March 25th 2012 - 3rd graders Bible Sunday
Household of God, Christ as Cornerstone
The Church school takes as its theme this year the passage from Ephesians 2:19-21: “..you are no longer strangers, but citizens of the household of God, with Christ himself as the cornerstone”.
Who doesn’t want to be part of a fun and loving family? Church school reminds children they are part of something bigger—the Congregational Church of Amherst, the United Church of Christ and God’s Christian church throughout the world.
Church School makes faith real for kids!
In Church School, children from age three through seventh grade meet God at their own level. They develop a foundation of faith through Bible stories, games, scripture discussion and mission projects. See below for details of our activities and special events. Our church school welcomes new children at any point between September and June.
Children enjoy the first part of the worship service with their families. During the worship service we have Children’s Time: they participate in a short spiritual conversation with the pastor or another adult. After children’s time, students move to their classrooms for activities with their teachers. Church school activities continue until approximately 11:15 am; parents can meet children in their classrooms (at all times for second grade and younger) or in the community room during fellowship time after the students complete classes.
We welcome volunteers at any time to be part of our vibrant, busy program. To enroll your children, volunteer to teach, bake, or lend a hand, please contact Church School Director Jean Rogers, 673-3231 x 20
Click here to register your family in the Spark program
The Christian Education Committee spent a great deal of time and energy researching a new curriculum that would infuse excitement for our faith and also give the children a solid knowledge of Bible basics. As opposed to the lectionary-based curriculum we’ve used in the past, the new Spark lessons (published by Augsburg Fortress) take the kids on a Bible journey each year. Starting with Creation, Noah and the Old Testament in the fall, it moves into anticipation of Christ’s birth during Advent, his Passion during Lent and moves into the early church in the spring.
The best part: after you register you can log on at home, see what you may have missed on the weeks you can’t be here, see our calendar of church school events and sign-up or comment on any of them. Each family will be able to include ages of the children and become a “family group” and receive updates. Learn more on Rally Day or contact Jean Rogers for more information!
Seventh Graders! Check out Re:Form! With our oldest and wisest church school class participating in youth group and approaching confirmation, we have selected a great new program just for you! It’s called Re:Form and comes with funky videos for each lesson and your own anti-workbook. Learn more at Rally Day!
Annual Events:
Rally Sunday, early September: Registration and celebration for the first Sunday of the church school year. Registration forms are available online (links in the column at the right) and in the office. It helps if you print and fill out forms, then bring them to registration.
Bible Sunday for 3rd graders, November: Each fall our church gives Bibles to current third graders (and older students who may have missed the opportunity). In November our third grade students receive their own Bible from the Church. Published by Augsburg Fortress, the Spark Bible (NRSV) is accessible to third graders, but will grow with them through grade school years and into Confirmation. Engaging items invite children to imagine how they would meet challenges of the early Christians, think how to apply Biblical lessons to their lives, and challenge them to live a radically compassionate and faith-filled life in the footsteps of Jesus. Older students who have not received a Bible from the church are welcome to receive one on Bible Sunday. For more information, please call Jean Rogers in the Church School Office at extension 20.
Advent Workshops, December: Students celebrate the spirit and anticipation of the Advent season at workshops presented by the Christian Education Committee. For one special Sunday in December, church school classes take a break from the routine and transform the Community Room into a mini North Pole. The children make a variety of crafts which focus on the true meaning of Christmas. They practice traditional Christmas Carols and have fun snacks.
Christmas Pageant, December: The pageant is presented as part of the regular worship service the Sunday preceding Christmas Day. On Sundays following Thanksgiving, in classes and rehearsal sessions, fourth grade students prepare their roles as narrators, actors, stagehands in the pageant. The content of the pageant is often adapted from children’s Christmas stories, like The Last Straw by Frederick Thury, Carol Heyer’s The First Christmas. Parents (and friends and grandparents) are asked not to photograph during the presentation. Children restage pageant parts for picture-taking.
Communion Preparation, Spring: In the spring term, fourth graders (and older students who have not learned about communion) explore the history and meaning of this sacrament and how it is experienced in our worship service.
Session I: In the classroom. Pastors and Mrs. Rogers teach children about the last supper and the evolution of traditions to the way we celebrate the sacrament.
Session II: Family class before church. Pastor Dick and Mrs. Rogers lead the families in exploring the meaning of different vocabulary and traditions of Communion celebration. Sharing experiences and games, we learn how to participate fully on a Communion Sunday.
Sunday Worship and Communion: On a Communion Sunday in May, the children in the Communion Prep program are invited to stay in the service and receive communion with their families.
Children’s Sunday, June: Children from all grades present a joyful service to highlight the year’s mission projects and show their growth and learning over the year. In class the first Sunday in June, students decorate T-shirts with colorful variations of the year’s theme. (Parents are reminded to dress children in clothes that won’t be bothered by washable paint and markers.) In this class, children also take extra time to practice songs and other parts of their service presentation.
On the second Sunday in June, children participate in all elements of the worship, share their mission projects with the congregation and enjoy ice cream sundaes, compliments of the Fellowship team.
Children’s Outreach
We are particularly thankful for the musical gifts Scott Hettinger brings us all.
Note: As a rule, the first Sunday of a school vacation we do not have church school classes. Many families are travelling. On the ending Sunday of school vacation weeks, church school classes resume.