Godly Play Workshop at CECE

Saturday November 20th at 9 AM - a 'Make and Take' session to support Godly Play Advent stories!

Happy New Year !!!

The Christ Centred Character Team has met during this time to discuss the next steps in the development of the Centre for Excellence in Christian Education – CECE (formerly the Anglican Resource Centre - ARC). The group did receive the Area Ministry grant, for which we applied. This seed money will help us in reaching our goal to create a centre where those who minister to our children and youth can congregate and share successes. We are grateful to God and to the Diocese for the funding provided by the grant.

We welcomed Jenny Salisbury, Youth Minister from St. Clement’s, to the CECE group. We discussed many ideas and are in the process of looking for a librarian to hire and help organize our resources and materials, catalogue the books and set up the resource centre We have already had other parishes borrow from the Godly Play materials. If you would like to know more about CECE and how you can assist in building this resource for Christian educators please contact me through the church or at ckeating@stjohnsyorkmills.com.

Video Update on our Progress...

The ARC is now the CECE!

What's in a name? A lot, apparently! Due to input we've received from various folks we've decided to the change the name of our resource centre from "The Anglican Resource Centre" to "The Centre for Excellence in Christian Education." The concern was that the former name implied that we are an official programme of the national church, which we aren't. We're sorry if this caused any confusion, we were mostly just emulating the example of other such resource centres. Also, we like the "ARC" acronym!

-t

Next Meeting: Tues Dec. 8 at 4:30

The next meeting of our group is December 8th at 4:30 at the CECE (Centre for Excellence in Christian Education) at St. John's York Mills. All those interested in helping us to build this resource are welcome to attend!

-t

Peace I leave you, my peace I give to you.--John 14:27
Praying for peace in Christ, peace in our hearts and peace in the world

Virtue for October: Gratitude

Here is an example of how the Toronto Catholic District School Board is teaching the virtue of Gratitude:

Thanksgiving Message

from the Director of Education, Toronto Catholic District School Board

It is appropriate that the virtue we embrace for the month of October is gratitude. This month we are reminded to focus on the many things in our lives for which we are grateful.

In our personal lives it may be the precious gifts of our families and friends and the support and love that we share. In our professional lives it may be the support of our colleagues and the challenges of our jobs that inspire us and give us a sense of accomplishment.

As Canadian citizens, we are grateful that we live in a peaceful and democratic society where opportunities abound, individual freedom is valued and diversity is encouraged and respected. (source)

September – the month of respect, hospitality …

As we await the opening of the school year and also prepare to welcome our parishioners back to church after the summer months, we are reminded that schools in the Toronto District School Board will be focusing on the character attribute respect for the month of September. They will encourage their students from Kindergarten to grade 12 to treat each other with courtesy and consideration.

In the Toronto Catholic District School Board they will focus on the Christian virtue of hospitality and being welcoming of one another. This too is kindergarten to grade 12.
You are encouraged to discuss what is happening regarding character education in the schools with the children and youth in your parish. You may investigate how a particular character attribute might relate to living a Christian life – a reminder that it is not only about good works but the faith that drives the good works.
‘I by my works will show you my faith … For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.’
James 2:18, 26

The Anglican Resource Centre (ARC) has a number of resources to help Christian educators and leaders uplift character as seen in the secular world to the level as it would be understood in the Christian community.

Your feedback to this blog is welcome. You are also welcome to visit the ARC as we begin to set up at St John York Mills Anglican Church in Toronto, second floor, education wing.
Please email us if you would like to visit the ARC so that we can arrange for someone to be there to greet you.

In Christ,
The ARC/CCC Team

Please check out the following links to find out more about character education in the schools and how the church can respond and let us know what you think:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/character.html
http://www.tdsb.on.ca/_site/ViewItem.asp?siteid=9997&menuid=6685&pageid=5824 http://tcdsb.org/virtue%20of%20the%20month/virtue.htm http://www.ugdsb.on.ca/departments/program/character_education.pdf
http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/page.cfm?id=ICM200701
http://www.ycdsb.ca/departments/InstructionalServices/ReligiousEd/equity.htm
http://www.ourlanguageourstory.org/virtues_themes.html