Christian Education for Children and Youth in 2006

The Future of Our Church School
Susan J. Thompson, Director

Dear Church Family:

The Latin root of the word “educate” means “to draw out, or to uncover.” The ministry of Christian education is as much about drawing out and uncovering the faith within us, as it is about imparting information. We are all spiritual beings – children, youth, and adults – and as such all of us have things to learn and to teach about the spiritual journey. When we listen to one another – recognizing that each of us is a teacher and a learner – we can discover all sorts of new ways to be followers of Jesus.

The Christian Education Ministries Team for Children and Youth is committed to giving our children and youth a firm foundation of scripture and biblical story, fellowship that is rich in relationship building, and intergenerational learning that draws on the experiences of people of all ages. We have a variety of activities planned this year that should strengthen the worship and education life of our children and youth, starting from their earliest years in the church. A quote from a book written a long time ago might be appropriate regarding the educational ministries we offer our children and youth at Towson Presbyterian. In 1888, Horace Bushnell articulated a belief about the purpose of Christian education:

What is the true idea of Christian education? That the child is to grow up a Christian, and never know (her/him) self as being otherwise. In other words, the aim, effort and expectation should be, not, as is commonly assumed, that the child is to grow up in sin, to be converted after (she/he) comes to a mature age; but that (she/he) is open on the world as one that is spiritually renewed, not remembering the time when (she/he) went through a technical experience, but seeming rather to have loved what is good from (her/his) earliest year.

A theme that is present in both Hebrew and Christian scripture is the theme of “call.” The calls of God are sometimes grand and dramatic, but most often, are simple but life changing. Please join us in creating a community where children and youth find their identity, come to know who they are as Christians, name their place in the story, and share their hopes and commitments for living faithfully. May God help us to find our call, young and old, and to make all things new in the coming year!

About Our Church School

Childcare
Towson Presbyterian provides a safe and nurturing environment for each child, birth through high school. Volunteer church members assist our Childcare Coordinator. We provide cribbery for birth and one year-olds during all worship services. Childcare is provided in Noah’s Nursery and Room 101. Please look for signs to direct you to the proper rooms. Our two and three year-olds use Exploring Our Faith curriculum, while children, ages 4 through middle school, use Seasons of the Spirit curriculum during classroom instruction time.

Kindergarten and Grade 1
Godly Play is a new way of Christian Education that involves Biblical storytelling and art expression for young children. Godly Play encourages children to enter into the story by using “wondering” questions. Each class session uses a pattern similar to a worship service. Children are encouraged to have fun, yet listen, through story, through a feast, and by receiving a blessing. Godly Play is held in Room 201 and 203.

Elementary, Grades 2 – 5
Our Christian Education program is as engaging, challenging, and nurturing as possible. We use Seasons of the Spirit curriculum, published by Logos, Inc. It is a lectionary-based curriculum dedicated to challenging children, using all of the multiple intelligences. Our church school is designed to use a printed curriculum for two months and then use the Rotation Model of instruction for one month. In this way, we hope to use two exciting methods of learning. A variety of activities are planned in four workshop rotations each year so that children study a story in a different medium each week. Children, Grades 2 through 5, experience this program in specially designed classrooms that present a topic via that medium, with spiritual values and biblical knowledge as the end result. Workshops include a movie theatre, dramatic theatre, art studio, computer lab, Bible skills room, games, and cooking.

Middle School Church School (Grades 6 – 8)
Youth in Grades 6 through 8 meet in the Youth Room on Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. for Bible study, discussion, and expression through music, art, and field trips. Students use Seasons of the Spirit curriculum, which explores Bible events and applies them to personal life experience. We have two excellent discussion leaders, Karen Gilliss and Ginny Simms, who lead youth in timely discussions. We are committed to providing one very experiential activity each year, where middle school youth design a learning activity for the elementary classes and present it to them. Last year, middle school youth designed a Spirituality Center during the Lenten Season for children and adults to experience.

Senior High Seekers Class (Grades 9-12)
This year our senior high youth will meet in the gym every Sunday for discussion, using a book called Way to Live – Christian Practices for Teens. This book will cover relevant topics and challenge teens to use ancient practices in modern ways to deepen their walk with God. Several discussion leaders will mentor our youth throughout the year!

Our children will experience several education programs to help them understand our worship service and the shared meal of remembrance of the church - communion. Grade 3 students will have the opportunity to participate in a 3-week worship program, which culminates in students receiving a Bible for their personal use at home and in the worship service. Elementary students will participate in an education program regarding communion every two years.

Worship Bags are available for all children through Grade 5 and can be picked up as children enter the sanctuary before Sunday worship. These bags are designed to aid children in preparing for and participating in worship. The worship bag should be returned to the basket at all doorways when the worship service ends. A worship sheet will always be in each bag and can be taken home. Children learn about each part of the worship service and have the opportunity to mark hymns and scripture lessons.

The Lord is “Bound to be Found” in the Bookworm

You are invited to use the Bookworm, a family lending library located outside of the Kindergarten/Pre-School area on the second floor. It is a lending library filled with books and videos for children, youth, and parents.

You are encouraged to sponsor a book for the Bookworm by honoring someone on their birthday, anniversary, or for some special occasion. Forms are available in the Bookworm room.

Our collection of books includes a section on parenting, young reader fiction, and books on learning disabilities. We have books you can use to dialogue with children on topics such as divorce, death, sex, illness, abuse, anxiety, etc. These books are located on higher shelves, out of the reach of young children.

Camp Bee Tree

Each summer, TPC sponsors a day camp at our Bee Tree facility in Parkton, Maryland. It is usually the second week of July. A Design Team will meet to plan a fun and inspiring program for children, who are assisted by youth volunteers. Look for the dates and theme to be publicized soon!

The Church School participates in several missions during the year, including collecting school supplies at the beginning of the year, mittens and socks for our giving tree during Christmas, and the One Great Hour of Sharing Lenten Offering in the spring. Many classes choose their own mission projects. The Senior High youth lead us in the Souper Bowl Offering each January.

All of the youth fellowships participate in mission projects locally and nationally. Some of the projects include working with Light Street Housing Project and Habitat for Humanity. There are many opportunities for young people to earn service hours. Each summer our senior high youth participate in a week-long mission project out of state.

The congregation is invited to join us in planning events and learning opportunities for our children and youth. We do this at our monthly meetings, which are held on the first Wednesday of each month. Please feel free to join us in Thompson Hall at 7:00 p.m. If you have any questions or wish information on any of our programs, you may contact Sue Thompson, Director of Christian Education, at TPC at 410-823-6500 or Lorene LaBerge, Chair of the Christian Education Ministries Team for Children/Youth.

Children and youth are encouraged to feel that their gifts of service, talent, and money are important in the work of Christ’s church. All children are provided with their own set of offering envelopes to use throughout the year. These envelopes will be given out on the first day of fall church school and will be available during the school year in the Church School Office. There is a special Treasure Chest in the second floor hallway for children, Ages 3 through middle school. Children should place their offering in the Treasure Chest each week. Various students are selected to bring the church school offering forward during worship with the worship service offering. Many other opportunities to share talents and do service projects are offered throughout the church year.

Last updated 2/3/06 wpk