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Last week, the youngest students continued the Lenten theme of “making space” for God by listening closely to one of Jesus’ parables. The class heard The Merchant and the Pearl of Great Price and watched the story unfold with small figures as the merchant searched, discovered a beautiful pearl, and chose it with great joy. They talked about what the merchant was looking for, how he felt when he found the pearl, why it mattered so much, and what Jesus might be showing us about the Kingdom of God. To deepen the experience, the children examined pearl-like beads up close and talked about what makes a treasure truly special. We ended with hands-on work: each child made a “pearl in a shell” keepsake to take home as a reminder that God’s Kingdom is a precious treasure, and many also created beaded bracelets to represent the pearls in the story. Students in Level II began exploring the History of the Kingdom of God using a material that helps them see and feel the vastness of God’s story. They were introduced to the Fettuccia—a 150-yard grosgrain ribbon that represents the long unfolding of time, with each rib symbolizing 1,000 years. To experience it fully, the class carried the ribbon into the church and slowly unrolled it from the Narthex all the way to the High Altar. As it stretched through the Nave, the children could grasp in a new way how immense the history of creation is—from the beginning, through today, and into the unknown future. Standing together before the fully unrolled ribbon, the students reflected on the vastness of time . This work invited them to wonder about their place in God’s plan, recognizing that each of us is an important part of a story still unfolding, moving toward the day when Christ comes again and God’s love fills all creation.
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Last week, the younger students explored Lent as a season of “making space” for God’s love as we prepare for Easter. We began at the prayer table, noticing the purple cloth and veiled crosses, and discussing how these Lenten signs invite a quieter, more reflective spirit and help us anticipate the joy of Easter. We also introduced the three Lenten practices—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—framing fasting as doing “less of one good thing so we can do more of another good thing.” The children discussed the Lenten service project, Alleluia Care Kits for Trinity Walk-In Ministry, and then made small clay prayer pots to help remember daily prayer throughout Lent.  The older group focused on Lenten history and the origin of pretzels. In earlier centuries, Lenten fasting practices were often stricter, and pretzels, made with very simple ingredients, fit the season’s call to simplicity and self-denial with purpose (Pruitt, 2015). Traditions often explain the twist as resembling arms crossed in prayer, making the pretzel a reminder that Lent is meant to shape our hearts toward prayerful living, not misery (Blitz, 2022). After connecting pretzels to the three Lenten practices (prayer, fasting, and almsgiving), students headed to the kitchen to shape and bake pretzels to eat and share, a tangible (and delicious) way to remember that Lent forms us through simplicity, prayer, and love in action. More fun facts about pretzels here. Sources:
Blitz, M. (2022, September 22). The religious history of pretzels. Food & Wine. Pruitt, S. (2015, April 24). The pretzel: A twisted history (Last updated May 27, 2025). HISTORY Last week, the younger students heard the Gospel story of Jesus calling the first disciples from Matthew 4:12–23. The class had fun playing a “Follow Me” calling game where each child was called by name then we talked about simple ways we can follow Jesus every day—kind words, helping hands, sharing, and including others. We finished with a tin foil fish craft and a short closing prayer. The older students began learning to pray with the Psalms as we prepare for Lent. We learned that the book of Psalms is full of both praise and lament and that God’s people have always used these words to speak honestly with God.We focused on Psalm 23 noticing where the Psalm names fear and where it offers comfort and trust. The students responded by painting an interpretation of Psalm 23 and closed with prayer to the Good Shepherd, asking God to stay near and guide us as Lent approaches. Last week our students explored Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:13–16 “You are the salt of the earth… you are the light of the world”. We considered why Jesus chose everyday images like salt and light and then examined different kinds of salt, noticing how each is unique, and talked about how salt brings out flavor, preserves what is good, and can lose its saltiness. We also revisited the meaning of light: it isn’t meant to be hidden, and when it shines it helps others see and leads them to praise God. As a creative activity, students made colored-salt stencil art. The older Level III students popped popcorn and sampled a variety of flavored salts as a fun tie-in to the lesson, then brought popcorn to share with the younger students as a snack. We closed with prayer, asking Jesus to help us live as salt and light in our daily lives—bringing kindness, courage, and God’s love wherever we go.   Last week. we learned about The Presentation in the Temple (Luke 2:22–40), also known as, Candlemas, and the message that Jesus is the Light for all people and that God keeps His promises. We began by listening to the Scripture, including Simeon’s beautiful words calling Jesus “a light to enlighten the nations,” and noticing how both Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus through the Holy Spirit and shared the good news. After a short guided meditation with “I wonder…” questions, the students retold the story through role play, choosing parts and recalling key details (Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus, the offering of two doves, Simeon’s joyful proclamation, and Anna praising God and telling others). We also talked about why the Church uses candles—as a visible sign of Christ’s presence, prayer, and reverence, then processed together to the refectory, where we lit candles and prayed quietly, “Jesus, be our light.” To close, each child made a beeswax candle (our Candlemas reminder). May we carry Christ’s light with us this week—at home, at school, and with our friends—sharing His love in the way we speak, serve, and care for one another We continued our celebration of Candlemas during Children's Liturgy of the Word, ending the morning with a jubilant rendition of "This Little of Mine" (click video below to hear us sing!) Last week, both Level I and Level II explored “What We Do in Church” with the aim of helping them feel at home in worship and participate with growing joy and confidence. Level I focused on concrete, hands-on familiarity with the altar by learning the names and purpose of key items used during the service. They also went to the church where Mother Cameron showed them the real altar and sacred objects, helping them connect what they practiced in the classroom to what they see on Sundays. Level II built on that foundation by zooming out to understand the overall shape of the liturgy, why we worship, and how the parts of the service help us participate more confidently with our voices, attention, and actions. They practiced key spoken responses, explored worship through all five senses, learned that the Eucharist has two main parts (listening to God’s Word and coming to God’s table), and ordered “Parts of the Service” cards to recognize key moments and what comes next. Both classes wrapped up with a stained-glass-inspired sun catcher craft, reflecting on how beauty and light can help draw our hearts toward God in worship. The older Level III class took the next step by exploring the deeper “why” behind worship in the Episcopal tradition, learning vocabulary for key altar vessels and linens, and discussing how worship engages all five senses and forms us over time. They practiced putting the parts of the service in order, reviewed the purpose of items like the chalice, paten, corporal, and purificator, and connected worship to everyday discipleship by brainstorming Lent outreach plans for Alleluia Care Kits, emphasizing that we are sent from worship to love our neighbors in practical ways.  Teaching children the details of worship matters because liturgy isn’t just something we watch, it’s something we do together. When kids understand what they’re seeing and hearing, the church stops feeling mysterious or “for grown-ups,” and starts feeling like home. Knowing the names and purposes of things like the altar, candles, chalice, and the parts of the service helps them follow along, recognize what’s happening, and participate with real confidence and joy. Even more importantly, worship forms a child’s spiritual life over time, it trains the heart to listen, give thanks, receive God’s love, and respond. When children can connect the rituals and symbols to God’s presence and to their own baptismal belonging, the liturgy becomes meaningful, not just familiar, and it naturally spills outward into how they live and love others. Check out the video overview of our lesson below: Last Sunday, our Faith Formation classes focused on Baptism. The youngest students heard the story of Jesus’ Baptism then explored the sacrament of Baptism in a concrete way by pouring water from a shell, hearing the special baptism words, and smelling the holy oils. They also enjoyed creating watercolor-and-salt dove artwork as a reminder of the Holy Spirit. The Level II students listened closely to Scripture and shared what they noticed about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit revealed in Jesus’ Baptism. They brought the story to life through simple role play, then learned that a sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. They explored the signs of Baptism in a hands-on way by taking turns pouring water three times, listening for the special baptism words spoken over a person, and learning about the meaning of the holy oils as signs of strength, joy, and belonging to Christ. They finished with their own watercolor-and-salt dove art response to remember the Holy Spirit. The Level III students connected last week’s Epiphany themes of light and revelation to the aeroponics project by checking their seedlings and completing the next “hidden growth” step, covering them to support strong root development in darkness. They then turned to the story of Jesus’ Baptism and used role play to explore how God revealed Jesus as the Beloved Son, with the Holy Spirit present like a dove and the Father’s voice speaking love, a glimpse of the Trinity at work. Building on that, they learned the historic meaning of anointing in Scripture, how kings and priests were anointed as a sign of being chosen and set apart, and how Jesus is “the Anointed One,” the Christ. Finally, they explored the distinct meaning of each baptismal oil, including the Oil of Catechumens for strength and readiness to follow Jesus and Sacred Chrism for joy, belonging, and being marked as Christ’s own.
Together, the students experienced Baptism as something we can see and touch through water, words, and oil, and as a living reminder that God calls each of us beloved. Last Sunday in Faith Formation, our younger students explored the story of the Magi and the meaning of Epiphany—how Jesus is revealed as God’s Son for all people, and how the star’s light guided the Magi on their journey. Level II practiced reverence and silence with a special “Magi’s Journey” walk through the church, moving quietly from the Nativity stained glass to the window showing Jesus and the Magi while noticing light, color, and holy images. Meanwhile, Miss Elsa’s Level I class had a hands-on experience with the real gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—wondering about their beauty and what they might tell us about Jesus. Both groups created a star-themed craft that included an individual photo of each child, connecting the Epiphany star to their own lives and reminding them that they, too, can follow Jesus and reflect his light. The Level III students explored Epiphany through the lens of both Scripture and science, reflecting on how God’s light brings life and abundance. After reading Matthew’s account of the Magi and Isaiah’s call to “Arise, shine,” they discussed Epiphany as Jesus being revealed to all nations—and how the Magi’s careful observation and curiosity can model a faith that seeks, asks questions, and responds with worship. As a group, they brainstormed darker places in the church that could be transformed by light and living growth, connecting that idea to our Tower Garden—a vertical indoor growing system that uses water and nutrients (instead of soil) to grow plants year-round under a grow light as a sign of hope in the middle of Pittsburgh winter. Students lingered on the metaphor of hidden growth, how roots grow in darkness, and considered how faith can deepen quietly in unseen ways. They then began the seedling process and created a practical winter maintenance plan with student roles and a shared Tower Log to track light, water/nutrients, and plant health in the weeks ahead.
This year's Christmas Pageant was a joyful celebration shaped by the children’s hard work, shared purpose, and growing friendships, a reminder of why this annual event has been cherished throughout the years. 41 children and 14 adults brought the story of Jesus’ birth to life with a balance of fun and reverence. Beyond a great performance, this annual event is one of the ways we reflect on the Mystery of the Incarnation and share the message of God's enduring love.
A big thank-you to the families who made this possible during such a busy time of year. Your steady support is what makes this beloved tradition happen. We’re especially grateful to Mary Lou Southwood for the time, care, and creativity she poured into costumes, and to Mother Cameron and Alan Lewis & Choir for coordinating the procession and bringing such beautiful music to the production. The invaluable support of our catechists and volunteers along with the help of the sextons and AV crew made this event run smoothly. We were also so happy to welcome our friends from Tree of Life again this year. Rabbi Jeffrey Myers played the part of Moses, along with several other members of the Tree of Life community who added extra fun and energy as camel-riding magi.
After the pageant, a Nativity Petting Zoo, open to Calvary families and the wider neighborhood community, added more joy and fun to the day. The Hanukkah party, which included delicious food shared by the Tree of Life community, was a perfect way to conclude the event. We’re deeply thankful for the friendship between Tree of Life and Calvary, a relationship that continues to be a true gift. Sharing this day together reminded us that interfaith friendship is something we live, practice, and pass on to our children. In a world that can feel divided, moments like this matter. They show us that we can honor our differences while still choosing connection, respect, and love of neighbor. That kind of relationship is part of the peace we long for at Christmas.
Watch the pageant in its entirety below:
Last Sunday, the youngest Faith Formation students gathered at the Advent wreath, lit the first three candles (including the rose-colored candle for joy), and reflected on how Advent joy comes from Jesus. Using a map and Nativity figures, they listened to Luke 2:1–20, tracing Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and hearing the story unfold: Jesus born in a humble stable, the angel’s announcement, and the shepherds hurrying to adore the newborn Savior. They wondered together about what Mary and the shepherds may have felt, and how joy can be carried in their own hearts. Click on the video to hear our joyful singing! The class also enjoyed a read-aloud of the book, Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo and talked about how kindness can bring joy, especially to those who may feel forgotten, echoing the way the shepherds were chosen first to hear the good news. Afterwards. students decorated wooden ornaments—either to take home as a reminder of Jesus’ birth or to give away to share joy with someone else. Thank you to everyone who donated to the Blessing Bag project! Over 500 bags filled with warm weather essentials and Christmas goodies were distributed at the Trinity Walk-In Ministry this past week. In addition to preparing the bags, the Faith Formation students crafted beautifully decorated Christmas cards with words of encouragement and love. We are grateful for the generous support for this favorite Advent service project--thank you again! Last week, our younger Faith Formation students focused on gratitude. They shared what they were grateful for, created gratitude leaf scratch-art for a class “Gratitude Tree,” and decorated wooden pumpkin centerpieces to bring home for their Thanksgiving tables. They also made cards for people in the hospital during the holidays as a way to share God’s love. The older Level III students explored gratitude through the lens of Thanksgiving and the Eucharist. They created a “Gratitude Table Covering” by writing and drawing blessings down a long roll of paper, then discussed the Last Supper and how the Eucharist means “thanksgiving”—a holy meal where Jesus feeds us and sends us out to live with grateful, generous hearts. In the refectory, they worked together to make waffles as a fun way to share a meal and reflect on things for which to be thankful. Last week in Faith Formation, the students reflected on “The Mystery of the Incarnation: Messianic Prophecies” as a way of preparing their hearts for the coming season of Advent. Together they listened to several Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah—from Isaiah, Micah, and Numbers. The students took turns reading each prophecy card and then shared which words or images stood out to them: the great Light shining in the darkness, the powerful names of Jesus (“Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”), the promise of Emmanuel (“God with us”), the humble town of Bethlehem, and the image of a star and scepter/shepherd’s staff pointing to a shepherd-king who comes for all people. They also reflected on how these prophets appear in our Christmas pageant, reminding the whole church of God’s promises. They also revisited the map of Israel, placing flags on Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem to remember that the Incarnation—God becoming human in Jesus—happened in a real place, to a real family, at a real moment in history. This helped connect Advent not just to a “holiday season,” but to God’s long, loving plan to send Jesus into our world and, one day, to complete the Kingdom at the Parousia (Jesus’ coming again). To connect these themes to their own lives, the students created tissue-paper votive jars, layering pieces of color like stained glass and placing a small light inside. These little “Advent lights” reminded them that Jesus is the Light of the world and that we are invited to carry His light and peace to others as we wait for His coming. “Jesus, Emmanuel, Light of the world, make our hearts ready. Help us carry Your peace until You come again. Amen.” Last week, the Level I class celebrated All Saints’ Sunday by learning that saints are friends of God who share Jesus’ love. They heard that in baptism we’re welcomed into God’s family, the family of saints, and learned that we’re called to be saints, too. We discovered that saints can be from long ago and from today, joined a fun “Saint Parade” to the church, and ended the morning with celebratory cupcakes. After Level I learned that we belong to God’s family of saints, Level II deepened the theme with a quiet chapel walk and a brief candle prayer. They paused at the new stained-glass windows, meeting Absalom Jones, the Philadelphia Eleven, and Mister Rogers, as real examples of courage, justice, and everyday kindness.  The Level III class focused on what sainthood looks like today. They heard that saints aren’t perfect heroes but everyday people who let God’s love shine. Using the Beatitudes as Jesus’ “portrait” of saintly living—humble, merciful, courageous—they connected All Saints’ Sunday to prayer and service. The class put faith into action by baking for a NAMI fundraiser, linking their kitchen work to caring for neighbors who live with mental illness, and reflecting on how they can let God’s love show in everyday choices. Last Sunday, the Level I class began preparing for Advent by learning about the places where Jesus lived. They reviewed the liturgical colors and heard that soon we will see purple in church because Advent is coming—a time to get ready for Jesus’ birth. They talked about how Jesus is not make-believe; he was a real person who lived on this earth. The students found Pennsylvania on the globe and then marked Israel, the land where Jesus lived. They looked at a topographical map of Israel and placed flags on Nazareth (where the angel visited Mary), Bethlehem (where Jesus was born), and Jerusalem (where Jesus died and rose again). After learning about these places in the context of Jesus, the children began to ponder the mystery of the Incarnation: that God came to live among us in a specific land, as a real child, whose birth we will celebrate at Christmas. The Level II class enjoyed preparing and packaging dog biscuits for the upcoming Calvary Bazaar. The students measured, counted, and packed the treats as a team and discussed how the biscuits will be sold at the Bazaar to raise money to support various community organizations. By making something with their own hands to serve others, they realized that even small acts of kindness can be a real way to love our neighbors. Thanks, Miss Adele, for leading this exciting activity! During Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Mother Bonnie-Marie guided the children through the Books of the Bible using our wooden Bible cabinet and hands-on materials. Together they learned the first five books of the Old Testament and noticed how Scripture from both the Old and New Testaments—and especially the Gospel—shapes what we hear each Sunday. By exploring where the readings come from and how they fit into the liturgy, children discover that the Bible isn’t just a big book—it’s the living story we pray, hear, and carry into our week. After enjoying calming, practical life activities such as silver polishing and flower arranging, the Level I class explored the theme, “God Gives Us Color”. Working with the wooden liturgical calendar puzzle and miniature chasubles, they learned that the Church’s calendar tells the story of Jesus’ life and explored the significance of each of the liturgical colors. The class also enjoyed color-mixing and leaf rubbing while reflecting on color in creation and throughout the Church year. Miss Wendy’s Level II class focused on The Lord’s Prayer. After hearing Matthew 6:9–13, they learned that this prayer is Jesus’ gift and a pattern for talking with God. Using wooden verse pieces, the children translated the prayer into simple meanings, then placed each line on the rug in order and prayed together. They discussed why memorizing can comfort us in fear, sadness, or gratitude, and noted when we say the prayer together in church. To finish, each child created and laminated a Lord’s Prayer card with traditional words on the front and a child-friendly explanation on the back to keep at home in a special place. In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God and, directly afterwards, for His will to be done. This longing for the fullness of the Kingdom of God and the desire to work with Him in preparing for the moment when God will be “all in all” involves seeking and knowing His will. As we pray today, let us invite Him to open our hearts to all that He has for us both now and for eternity. (Source: The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Inc. 2022)  Last week, the Level I class explored “What is Prayer?” Students shared what they knew about prayer then practiced many ways to pray: words, silence (hand on heart), a hum, open-hand movement, helping, and art. As a creative activity, each child pressed a sand–salt-dough hand print to remember, “These hands can pray!” The Level II class explored prayer as our response to God, “by thought and by deeds, with or without words” (BCP, p. 856). They learned about types of prayer including adoration, praise, thanksgiving, penitence, oblation, intercession, and petition, with simple examples. The book, Sparrow’s Prayer, prompted a discussion about wordless ways to pray. They practiced gentle breath-and-stretch prayers, and then rotated through two stations: tying a fleece prayer blanket (“our hands are praying; every knot is love”) which will be given to a special member of our community and creating artwork as a prayer of adoration and praise. Last week, Miss Elsa’s class explored “Creation & God’s Goodness—You are part of something wonderful!” They began with calm Practical Life work, practicing grace and courtesy—carrying trays carefully, rolling rugs, and returning materials “ready for the next friend.” At circle time, they listened to Let There Be Light by Desmond Tutu. Children shared what makes them special and named beautiful things God made. For creative time, they decorated small birdhouses with simple decoupage to remember that every part of creation and each child is unique and good. Miss Wendy’s class explored “The Holy Bible” as one precious book made of many books. They read What Is the Bible? by Rachel Held Evans, and wondered how stories, songs, laws, letters, and visions each tell truth in different ways. Using the wooden Bible cabinet material, they saw how the Old and New Testaments are organized—Torah, History, Wisdom, Prophets; Gospels, Acts, Letters, Revelation. Miss Wendy then introduced the Episcopal “three-legged stool,” explaining how Scripture, Tradition, and Reason help us understand with balance. While creating scratch-off bookmarks, students talked about what “true” can mean (facts, promises, wisdom, and love) and how Tradition and Reason guide us through hard passages. They closed in prayer with the take-home message: “God speaks through the Bible. In our church we listen with Scripture, Tradition, and Reason.” The Level III class reflected on the life of St. Francis of Assisi highlighting his radical choice of poverty and service to the poor, his love for animals and nature, and his joyful praise of God’s creation. Outside, students harvested vegetables before pausing at the St. Francis statue in Swan Garden. Back in class, they learned how St. Francis staged the first Nativity at Greccio and linked that tradition to Calvary’s annual pageant considering details that help people feel God’s love. Our Level I children continued the Parable of the Good Shepherd by hearing Psalm 23 in child-friendly language. After a calm practical-life work time, they gathered to remember that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, knows each of us by name, leads us to what we need, and stays with us when we feel afraid. The children also made scented comfort warmers to take home as a reminder: “When I feel worried, Jesus is with me. I am not afraid.” Miss Wendy’s class celebrated Michaelmas, the feast of St. Michael, Calvary’s patron, by learning who St. Michael is and what angels are: God’s messengers who help, protect, and praise God. Students reflected on how St. Michael models courage and justice, and how God helps people choose what is right. They explored the church on a St. Michael scavenger hunt, spotting images in windows, statues, and symbols throughout the sanctuary. Back in the classroom, they created “Shields of Courage,” adding brief prayers and intentions about where they need bravery this week and how they can act justly at school and home. The Level III group observed Michaelmas by reflecting on the themes of courage, inner strength, and justice. After sharing brief examples of when they needed courage, they discussed how St. Michael represents God’s protection and justice and how the dragon symbolizes evil and chaos, reinforcing the takeaway that evil does not prevail and the church is called to faithful courage. They then enjoyed a fun activity, crafting St. Michael chocolate candy cupcake toppers to contribute to the parish picnic. |
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