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- Matthew 18:5
SUMMER 2008
There will be Sunday School for children pre-k through 5th grade from June 22nd through Aug. 31st. We will have movies and crafts in the Youth Room on those Sundays.
If you need registration materials, click here to print out the registration packet or contact Leslie Quantz or call 547-5700.
Overview
Welcome to the joyful world of Children's Ministries! We believe that each child holds a very special place in the Kingdom of God. Our desire is to welcome children with the love of Jesus Christ and to support families as they nurture their children in faith. We look forward to becoming partners in ministry with you, and we offer you our resources, encouragement, programs and prayers.
Our children's programs are overseen by The Board of Christian Education. Its Mission Statement reads:
The purpose of the CE Board is to foster Christian growth through integrated education and fellowship activities to strenghten our relationship with God, self, and others.
Sunday Morning Nursery (age 3.5 & below)
In the PCC nursery, caregivers and trained volunteers ensure that babies and toddlers enjoy a secure, nurturing, bright environment in which they can experience the love of Christ and the joy of the Church. The children's safety is our first priority and we maintain a high adult to child ratio. There is a room with cribs and toys to accommodate everyone. We ask you to bring any necessary personal items for your child, such as bottles and diapers, labeled with their name. We invite you to share any needs or requests you may have with the caregivers. Volunteer parents are rotated in about once a month. A remote pager system has been introduced so that parents who would like to be able to be reached during worship may carry a vibrating beeper. Nursery care is available Sundays from 9:45 to 11:30 am and at other times such as evening worship services, Sunday evening adult forums, and fellowship dinners. Please also note that Sunday services are broadcast by video in a comfortable room for families whose babies become uncomfortable during services. After each service, coffee and tea are served in adjacent rooms for all to enjoy.
Our church is blessed with an active and vital Church School program. More than fifty volunteer Sunday School teachers seek to be role models of God's love and compassion as they build caring relationships with the children. They work to create an environment in which your child will be encouraged to explore and ask questions about life and faith.
We are especially grateful to our teachers because it is their weekly involvement and dedication that make this program possible. Each class has six or more teachers (three rotating teams of two).
Memorization Goals
The Board of Christian Education supports the teachers as they encourage children to work on the following age appropriate memorization goals. This helps build the foundation of faith for years to come. Children receive awards in chapel when they have completed their goal in class, and third graders receive the gift of a Bible from their church.
Curricula
The Godly Play curriculum was so successful with younger children, we have recently expanded it. We are excited to now teach Godly Play in pre-school through 5th grade classrooms. Our curriculum for 6th grade is "Wild Truth Bible Lessons." This curriculum features Bible storybooks, take home leaflets, and craft activities.
Godly Play is a method of Christian education and spiritual direction for children. The goal of Godly Play is to teach children the art of using religious language - parable, sacred story, silence, and liturgical action - to help them become more fully aware of the mystery of God's presence in their lives.
Godly Play was developed and classroom tested for more than twenty years by Episcopal priest, author, and teacher Jerome Berryman. The Godly Play method is currently being used in churches of many denominations throughout the U.S., United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. Godly Play is a way of being with children, a journey of discovery fundamentally based upon an individual's relationship with God. Godly Play is a way to experience and share the ongoing story of the People of God.
A Godly Play classroom is a sacred space: the shelves in a Godly Play classroom hold the stories of the People of God, surrounding the children and the room with the history of God's people. Created using beautiful, natural materials, Godly Play stories and figures invite our attention. The classroom and the structure of the Godly Play experience are designed to give children the space to explore their own relationship with God.
Godly Play is deeply grounded in our spiritual tradition: Godly Play's way of "wondering" and responding to the Bible's sacred stories is, in fact, a "children's version" of the ancient spiritual practice of lectio divina. Instead of just meditating mentally on God's word, the children are given the opportunity to "meditate" in an artistic and kinesthetic way. Godly Play helps children know God - not just know about God or the Bible. Godly Play teaches us that everything in God's creation is charged with the possibility of holiness, including each of us, and that we are in relationship with everything in Creation.
Parent Participation & Fellowship
We value your partnership with us. Below are some practical suggestions for you to consider (we're sure you will have your own as well).
·
Ask your child what they learned or talked about in their Sunday lesson.
· Review the lessons your child is learning. Weekly leaflets with
at-home family activities are sent home each week to supplement faith
nurturing at home.
· Meet and talk with your child's teachers and share helpful information
about your child and family. This sharing encourages teachers and helps
us to provide personal spiritual guidance for each child.
· Offer to assist in your child's class occasionally. Your involvement
shows your child that you consider faith a priority.
· Be as consistent as possible in attendance and being on time.
This will make your child's transition into programs easier and ensure
that he or she does not miss anything.
· Share opportunities of wonder: look at a leaf, bug, or sunset
together.
· Ask your child's opinion about religious topics.
· Pray with your child about what matters to them.
· Listen to the interesting comments that your child makes and
turn them into open-ended, thought-provoking conversations.
We appreciate the ways in which you help your child to have a positive experience and to grow with us in faith. We depend on parents like you to keep this program strong and nourishing--both as teachers and as friends. Check out opportunities to serve in the Opportunities to Serve Directory of Lay Ministries booklet (pdf).
FUN! (For parents of newborns through 6th graders)
F.U.N.
(Family Unity Night) - Parents of children gather
5-6 times a year for a potluck dinner and social time, spiritual enrichment,
and support. Childcare and/or children's programming are made available. We hope you can join us! Contact Shirley Rexrode for more information, or check out the upcoming events
page.
Third, Fourth and Fifth Graders get together with the mission to develop friendships, make a difference through service projects, and explore and develop personal faith. This group is not currently meeting. Lay ministry leaders are needed!
If you have questions or would like to become involved as a leader, please contact Leslie Quantz by e-mail or @ 547-5700, ext. 109
JUNIOR CHOIR
The Junior Choir is open to students in the third grade and above. Choristers are introduced to basic vocal techniques and music reading, using pieces drawn from the standard repertory. The choir sings for various Sunday Services. Interested parents should contact the Choirmaster, Steve Main, at 547-5700, ext. 107.
PRESCHOOLS ON CHURCH PROPERTY
Although PCC does not offer a church affiliated midweek preschool as part of its programming, the Christian Education Building hosts two different preschools, Highlands Preschool (510-547-4242), and Linda Beach Coop Preschool (547-4432). For more information, please contact the schools directly at the numbers listed above.
Registration for all church sponsored programs remains open throughout the year. Please contact the Director of Children's Christian Education, Leslie Quantz, at 547-5700, ext. 109, with any questions or concerns. Thanks in advance for your prayers and your partnership!