Sunday Morning |
Youth
Groups |
Music |
Scouts |
Preschool
Sunday School
classes
are under way! Families are invited to worship at 9:00am
Children leave for Sunday School following the Word for
Children.
Worship bags
are new this
year! Available in the lobby, these are appropriate for all
non-readers. They contain coloring pages, a board book, and
often a small seasonal craft - all of which will help keep
young hands busy as they experience the sights, sounds and
feel of a worship service.
Nursery.
Even the
Ark got a make-over this year.
As we seek to accommodate more children on busy Sundays, we
have the option of separate spaces for toddlers and babies,
ensuring the safety of both. To keep our new non-allergenic
carpets clean for crawlers, we are also asking that no shoes
be worn - please provide socks for your nursery-age children
or borrow some of ours when you arrive.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Preschool
(room 207): This class (for ages 3-4/Pre-K)
allows children to learn the great stories of the Bible,
from creation to Paul, through storytelling, crafts, games,
and free play. Each week opens with a short time of worship
that includes music, prayer and stewardship.
A small peanut-free snack is served; we can accomodate other
allergies
as well, so please note any on your child's registration
form.
Grade
School:
This year's
theme is God's Promise is for
You!
Starting with Abraham and
Sarah, we will learn about
the covenant or promise that God made with us.
We'll learn several Bible stories - ranging from
The Prodigal Son to the prophet Isaiah -- in which God
reinforces that promise. Each Sunday ends with a gathering
time of prayer, singing,
and stewardship.
Kindergarten-age
children go to room 219, where they hear these stories from
a team of teachers who tailor them to their age level.
Grades 1-4
rotate through a different
room each week, including storytelling, art, drama,
mission/service, and the science/geography of God's world. A
guide accompanies them, so that the children have a familiar
face, as they visit a different room/teacher each week.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Middle School Sunday School
(grades 5-7) begins
at the Word for Children, when the kids leave for Youth
Chapel. Faith Formation Intern TC Anderson introduces the
day's lesson and leads a time of song, prayer &
stewardship. Then kids go to their classrooms where
volunteer teachers reinforce the learning points through
activities and fellowship.
The
curriculum will undergo some major changes this year, moving
to a new three-year plan that provides a bridge from grade
school to confirmation.
The curriculum explores the major beliefs of the Christian
faith – Who is God? Who is Jesus? The Holy Spirit? What
is the church? Why is there evil in the world? etc… - and
it covers them over multiple weeks. These are the same
topics that are covered in confirmation, however, the longer
periods of time allow for creativity, critical thinking, and
soaking in.
The plan
also allows us to revisit the same Bible stories they
learned as grade schoolers, but in a more sophisticated way;
we will also tackle some stories, such as Job, Judges, etc.
that are not appropriate for grade schoolers.
For example, if we are talking about “Who is God?” we will
visit stories
from Genesis (God as Creator), Exodus (God as liberator),
the Psalms (God as someone we can talk to, no matter how we
feel), Job (does God really act like that?), the
Gospels (Prodigal Son/God as Father, lost sheep stories/God
as shepherd) and more!
Confirmation class
(eighth
grade) begins September 18, and the entire family is invited
to
first @ five worship and dinner on September 11. As the
youth prepare for church membership, they explore the major
beliefs of the Christian faith and are guided to make their
own decision about church membership. It can be a powerful
year for the whole family, helping everyone get to church
and to discuss the topics over the brunch table afterward.
OTHER
information for children's faith
Formation
Stewardship
is a part of each age group,
and so we encourage the children to bring a small donation.
The money goes for specific projects that are discussed
during grade school community time, benefitting the Faraja
School (children with disabilities in Tanzania, Africa),
Reading Power (tutoring in North Chicago), and other mission
efforts that emphasize "kid-to-kid" mission. You might
consider asking children to give a part of their allowance
each week or to earn donation money by helping out at home.
Some families also forego a treat and donate that money
instead. You will know what is right for your family; we
encourage you to make this a learning opportunity with your
children.
Music. Christian
music is a key part of the program. We welcome Miss Anna, a
music student from Northwestern who sings with our choir.
She will teach the "classics" to our preschoolers (like
"I've Got the Joy" and "Jesus Loves Me") and a
mix of classic, contemporary, and global Christian songs to
our grade schoolers. TC Anderson brings his guitar and his
repitoire of lively Christian songs to Youth Chapel.
