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This past Sunday, the younger Faith Formation students reflected on the Parable of the Sower and wondered together about what it means for our hearts to be like “good soil” ready to receive God’s word. They connected this lesson to their recent work with the True Vine, then went outside to the raised bed garden to observe the soil and help plant seedlings. As they worked, they talked about how plants need sunlight, water, nutrients, and care to grow—just as we grow in God’s love through prayer, listening, and remaining close to Jesus. The students ended the morning with a special end-of-year snack and joyful time together on the playground. It was a beautiful way to celebrate a year full of learning, wondering, growing, and joy. We are so grateful for this special time with the students, and we look forward to a restful break before returning together in September. Happy Summer!
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Last week, the younger Faith Formation students reflected on Jesus as the True Vine and on how we are all lovingly connected to Him. They listened to this parable from Scripture, wondered together about what it means to “remain” in Jesus, and talked about how God cares for us like a vine grower cares for a vine. The students also observed real vines in the aeroponics and outdoor gardens, made beautiful grapevine wreaths as a reminder of Jesus’ love, and ended with a snack and joyful reflection together Back in January, our Level III students gathered around a question that was both scientific and deeply spiritual: What happens when light meets living things? Exploring the season of Epiphany through the twin lenses of Scripture and science, the students read Matthew’s account of the Magi following the star and reflected on Isaiah’s great proclamation: “Arise, shine, for your light has come.” They considered how Epiphany — the revelation of Jesus to all nations — is itself a story about light breaking into darkness, about something hidden becoming gloriously visible. The students were struck by a powerful metaphor: roots grow in darkness. Before anything blooms, there is quiet, hidden growth that no one can see. They connected this to their own lives of faith — how trust in God can deepen in unseen ways, long before it becomes visible to the world. From that reflection, an idea took root (quite literally): the class would plant a Tower Garden — a vertical, soil-free growing system — as a living sign of hope in the middle of a Pittsburgh winter. They chose their seeds, planned a rotation of student caretakers, and began a Tower Log to track light levels, water, nutrients, and plant health week by week. How it Works A Tower Garden is a vertical aeroponic growing system — a tall, tower-shaped planter in which plants grow without soil. Here’s what makes it work: ▸ Water and nutrients are pumped up from a reservoir at the base and flow down over the plant roots in a gentle, continuous cycle. No soil is needed — the roots hang in open air and absorb what they need directly from the water. ▸ A grow light mounted above the tower provides the full-spectrum light that plants need to photosynthesize and thrive, even indoors during the darkest months of the year. ▸ Seedlings begin in small grow pods and are nestled into the tower’s openings once they are ready. From there, the system does much of the work — but attentive tending is still essential. ▸ Plants grow remarkably fast in this environment — often two to three times more quickly than they would in soil — because their roots have constant access to oxygen, water, and nutrients all at once. Week by week, the students have watched with wonder as the Tower Garden did exactly what living things do: it grew. Stems that were barely visible became lush and green. Leaves unfurled and stretched toward the light. What began as a classroom project quietly outgrew its space. The plants grew so abundantly — so insistently full of life — that the Tower Garden has now been moved into the hallway just outside the Parish Hall, where it stands as a visible, green, growing presence in the heart of our building. A Lesson in Pollination Growing indoors has brought its own unexpected lessons. Outdoors, pollination happens constantly and invisibly — bees moving from flower to flower, butterflies drifting through a garden, the wind carrying pollen on warm currents. Inside, none of those partners are present. The students discovered that this is a real challenge for a thriving Tower Garden, and it led to a wonderful inquiry: How does fruit form when the bees can’t find us? We learned that the best plants for indoor growing are self-pollinating varieties — plants that carry both male and female parts within a single flower and can, in the right conditions, fertilize themselves. But even self-pollinating plants often need a little help indoors to transfer pollen within and between blossoms. Without bees, butterflies, or a good breeze to do that work, human hands must step in. So we have taken on the role: gently shaking the flowering stems to mimic the movement of wind, and using cotton swabs to carefully transfer pollen from one flower to another, standing in for the bees we’re missing. It worked! There are now tiny tomatoes and very small peppers growing and hope to see more very soon. Throughout this project, the Tower Garden has been more than a science experiment — it has been a living parable, connected at every point to the themes of our faith formation work with the children. Light The grow light is not decorative — it is essential. Without it, there is no growth. The students have reflected on how God’s light works the same way in our lives: not merely brightening what is already there, but making life itself possible. Jesus tells us, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Goodness and Creation In our Faith Formation classes, we return again and again to the goodness of God as Creator — the One who called creation into being and declared it good. The Tower Garden is a small but vivid testimony to that goodness. Water, light, life, growth: these are gifts. The children have been learning to receive them as such, and to respond with the attentiveness and care that stewardship of creation requires. Hidden Growth and the Life of Faith Perhaps the most powerful image the students have held onto is this: roots grow in the dark. Long before a plant is visible, something is happening below the surface that makes everything else possible. Our formation work invites children — and all of us — to trust that this is true of faith as well. God is at work in the quiet, the unseen, the in-between seasons. Growth is happening even when we cannot yet perceive it. The Gift of Life Life is a gift — astonishing, persistent, and full of surprise. The Tower Garden did not ask permission to grow. It simply grew, because that is what life does when the conditions are right. We pray that Calvary is such a place: a community of light, nourishment, and attentive care, where every person — child and adult alike — has room to grow. We invite every member of the Calvary community to stop by the hallway outside the Parish Hall and visit the Tower Garden.
As you stand before it, we invite you to wonder: ▸ What good things are growing in my life right now right that I cannot yet see? ▸ Where in my life am I being called to arise and shine? ▸ What does it mean to tend to the living things and the people entrusted to my care? ▸ What gift of life am I grateful for today? “Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24 Last Sunday, the Level I students listened to Jesus’ words about the grain of wheat and wondered together about the mystery of life, death, and new life. They observed seeds at different stages of growth, explored real wheat and bread, and reflected on how Jesus’ Death and Resurrection bring new life to us. The children then planted their own seeds as a hands-on response, practicing care and patience as they await new growth. Building on the same theme of Easter joy and new life, the Level II students went deeper in their reflection on Jesus’ words about the grain of wheat and the mystery of the Paschal Mystery. They carefully examined seeds in soil, observing various stages of change as the seed is hidden, breaks open, and begins to die so that new life can grow. They connected this transformation to wheat, bread, and the presence of the risen Jesus in Holy Communion. The students also planted seeds that will be transferred to our outdoor garden in mid-May, giving them a concrete way to care for new life as it grows. As an extension, they continued their discussion of lifecycles and were delighted to discover that last week’s chrysalises had transformed into butterflies—prompting deeper reflection on how God’s work is often hidden before new life is revealed. The Level III students extended this work even further by engaging more deeply with the meaning of Jesus’ words about the grain of wheat and the mystery of his Death and Resurrection. They closely examined seeds in soil at different stages, reflecting on how the grain must change and “die” in order to bear fruit, and connected this to the full journey from wheat to bread and to the Eucharist. After planting seeds for our vegetable garden, the students moved into the kitchen to prepare koliva—a wheat berry–based dish rooted in Orthodox traditions, made of boiled wheat mixed with sugar and spices, and symbolizing the eternal cycle and hope of new life. They reflected on the symbolism of each ingredient and then shared the koliva with the younger students, offering a simple explanation of how the grain of wheat points to Jesus’ self-gift and the promise of new life. Last Sunday, the Level I students continued their Eastertide reflection on the joy of the Resurrection by revisiting the empty tomb and wondering together about the new life Jesus brings. They also observed the live caterpillars, explored the butterfly life cycle, and made gentle connections between transformation in creation and the hope of Easter. The children helped arrange flowers for the church, talked about how flowers and butterflies are connected, and expressed their learning through butterfly-themed art and observation The Level II students built on last week’s lesson on the Empty Tomb by reflecting on how the risen Jesus was made known in the breaking of the bread. Together, they explored the connections between the Last Supper, the Resurrection, the Road to Emmaus, and our celebration of Holy Communion. Gathering around the model altar, the students carefully handled and named the sacred articles used in the Eucharist, deepening their familiarity with the items they see in church each Sunday. They also enjoyed Articles of the Mass Bingo which offered a fun and engaging way to reinforce what they were learning. The Level III students explored the history of bread from creation and the Hebrew Scriptures through the Last Supper, the Resurrection, and the Eucharist, helping them see more deeply how Jesus is made known in the breaking of the bread. A special highlight of the class was the hands-on kitchen work: the students examined wheat stalks and wheat berries, took turns grinding the wheat berries, sifted the flour, and experienced the process by which grain is transformed into bread. They also enjoyed eating warm bread together, which made the lesson especially tangible and memorable. Last week, the Level I students reflected on the joy of Eastertide, noticing the white cloth, the Alleluia card, and the liturgical calendar as reminders that Easter is a whole season of celebration. They listened to the Gospel story of the empty tomb from Matthew 28. Together, they wondered about what the women experienced, what the angel said, and why the Resurrection is such joyful news. The Level II class also heard the Gospel account of the empty tomb, watching the story unfold with materials and candlelight as they reflected together on the women’s experience and the joy of the Resurrection. They then explored the meaning of the Paschal Candle as a symbol of the risen Christ, both in the classroom and in the church near the baptismal font, helping them see the connection between Easter, light, and baptism as signs of Jesus’ victory over death and the new life we share in him. The lesson also included a brief discussion of butterfly symbolism as a sign of transformation and new life, followed by a craft activity in which the students decorated wooden butterflies in joyful Easter colors. The Level III students explored the heart of the Easter season through the lens of the Paschal Mystery. We began in the refectory by making Resurrection Rolls — marshmallows wrapped in dough and baked until hollow inside, a fun, hands-on way to think about the wonder of the empty tomb. While the rolls baked, we read Matthew 28:1–7 together, pausing to sit with the angel's words — "He is not here; he has risen" — and spent time in open-ended wondering conversation about what the women must have felt and why this is called Good News. We then explored the rich symbolism of the Paschal Candle — the cross, the Alpha and Omega, the five wounds, the flame, and the current year — and reinforced what we learned by adding wax symbols to our model candle, connecting each symbol to its meaning through their own hands. We talked about the role of the Paschal Candle at the Easter Vigil — how the whole church gathers in darkness, a new fire is lit, and the light spreads from candle to candle as the Good News spreads. Students then lit their own small candles from the model Paschal Candle, experiencing firsthand the same gesture of light and hope from the Vigil service. Lastly, we delivered the freshly baked Resurrection Rolls to the younger classes, sharing both a warm snack and the meaning behind it — that just as the tomb was empty, so are the rolls, a sweet reminder that Jesus is risen, indeed! Despite chilly temperatures and cloudy skies, the Swan Garden was full of fun on Easter morning as children from Calvary and the surrounding Shadyside neighborhood gathered for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. Thank you to the volunteers whose behind-the-scenes work made it all possible. Hope and Joy--what a wonderful way to celebrate the Risen Christ! Check out this article to learn more about this favorite Easter tradition: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/easter/history-of-the-easter-egg-hunt/ On Holy Thursday, Calvary’s 20s, 30s, and 40s group gathered in the Refectory for an Agape Meal that made the beginning of the Paschal Triduum especially meaningful. Rooted in the tradition of the early Church, the simple shared meal, accompanied by prayers and readings, offered a warm time of fellowship and reflection on Christ’s command to love one another. A special children’s table helped our youngest participants feel included and able to participate as well. It was an enriching evening that helped prepare those gathered to enter more deeply into the mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Last week, our youngest Faith Formation class gathered to hear the story of the Last Supper and begin reflecting on the meaning of Holy Week. The children explored how Jesus shared a special meal with his friends before his death, and they learned in a simple way that this meal was part of Passover, a time for remembering God’s love and care. They then shared a small meal together with unleavened bread and grape juice to help them imagine what it may have been like to sit at the table with Jesus and his apostles. The Level II class focused on Holy Week and the City of Jerusalem, helping the students understand that the events of Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection took place in a real time and place. Together, they explored a model of Jerusalem and looked closely at important locations such as the Upper Room, the Garden of Gethsemane, Golgotha, and the tomb. Through Scripture, prayer, and wondering together, the children reflected on how each of these places is part of the great mystery of Jesus’ love and God’s plan for the world. The older students watched videos about Jerusalem and the Temple at the time of Jesus, then followed the events of Holy Week through guided discussion and reflection. They also extended their meditation on the Paschal Mystery by considering the symbolism of Easter eggs as signs of new life and resurrection, learning about Christian egg-decorating traditions in different cultures, and creating Pysanky-patterned eggs using decals on wooden eggs to take home.  THANK YOU to everyone who donated items for the Alleluia Care Kits! Our Faith Formation students had a wonderful time assembling the kits and creating beautiful Easter cards to include with them. These care kits and cards will be distributed through the Trinity Walk-In Ministry downtown. As part of their Lenten journey, this was a meaningful way for the students to put their faith into action by showing love, compassion, and care for others.  Last Sunday, the youngest Faith Formation students listened to Jesus’ Parable of the Leaven and wondered together about the hidden power of the Kingdom of Heaven. The children heard how a small amount of yeast works quietly through the dough, then helped compare mixtures with and without yeast so they could observe the difference for themselves. They also took part in making bread dough—measuring, mixing, observing the yeast, and kneading together. As they watched the dough begin to rise and later shared fresh bread for a snack, the children reflected on how God’s work in our lives is often unseen, yet full of power, helping us grow and change from within. The Level II students continued their work with the History of the Kingdom of God by reflecting on the many gifts God has given from the beginning of creation until now. They reviewed the long ribbon and Blue Unity strip, then gathered around the History of the Gifts timeline to explore the beauty and abundance of creation through objects and images representing the earth, sea, plants, animals, stars, and planets. The class reflected on how creation is filled with God’s goodness, then considered the gift of other people and, most especially, Jesus as God’s greatest gift to the world. The class also reflected on “the blank page,” wondering how every person is uniquely created by God for a purpose within His great plan. This connected beautifully with their visit to the Mister Rogers window, where they considered his message that the world is made special by each person simply being who they are. Together, the lesson invited the students to recognize God’s gifts in creation, in one another, and in the unique role each of them has in God’s unfolding Kingdom. Learn more about this lesson here. The older students explored the life and witness of Fred Rogers, reflecting on how kindness, creativity, and care for others can become a true calling from God. They learned about his background, his ordination to ministry through television, and the way he used his work to nurture children and honor the dignity of every person. The class also considered why Calvary chose to dedicate a stained glass window in his honor, connecting his message of love, welcome, and compassion to Calvary’s own mission. Some of our Faith Formation students also took part in the window dedication by offering short reflections and reading favorite Mister Rogers quotes. It was, indeed, a beautiful day in the neighborhood! Last week, the Level I class listened to Jesus’ Parable of the Mustard Seed and wondered together about the mystery of the Kingdom of God. The children reflected on how something so tiny can grow into something much larger, and how God’s strength is at work in the life and growth of every seed. To deepen the lesson, the children examined different kinds of seeds closely with magnifying glasses and looked carefully at the tiny mustard seed. They also planted seeds for later use in the Tower Garden, then went upstairs to see it in action. The Tower Garden is a vertical indoor growing system that allows children to observe seeds sprouting and vegetables growing throughout the winter and provides a living, hands-on way for children to connect themes from Scripture—such as growth, transformation, care, and new life—to the wonder of God’s creation. Afterward, the class created seed art mosaics, giving them another hands-on way to explore the beauty and variety of seeds. Together, these activities helped make the mystery of growth, transformation, and new life very concrete for this young group. Previously, the Level II students discussed the vastness of God’s plan by working with a 50-meter blue ribbon, which they unrolled from the back of the church to the high altar, giving the students a powerful sensory impression of the immense scale of time and God’s enduring presence from the very beginning. This week, they transitioned from that “big picture” feeling to the Blue Unity Strip. By working with this more detailed timeline, the children began to identify the Three Great Moments of Christian history: Creation: The beginning of God’s gifts. Redemption: The arrival of Jesus, the “Light of the World.” Parousia: The hopeful future when God will be “all in all.” Moving from the ribbon to the strip allowed the students to shift from wondering at the scale of the Kingdom to studying the specific milestones of our faith. It transforms a grand, abstract concept into a personal map, helping them see exactly where they stand in God’s great story today. To conclude the lesson, the students crafted wooden Parousia symbols, giving them a creative way to reflect on the hope and fulfillment still to come. The Level III students reflected on the Parable of the Lost Coin and explored what it reveals about God’s love. Together, they considered the beautiful truth that God does not wait passively for people to return, but actively seeks each person with great care and joy. The lesson also helped re-frame Lent as a season not simply of repentance, but of renewal, return, and the joy of being found by God. To enter more deeply into the parable, the students acted out the story through a skit, which helped bring the parable to life in a memorable and meaningful way. Through wondering questions and Lenten reflection, the students were invited to think about where they may feel a little lost and how God continues to seek, welcome, and rejoice over each one of us.  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. 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. |
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