren’t lectionary based, or even
based in the Church calendar. Some parents
view VBS as nothing more than wholesome,
holy babysitting which can admittedly have
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VIRGINIA EPISCOPALIAN / Summer 2012

a multitude of fruits as well.

Advent Mini-Camp, being entirely based on the season
of Advent and the Catechesis presentations that depict the
key moments of Advent, offers parents and their children an
opportunity to approach Christmas with the grace-filled hope
that permeates the season.

After two years of AMC, I’ve observed three constants:
1. Children crave stillness as much as adults. They might not
know it or be able to articulate it, but if they are given an
opportunity to be still and intentional, they will thrive. 2.
Catechesis is accessible for all children – even if they only have
four days to experience it. Being allowed to wonder about the
annunciation or any of the Advent narrative presentations
frees children to take ownership of their own spiritual journey
even if they aren’t aware of it yet. 3. Even the simplest,
most basic form of liturgy (setting the prayer table, singing,
reviewing the presentations to date) creates a meaningful,
secure place for children to explore prayer and worship.

Advent Mini-Camp at St. Stephen’s, Richmond helps tune
children in to the church year.