Christian Education:

What a year for changes! We continue to ponder the best way to maintain a family approach to Christian Education while making sure we have found the best method to reach the individual student.

New this year, is the One-Room Sunday School Class. The whole family attends an opening worship in our church's Friendship Room, where we open with prayer, the children light a candle, the day's scripture is explored, some hymns are sung and then the opening worship closes with the Lord's Prayer. After opening worship all of the Sunday School classes go to their respective classrooms.

On the fourth Sunday of the month, we feature the Fourth Sunday Forum.
This monthly forum begins after our opening worship after the children go to their Sunday School classes, and features various speakers and presentations of interest to our congregation and the community. Older youth and adults are urged to attend these interesting programs, please check the bulletins and church newsletter, or website for info on the next Fourth Sunday Forum.

Nursery through Junior Classes explored the curriculum Build A Better World: Africa. Through stories, crafts, corresponding scriptures, and games geared to all of the age groups, we learned what life is like for families in Angola, Somalia, Rwanda, and Kenya. The children's class was also introduced to the church library with the help of Head Elder and teacher, Shirley Slusaw. The class plans to visit the library monthly.

Children participated in our Harvest Home celebration by collecting and placing food items in the sanctuary, to offer it to needy families. As part of our Advent studies, the class learned about the Christmas story by listening to scripture and preparing for the annual Christmas Pageant, entitled "An Old-Fashioned Christmas" The children acted out the story, learned the hymns, and did a liturgical dance movement to "Silent Night."

The Senior High Class continued to use the lectionary-based curriculum Seasons of the Spirit. This material allows for thoughtful reflection of the Bible while it challenges the student to take these teachings and apply them to their daily lives.

The Friendship Bible Class chose to use a Bible study approach with a variety of guest speakers, while the Trexler Class continued to use a variety of materials to add to their Bible study.

Vacation Bible School was held this past Summer as the children explored the Fruit of the Spirit. This thoughtful study prepared us for the months ahead as we turned our thoughts to both the families living in Africa as well as the families who suffered from the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.