Education Ministries

Our Christian Education ministries are a welcoming, nurturing, supportive and spiritual community for all parisioners and visitors so that they can explore and develop their relationship with Christ Jesus. Each of the programs nurtures both the individual Christian and the Christian family. Your participation and/or leadership in any of these activities are welcomed. Our overall ministry is made up of three major divisions:

Children's Education     more...

For the children's current activities, see the Education Newsletter. To register your child, see the Child/Youth Registration Form. The children's program is subdivided into several age appropriate teams:

Yellow Team - yellow is HOPE to brighten each day - birth to 2 1/2 year olds. This classroom (traditionally the nursery) is for our smallest children to feel welcomed and comforted. Parents are encouraged to slowly transition their child to the classroom. Our children learn how Jesus loves them through Christian symbolism and interactive play.

Blue Team - blue is PEACE to in our world and in our heart - 3 and 4 year olds. Children have a lot of energy and enjoy repetition, dramatic play, singing, musical instruments, building blocks, and art and craft projects. Children develop a sense of independence while keeping parents, family and teachers close by forreassurance.

Purple Team - purple is for PRAYER everyday from the start - 5 and 6 year olds. Children love to dress up and interact through dramatic play. Music and art are some of the hands on activities used as part of the interactive lessons that connect the activity to the weekly lesson. Love, friendship, compassion, truth and forgiveness are a few of the Christian values being learned as the children observe their parents and teachers throughout the church.

Red Team - red is for LOVE, FRIENDSHIP and CARING - 7 and 8 year olds. Children in this age group are building strong friend- ships. They are an inquisitive group who are developing their communication and independence skills. Children are encouraged to develop a sense of self by selecting activities that will help them to grow spiritually. They learn elements of worship and tradition.

Green Team - green is for FAITH to follow God's way - 9 and 10 year olds. This group will be learning how to acolyte for all church services. They have already taken on many leadership roles within the children's worship service that takes place just prior to church school in the Chapel. Children begin explore passages of the Bible and engage in group discussions. Art, music and creative writing help children explore feelings, enhance self esteem and relate to Bible stories.

Vacation Bible School - 4 to 10 year olds. Vacation Bible School takes children to an extreme adventure camp where they experience and discover God everywhere! VBS is an action-packed, adrenaline-filled expedition that teaches kids their strength and might come from God. Through rockin' contemporary music, larger-than-life recreation games, mind-boggling science activities, extreme sports videos, and cool, challenging crafts, kids will be shown how to live in their faith.

Youth Education     more...

For current youth activities, see the Education Newsletter. To register, see the  Child/Youth Registration Form

Rite 13 - 11, 12 and 13 year olds.The first three years (6th through 8th grades) focus on celebrating the individuality of each young person and their creative potential. The Rite-13 liturgy (a celebration of Manhood and Womanhood) is the community expression of this. Youth begin to explore the vision of Christ Church and how they can use their gifts by doing Christ Jesus' work through a variety of ministries.

J2A - 14, 15, and 16 year olds. The middle portion of the program engages youth with the skills and critical thinking involved in adulthood. In addition to the J2A program, youth participate in a 10 week session of Youth Alpha. We are working to equip our youth with tools that will strengthen their knowledge of God and his work in the world. While helping them to communicate and work well with others. Youth explore skills in prayer, bible study, awareness of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and fulfilling their baptismal promise.

YAC - 17 and 18 year olds.A mentor-based program helping older teens to discern and carry out a ministry within their church or in the larger community. Vocation and development of a personal credo are also emphasized. For adolescents, Journey to Adulthood that explores the lifelong process of developing your own spirituality by accepting yourself as a gift from God and exploring your gifts to be a successful active participate in God's plan for your life.

Youth Group of Christ Church All three levels of our youth make up the Youth Group of Christ Church. Teens work together within our church, local community, and worldwide by taking part in Worship, Fellowship, Education, Outreach and Evangelism activities that bring themselves and the world closer to Christ Jesus.

Youth Alpha
The Youth Alpha course is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed, non-threatening way over ten thought-provoking sessions Basically, if you're interested in getting some of life's big questions sorted, and want to work out what you believe for yourself, then come along.

Adult Education     more...

Bible Studies
Small groups meet with other believers in fellowship; to grow in understanding of the Bible, as Jesus' own small group of disciples did; to meet the needs of others in the group in ministry; and to worship God through practicing godly behavior. Christ Church also has had members participate in interfaith Bible study groups.

Library
Our Christ Church library offers both spiritual and recreational reading oppurtunities. The library book cart is stocked and available for browsing in Disciples Hall after services and during the week. It has been most heavily used for Lenten reading and for fiction, especially in large print.

Alpha
Alpha is a 12 week introduction to basics of Christianity - a time of fellowship, sharing a meal, music, video and small discussion groups. A weekend retreat is usually held around the end of the eighth week.

Cursillo
The Cursillo is a movement that, through a method of its own tries to, and through God's grace manages to; enable the essential realities of the Christian to come to life in the uniqueness, originality, and creativity of each person.

Education for Ministry (EFM)
EFM combines the traditional functions of fellowship group and Bible study with a method of theological reflection designed to tap into our metaphorical and mythical ways of thinking, to help us make conscious connections between our faith traditions and the "post-religious" world we find ourselves in today. A group of six to twelve participants is led by a trained mentor for 108 hours during the academic year, usually 3 hours a week for 36 weeks. The 4-year program may be taken with commitment to only a year at a time. 

The Interfaith Diversity Group was formed after a program called 'Oppose Racism' was sponsored by the Second Baptist Church of Toms River and Christ Episcopal Church. When the program ended a group was formed from the two parishes to foster inter-racial activities and programs. On a recent Martin Luther King Jr. Day the group conducted a workshop on racism which drew over 40 people.

Baptismal Classes
Held for parents and godparents.The 2-3 session course teaches the meaning of and history of baptism.

Reception/Confirmation Classes
This is the official receiving into the Church community, performed by the Bishop. This 2-3 session offering introduces the foundational understandings of the Christian faith and the particular way we express that faith in the Episcopal tradition. All are welcome to attend; those already attending Christ Church and others who wish an opportunity to explore what it means to be Christian in the 21st century.

Lectures and Workshops
These spiritual sessions for adults are conducted throughout the year on particular subjects as the need arises. Some previous examples: Report from the Annual Convention, The Episcopal Church and Homoseuality, Our Annual Mission Trip Report, etc.

Click on any of the three divisions above to get the details of a program that interests you.