Church School
Welcome to the Trinity Church School web page! Read on to learn more about our Church School, our programs, and our service to the community and to God.
Who We Are
Trinity's Church School is made up of children from all over the greater New Haven area, coming from as far as Madison, Trumbull, Cheshire - and every town in between.
We gather each week to worship with our families, spend time learning about our faith, and sharing the Holy Eucharist as a community. And during the year there are many opportunities for youngsters to get involved in cultural and educational activities at Trinity.
The Church School offers a Christian education program each Sunday, based on the weekly lectionary texts, at 10.10 a.m., between the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. In addition, we have Church School each Sunday during the 10 a.m. summer service.
Starting in 2007, Trinity began to gear our 9 am service towards including children in the liturgy. Children are invited to sit in the first few pews (so they can see better), a member of the clergy gives a children's homily and the children gather around the Communion Table as the priest consecrates the bread and the wine. This has made a huge difference in the way children view Trinity. They are engaged in the service that is going on around them.
Beginning in September 2008, the Children's Chapel comes back to the 11 am service. Children begin in the Undercroft with a member of the clergy and adult leaders. The adult leaders and the priest help the children mirror what is going on upstairs, but on a level appropriate for children. Children who are old enough light the candles, read the lessons for the day and the prayers. The priest who gave the children's homily at the 9 am service repeats the same homily at the 11 am Children's Chapel downstairs. The children rejoin their parents or guardians at the passing of the Peace when we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, or just before the Offertory on Sundays with Morning Prayer.
Neither the 9 am service nor the 11 am Children's Chapel is a replacement for the formation a child receives during our Sunday School. Whatever service a child attends, he or she is encouraged to participate regularly in our Sunday School program.
What We Teach
We welcome all children from infancy through high school; everyone has a place here at Trinity! Our teachers are experienced and committed to making each Sunday a learning experience for each child.
Children in pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and grades 1 & 2 are taught the stories of the Bible through activities and interaction with teachers experienced in working with young children.
Youngsters in grades 3 through 8 are provided with opportunities to learn valuable lessons through the use of a curriculum that connects the lessons and gospel of the day with their daily lives, making the material relevant to them on a very personal level.
Middle and high school youth meet with an experienced facilitator each Sunday, and are offered the opportunity to discuss a different topic each week, based on the lectionary material or on a subject of their choosing. Youth ages 14 & up are encouraged to be a part of Trinity's Youth Group, which meets Sunday evenings in the Church.
Our Nursery, for little ones through age three, is stocked with toys and books and comfy furniture and is run by our experienced childcare staff every Sunday morning, as well as during many special events throughout the year. Parents are welcome to stay with their children, and listen to the service on the speaker located in the Nursery.
Service to the Community
Each year, Trinity's Church School spearheads one or two projects to benefit the less fortunate of New Haven. During the Winter of 2003, Trinity collected nearly 100 winter coats for people of all ages; in Spring 2004, nearly 200 children's books were gathered for distribution through local support organizations.
Special Events
Each December, in conjunction with Trinity's Music Department, the children of the Church School stage a tableau-style Christmas Pageant. Lights, costumes, music and children all combine for a sweet, spiritual, and moving interpretation of the Nativity story. For a description of the Christmas Pageant on December 16, 2007, with lots of pictures, click here. [LINK]
The twice annual Parish meetings provide an opportunity for Church School children to socialize while their parents meet and discuss church business. Lunch, entertainment and supervision are provided.
Other special events are scheduled throughout the year for families to share - watch the Still Small Voice for announcements.
We Want to Hear From You
Have questions? Want more information? Contact Trinity's Church School Director Linda Sheehan at linda_j_sheehan@sbcglobal.net.
Paths to Spiritual Maturity:
Christian Education for Adults
Weekly Adult Forums [LINK]
20s/30s Bible Study [LINK]
Who Is Mary? [LINK]
Weekly Adult Forums
Trinity holds weekly adult education programs on various topics from 10.10 to 10.40 am (between the 9 and 11 am services) in the undercroft. All are welcome; please join us!
For topics, see the listings on the home page as well as information in the Still Small Voice.
Church School
Welcome to the Trinity Church School web page! Read on to learn more about our Church School, our programs, and our service to the community and to God.
Who We Are
Trinity's Church School is made up of children from all over the greater New Haven area, coming from as far as Madison, Trumbull, Cheshire - and every town in between.
We gather each week to worship with our families, spend time learning about our faith, and sharing the Holy Eucharist as a community. And during the year there are many opportunities for youngsters to get involved in cultural and educational activities at Trinity.
The Church School offers a Christian education program each Sunday, based on the weekly lectionary texts, at 10.10 a.m., between the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. In addition, we have Church School each Sunday during the 10 a.m. summer service.
Starting in 2007, Trinity began to gear our 9 am service towards including children in the liturgy. Children are invited to sit in the first few pews (so they can see better), a member of the clergy gives a children's homily and the children gather around the Communion Table as the priest consecrates the bread and the wine. This has made a huge difference in the way children view Trinity. They are engaged in the service that is going on around them.
Beginning in September 2008, the Children's Chapel comes back to the 11 am service. Children begin in the Undercroft with a member of the clergy and adult leaders. The adult leaders and the priest help the children mirror what is going on upstairs, but on a level appropriate for children. Children who are old enough light the candles, read the lessons for the day and the prayers. The priest who gave the children's homily at the 9 am service repeats the same homily at the 11 am Children's Chapel downstairs. The children rejoin their parents or guardians at the passing of the Peace when we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, or just before the Offertory on Sundays with Morning Prayer.
Neither the 9 am service nor the 11 am Children's Chapel is a replacement for the formation a child receives during our Sunday School. Whatever service a child attends, he or she is encouraged to participate regularly in our Sunday School program.
What We Teach
We welcome all children from infancy through high school; everyone has a place here at Trinity! Our teachers are experienced and committed to making each Sunday a learning experience for each child.
Children in pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and grades 1 & 2 are taught the stories of the Bible through activities and interaction with teachers experienced in working with young children.
Youngsters in grades 3 through 8 are provided with opportunities to learn valuable lessons through the use of a curriculum that connects the lessons and gospel of the day with their daily lives, making the material relevant to them on a very personal level.
Middle and high school youth meet with an experienced facilitator each Sunday, and are offered the opportunity to discuss a different topic each week, based on the lectionary material or on a subject of their choosing. Youth ages 14 & up are encouraged to be a part of Trinity's Youth Group, which meets Sunday evenings in the Church.
Our Nursery, for little ones through age three, is stocked with toys and books and comfy furniture and is run by our experienced childcare staff every Sunday morning, as well as during many special events throughout the year. Parents are welcome to stay with their children, and listen to the service on the speaker located in the Nursery.
Service to the Community
Each year, Trinity's Church School spearheads one or two projects to benefit the less fortunate of New Haven. During the Winter of 2003, Trinity collected nearly 100 winter coats for people of all ages; in Spring 2004, nearly 200 children's books were gathered for distribution through local support organizations.
Special Events
Each December, in conjunction with Trinity's Music Department, the children of the Church School stage a tableau-style Christmas Pageant. Lights, costumes, music and children all combine for a sweet, spiritual, and moving interpretation of the Nativity story. For a description of the Christmas Pageant on December 16, 2007, with lots of pictures, click here. [LINK]
The twice annual Parish meetings provide an opportunity for Church School children to socialize while their parents meet and discuss church business. Lunch, entertainment and supervision are provided.
Other special events are scheduled throughout the year for families to share - watch the Still Small Voice for announcements.
We Want to Hear From You
Have questions? Want more information? Contact Trinity's Church School Director Linda Sheehan at linda_j_sheehan@sbcglobal.net.
Paths to Spiritual Maturity:
Christian Education for Adults
Weekly Adult Forums [LINK]
20s/30s Bible Study [LINK]
Who Is Mary? [LINK]
Weekly Adult Forums
Trinity holds weekly adult education programs on various topics from 10.10 to 10.40 am (between the 9 and 11 am services) in the undercroft. All are welcome; please join us!
For topics, see the listings on the home page as well as information in the Still Small Voice.