Children and Youth

Godly Play

Godly Play nurtures preschool aged children's faith through art, storytelling and imagination. It is also an engaging and fun way for children to learn the stories of our faith. Godly Play starts with the assumption that children already have knowledge of and an experience of God within them. What they lack is the language and permission to express their experience. Using Montessori methods and ancient storytelling techniques, children are drawn into the parables and sacred stories. Imagination, curiosity and art response are encouraged so that children can experience a deeper and richer journey of faith. Talk to Rich Birch to find out how you can get involved in this Christian Education ministry.   ^†

Workshop Rotation

Workshop Rotation is a new way for elementary school aged children to experience Sunday School. It provides creative, hands-on activities to help children learn the stories of God and God's people. Children work on the same scripture story or concept for several weeks, but rotate through stations including art, drama, music, storytelling, cooking and computer. The stations use multiple learning styles to appeal to different children. Working with a scripture story or sacrament for several weeks offers children an opportunity to internalize biblical stories and sacred concepts to enliven your child’s senses and Spirit. Talk to Rich Birch to find out how you can get involved in this Christian Education ministry.   ^†

Junior and Senior High Christian Education

Junior and senior high school aged parishioners explore their faith and culture through media and film. Each age group watches sections of popular film or media each week and then discusses the themes relating to the life of faith. This approach enables youth to explore their faith more deeply, discover the language of faith in popular culture and read the many media messages around them with a more critical eye. Our goal for Christian Education of these age groups is twofold: to give youth instruction of Biblical concepts with an emphasis on how they apply to teenagers' everyday lives and to provide an environment where youth feel safe discussing issues that affect their daily lives from a Christian perspective. Talk to Jessica Abell or Rich Birch to find out how you can get involved in Youth Ministry.   ^†

Sunday Night Youth Group

September through May
Junior High Youth Group is open to all young people in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades and meets Sunday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00. The junior high youth play games, explore their spirituality and learn about each other in a fun and faith filled environment.

Senior High Youth Group is open to all young people in the 9th through 12th grades and meets Sunday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The Senior High Youth meet for discussion, trust-building and community-building games and fund-raising projects.

Sometimes, the youth will participate in parish-wide or Diocesan events that happen at times other than regular youth group time. On those days, regular youth group will NOT be held. All of these dates are published on the youth calendar, so keep an eye out!

Mission and Service Opportunities

Throughout the year with a special focus on the summer, youth at Holy Nativity participate in mission opportunities. Activities this year have included assembling toiletry kits for victims of domestic violence and participating in the DuPage County PADS program (Public Action to Delver Shelter). Each summer the youth travel to serve others. The Middle School goes on a ‘mini-mission’ consisting of 3 days and 2 nights in a nearby city or region where they serve in soup kitchens, food pantries and neighborhood clean-ups. The Senior High takes a week-long trip, usually to a more remote location. Past trips have included Katrina Relief in New Orleans and rural housing rehabilitation in Oklahoma. Talk to Jessica Abell to find out how you can get involved in this Youth Ministry opportunity.  ^†

Annual Family Outing

One Sunday afternoon each spring, families of all types are invited to take a field trip together. We caravan to a location, share a picnic, play lawn games and enjoy the activities at our site. The past few years we have spent the day at Blackberry Farms together, where children have enjoyed rides on ponies and a miniature train, petting farm animals and watching period craft demonstrations. Best of all, this annual outing gives all an opportunity to spend some quality time building relationships that matter.

 

^†  Please call the church office (630-323-6820) for individual ministry contact information.