Being formed in the Christian faith is a life-long process of coming to know God more and more deeply and discerning how to live as a follower of Jesus. This formation process, guided by the Holy Spirit, is rooted within the worshiping community and prepares us for service in the world.
Christian education is a key ingredient in the formation of faith. It creates a space
where we can read, mark, and inwardly digest the stories of scripture, applying their teachings to everyday life. It also enables us to learn how and why specific traditions and practices have developed over the Church’s lifetime. And it helps us discern how to use our God-given skills and talents in service to God’s people and in the stewardship of God’s creation.
At St. Philip’s, opportunities exist for people of all ages to learn about God’s dream of a kingdom marked by love, joy, justice, and peace. We welcome all to be part of this learning community.
Be careful! If you come here you will grow!
Sunday School
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From September to June, we offer a Sunday morning class for school-aged children from
10am to 11:10am. (Classes are not held on major liturgical feast days and on national
holidays.) Children meet with their adult mentors in their parish hall classroom during the
first part of the worship service, and then join the adult congregation for Holy Communion.
Six adult parishioners work as 2-person teaching teams. All are trained in safe church
practices by the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and undergo CORI
background checks by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
In our classroom this fall we will begin using Godly Play. As a teaching and learning
methodology, Godly Play has a Montessori foundation. It was developed by The Rev. Dr.
Jerome Berryman 40 years ago, and has continued to be updated and expanded by
trained Godly Play users. Godly Play assumes that children have some experience of the
mystery of the presence of God in their lives but that they lack the language, permission,
and understanding to express and enjoy that experience. In Godly Play, adults and
young people enter into sacred stories from scripture, parables, liturgical action, and
silence in order to discover the depths of God abiding in themselves, one another, and
in the world around them. Occasionally we step away from our immersion in Godly
Play to engage in various service projects designed to put faith into action.
Every class session begins with an informal “check-in” followed by a time of prayer
before we move to the story or activity for the day. There is time to work with the art
supplies and books in the classroom, as children respond to what is being learned.
For more information, please contact the parish office:
stphilipseasthampton@gmail.com
(413) 527-0862
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Fall/early winter 2025 schedule:
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Sept 14 Class: The Ark & the Flood
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Sept 21 Class: The Great Family (Abraham & Sarah)
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Sept 28 Class: The Exodus (Moses & the People of God)
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Oct 5 Class: The 10 Best Ways
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Oct 12 No class: Holiday weekend
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Oct 19 Class: The Ark & the Tent
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Oct 26 Service project: Prep for Thanksgiving food drive
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Nov 2 No class: All Saints Day
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Nov 9 Class: The Ark & the Temple
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Nov 16 Class: Exile & Return
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Nov 23 Service project: Prep for Christmas Giving Tree
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Nov 30 No class: Holiday weekend
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Dec 7 Class: The prophets show the way to Bethlehem
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Dec 14 Class: The Holy Family on the way to Bethlehem
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Dec 21 Class: The shepherds on the way to Bethlehem
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Dec 28 No class: Holiday break
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Adults
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Join us on Sunday mornings at 8:15 am on Zoom as we discuss the scripture lessons that will be read during the 10 a.m. service. The discussion is led by Father Michael. No preparation needed. Come as you are!
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Adults choose a variety of ways to further their own faith development and to gain a more sophisticated understanding of the basic beliefs and liturgy of the Episcopal Church. For some, this means updating teachings from long-ago Sunday School lessons, for some it involves clarifying the personal and social meaning of faith in ways they’ve never considered, for some it involves setting aside a fear- and guilt-based faith for one securely embedded in the experience of God’s love, and for others it involves asking the questions and sharing the doubts that have previously kept them from being part of a church community.
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From time to time, we offer book study groups and topical discussion groups, often during the Advent (before Christmas) and Lenten (before Easter) seasons.
Preparation for Confirmation and Reception
Bi-annually, a program is offered by the Rector, in collaboration with parents, to prepare youth aged 16 and older for confirmation. These classes are also attended by adults who come to the Episcopal Church from other Christian traditions and wish to affirm their new faith by being Received into the church. An essential part of preparation for youth is the choice of a service project, where they work together for the benefit of members of the community as an expression of their mature faith.