Christian Education / Sunday School

Children's Sunday School Update
Sunday school is back in session! This year we are following the UCC curriculum "Seasons of the Spirit." In September our children will be exploring God's love by learning more about who Jesus was, and extending that to a call to service. Our youngest children will ear the story of Queen Esther, of Jesus' blessing of the children, and hear examples of how Jesus shared with others. The 1st through 3rd graders will celebrate how courage helps us to live in God's way, explore many ways Jesus' love brings joy, and discover how to let go and live in God' way. And our oldest class will be guided to celebrate courage in a life of faith, look at ways to soften hard hearts, and imaging a world changed by sharing

Our Sunday School studied the life and times of Paul in August. Our wonderful teachers have been sharing with the children that amazing grace led to an amazing race in Paul's life—the race to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. Five stories from Paul’s life showed that when we follow in Paul's footsteps, God supplies all our needs.

Our summer Sunday School program this year began with a curriculum called "God's Family in ACTion." The stories, activities and games use the early church written about in the book of Acts as a model to show kids how God's family grows and what life in God's family is like. The children are learning that it is important to work together, care for others, and welcome others into God's family.

Sunday school classes in March and April read stories about Jesus found in the books of Mark and John, including a look at how Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and his appearance to his disciples in the tomb. These stories show us how God sent Jesus to save us and that we can all rejoice at Easter because Jesus is alive.

Our Bible lessons in March included how Jesus healed the blind man (Mark 10: 46-52), a lesson about commitment (Mark 8:31-38), how Jesus cleared the merchants from the temple (John 2:13-22), Jesus' explanation of why God sent him (Mark 12:41-44), and the rejoicing of the people as Jesus entered Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-11).

In February our Sunday school classes learned lessons from the book of Mark: Jesus healing, praying and preaching; Jesus calming a storm; Jesus healing a paralyzed man. These passages in the Bible teach us that Jesus is all-powerful, that Jesus cares for us and helps us when we're afraid, and that Jesus forgives us.

About Our Program
Children are divided into three Sunday school classes, based on age:

Prekinder-Kindergarten – Loving God

Goals of the class:

introduce Sunday school to young children
teach children that God loves them, Jesus loves them and we love them
give children the experience of belonging at church

Activities include a Bible story, a Bible-related craft, movement activities and music. Specifically:

sing, move to and say Bible verses
hear stories from the Bible
learn simple prayers
share food and money
make things for others

Grades 1-3: Learning About God

Goals of the class:

teach children about God and Jesus through parables and stories in the Bible
learn to concretely express how they live their lives based on Jesus’ teachings
strengthen their self image as children of God who are loved by God
learn that they can talk to God easily

Activities include interacting with a Bible story, color/cut/paste activites/crafts, thinking Bible games. Specifically:

sing familiar hymns and learn familiar Bible verses
hear clear, simple stories from the Bible
pray

Grades 4-5: Living as Christians

Goals of the class:

teach children how God and Jesus expect and help us to live as Christians
use the Bible in ways that invite students to expect God to speak to them through the Scriptures
learn how to live in response to the Good News found in scripture
begin to feel a part of a people who identify themselves with scripture
learn about the Bible and recognize the Bible as a revelation of God and a record of how people have experienced God
learn about the Bible’s meaning for today

Activities include a Bible story, analytical discussion, games and activities. Specifically:

learn how the Old Testament was read by Jesus and the New Testament is about Jesus
learn how to find stories and scriptures in the Bible

Christian Education activities:

January: Souper Bowl Sunday
March/April: Palm Sunday/enter with palms, Easter Hunt & Carnival, Easter flower cross
June – Aug.: Summer Sunday school
October: Fall Family Festival
December: Christmas Family Festival, Christmas program

Please see the Annual Calendar for upcoming Christian Education events.