The Inclusive Atrium

@ Parkside

Child’s drawing of the Good Shepherd and a sheep in a green field with a blue sky in the background.

As a people of faith, Parkside celebrates when children deeply grasp and embrace our expression of faith.  Even further we desire that they develop a faith that will endure throughout their lifetime.  Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a well-rounded, inclusive Christian formation program that begins at birth and continues until the age of 12. Its Jesus-centered lessons have been tested over time and found to be remarkable at communicating the love of God by centering the parables of the Good Shepherd and the True Vine in the imaginations of children.

Parkside takes the care and nurturing of children very seriously. We pay a living wage, train our staff, and have a robust Inclusion and Protection Policy. We interview references, perform background checks, and provide ongoing training for volunteers and staff. If you would like to see the full version or discuss the policy, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Sunday Mornings

Registration opens at 10:15 on the porch.

  1. Register your child.
  2. Assist your child to make a name tag.
  3. Leave any lovies or toys with you or in the hibernation cave for retrieval after church.
  4. Follow the directions to your child’s class.

If your child is 3 and older, we’ll bring your children to the church for Communion with you. Younger children must be picked-up from the Chapel by 11:50.

The child’s lesson of the city of Jerusalem in the time of Jesus. It is our entry into a discussion of Holy Week, Palm Sunday, Jesus’ meal with his friends, Good Friday, and Easter.

While they are with us, communities of children and adults learn and discover more about the Good Shepherd and how to stay connected to the True Vine in a carefully prepared place called an Atrium.  In the early church, the courtyard, called an atrium, in front of the church was where people were taught about the Christian faith. People who guided the students were called catechists. Today we continue that tradition, and the catechist is trained to individually support students as they learn about their faith and help them uncover their great gift to the Kingdom of God.

Parkside’s Inclusive Atrium is an environment that recognizes each person’s unique needs and capacities.  It is a place where the Montessori method undergirds our sensibilities. By following the liturgical year, the child recognizes the rhythms of preparation, celebration, and growth that are “just like in church.”  The lessons are given to individuals or small groups. This enables the catechist to uplift the child’s joy, awe, and love for Christ and encourage these seeds to grow.

Learn more about each age:

The elementary prayer table set by a child with a Hebrew translation of the Bible opened up to Isaiah’s Prophecy of the Mother that can be seen written in English on the prayer card. Additionally here is a candle and a written prayer on the green cloth. Shelves with works and plants can be seen beyond the prayer table.