Children and Youth Sunday School

The Sunday School year begins after the Fall Picnic in September and is held on most Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. in the Parish House. For our youngest... Pre-Kindergarten “Godly Play I” (located on the ground floor of the Parish House): Specifically designed for this age group, Godly Play I combines story-telling, prayer, singing, reverence for Holy space and hands-on activities. A snack is provided to the children during class. Teachers: Caroline Sheridan, Darlene Green and Kristine Jordan. Kindergarten & 1st grade “Godly Play II” (on the ground floor of the Parish House): A continuation of Godly Play I, Godly Play II combines age appropriate hands-on activities such as story-telling, prayer, singing, and reverence for Holy space. A snack is provided. Teachers: Susan Read, Kelley Mayson, and Emma Newell. For 2nd graders and up: Rotation Sunday School (Click here for a 2010-2011schedule) The Christian Education Committee is delighted to introduce a new model for our Sunday School program starting in the fall of 2011 that will 2nd –12th graders as well as adults.  The rotation model can add a fresh look at the ways we introduce Scripture to our children and adults.  Our overall theme will be “Like trees planted by water” from Psalm 1. From that verse we recognize that we are nourished and sustained by God’s grace, and by staying in touch with that grace we grow. During the year we plan to integrate eight Bible stories that would relate to this theme, such as the miraculous catch of fish from John 21, the water coming from the rock in Exodus 17 and Philip baptizing the Ethiopian from the book of Acts. Our hope is that our children and adults will come away at the end of the year excited by Scripture inspired by a deeper understanding of a few stories that they will have had time to explore in creative ways. In essence the rotation model will look something like this:  One rotation is about four Sundays long. For the first Sunday a group will hear the story of the month and then respond to it in a workshop or station.  The second and third Sunday they will experience the story in a different station and the fourth Sunday there will be a wrap-up with children and adults.  The stations may include art, drama, service, nature, music, cooking and any number of possible alternatives. An exciting aspect of this style of Sunday School is that teachers can sign up for one rotation or several in a station they are best suited for, using their strongest gifts and talents. Teachers would stay in their station for the entire rotation as different ages of children would come to them over the three week period.  We would like to have men and women, parents and non-parents, folks in their twenties and in their eighties to consider taking on a rotation or two. It is a wonderful opportunity for intergenerational relationships to develop!