June 19, 2009, The crazy, crazy Locos, Sunday School, St. Paul’s starts new Sunday School, By Beverly Russell

After days of expectation, last Sunday, June 14, thousand of onlookers enjoyed the colorful and extravagant costumes worn by “The Locos”.

Ursula, from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, superheroes, devils, and clowns, accompanied by colorfully decorated floats, cheerfully crowded the centro streets.

The event occurred without mayor incidents, although some onlookers nursed light bruises from candy hurled by over enthusiastic “Locos”. It was a happy and crazy Sunday for all sanmiguelenses, national and expats, poor and rich, young and old.

Sunday School

Anglican Sunday School Program
Sun, Jul 5, 10–11:45am
St. Paul’s Church
Cardo 6
Info: Rebecca Peterson
154-7010, mexrebe@yahoo.com

St. Paul’s starts new Sunday School
By Beverly Russell

Under the direction of Rebecca Peterson, St. Paul’s Anglican Church initiates a new Sunday School program for children aged 4 to 14 years. The first class starts July 5 in the Parish Hall.

Peterson—a lively member of the church Vestry Committee, a soprano in the choir, and well-known figure in San Miguel’s artistic community—teaches art classes every Thursday for children in San Miguel who either live here full-time or come on vacation. She holds a Master’s Degree in both psychology and art therapy, and brings her expertise and experience to what she calls “an in-reach program,” for St. Paul’s.

She remarks: “The demographics of San Miguel are changing. There are now younger parents living here who would come to St. Paul’s church on Sundays if there were a way of taking care of their children. These are parents who come here from the US, Canada and other countries because they want their children to learn Spanish and experience another culture.”

Peterson is being aided by Claudia Vilchis—a young mother and an active member of St. Paul’s whose husband, Paco Vasquez, is Junior Warden of the church—as well as other members of the congregation interested in young people’s spiritual education.

The new class combines all ages in one room, and includes Biblical storytelling, hymn singing, art and theatrical activities, playing games, gardening on the church grounds and even cooking in its kitchen—all with a spiritual focus. “There are many ways of learning,” she points out.

As with the church services, a bilingual element is incorporated. The church rector, the Venerable Michael Long, and church Deacon, Sibylle Van Dijk, visit the class for special prayer time in English and Spanish.

For the last half hour of the class, the children join their parents in the church for the Eucharist and to receive a blessing at the altar rail. This participation aims to give children a glimpse of the formal procedure in church and the meaning of worship.

Many world-famous psychologists, Peterson points out, have noted that developing a spiritual life at a young age is important to full maturity later in life. People who experience spiritual education early gain inner strength and use that knowledge later in life to become useful “elders” rather than dependent “elderlies.”

Peterson invites church members to participate in the program, and she hopes that as younger children mature they also will assist the teachers.

For further information, contact Rebecca Peterson, phone 154-7010 mexrebe@yahoo.com or Father Long, 152-0387 rector@stpauls.org.mx.

Beverly Russell is an author of several books on the arts and writes articles for numerous publications. She sings in St. Paul’s choir.