HFCC & HFC Relationship

Dear prospective parents,

If you are considering enrolling your precious child at Holy Family Children’s Center, you may want to know about the preschool’s relationship with Holy Family Episcopal Church. The Children’s Center is a mission of Holy Family Episcopal Church with the goal of nurturing the development of young children and fostering belonging throughout the Holy Family community. Religious doctrines are not taught to students at school, and we don’t aim to convert anyone.

Episcopal churches have a long history of supporting education to serve our communities. Episcopal schools are known for being religiously diverse, welcoming people of all faiths and those who are not religious. At HFCC, our Episcopal identity is expressed by upholding Episcopal values such as inclusion, care for the environment, and social justice and nurturing the spiritual dimension of children’s development.

Spiritual development means a growing sense of connection with something larger than one’s self, which provides a sense of meaning, purpose, and self-worth. The “something larger” can be your community, the world, nature, or other spiritual or religious beliefs. Psychological research has shown that spirituality in all forms benefits mental health and well-being through adolescence and into adulthood. (See the work of Dr. Lisa Miller at Columbia, who pioneered this field.)

As the Vicar, I lead a weekly “Wondering Time” focused on universal spiritual ideas like love, peace, and kindness. We have a candle-lighting ritual, we sing inclusive songs, and we practice short periods of silence and mindfulness. Usually, we focus on a storybook and wonder about its meaning. The children are enthusiastic about sharing their ideas about the books and love the candle!

Holy Family Children’s Center was founded by Holy Family Episcopal Church shortly after the church moved into this historic farmhouse property. Financially, the church and school share the cost of maintaining our buildings and grounds. Employment, program, and other operational expenses are entirely separate. As an Episcopal school, teachers at Holy Family enjoy a generous benefits package that allows us to recruit and retain a talented and dedicated team. The Head of School and the Vicar work together with the Bishop’s Committee (the church’s governing board) to oversee the finances.

I understand that for some families, choosing a school affiliated with a church may raise questions or concerns. I hope this letter helps to answer and/or allay them.

If you would like further information or discussion about these topics, I would be delighted to speak with you. You can reach me at amber@holyfamily.org to set up a meeting.

Blessings,

Amber

a mission of Holy Family Episcopal Church

Message from Amber Evans, Vicar of Holy Family Church

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