Christian Education
Christian Education News
Updated 1-11-2012
Christian Education had a busy Fall! We supported three mission projects! We collected money to fund the “Save the Shared Table” mission. We rewarded our efforts with an ice cream party! Each class put together a shoebox to donate to the Christmas Child ministry. Our third mission project was to support the MOTT teams mission by making ornaments shaped as scarfs, hats, socks, and gloves to hang on the Christmas tree in the vestibule. These are the items that we asked the congregation to purchase. They will be included in the backpacks that MOTT purchased and takes to the men at Old First by C.R.E.W. when they participate in the Urban Cupboard ministry in January 2012.
We started the 2011-2012 Sunday School year exploring the Fruits of the Spirit. The Jr. and Sr. High class decorated the bulletin board with information about the Shared Table Ministry and how we were supporting it. The Primary class took over the bulletin board with an beautiful Advent theme. Our classes participated in the White Gift service by either reading a poem, being a liturgist, or performing in the play, which served as the sermon. Everyone involved did an excellent job!
Sunday School
Classes for all ages – Sunday mornings at 9:00 am, September thru June
Christian Education at St. Andrew’s is for all current and prospective members of St. Andrew’s Church and the extended community who wish to know God, His works, and His love.
The teaching staff (as part of Christian Education) is an educational team that uses curriculum consisting of Bibles, age appropriate weekly lessons, visual aids, and CDs to nurture spiritual growth and foster faith in all God’s children.
We also offer an adult Sunday School class, which is lectionary based, and an Adult Forum class. The children’s classes are broken down by grade levels starting with the nursery, pre-K/K, 1st and 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 5th and 6th, Jr. High, and finally Sr. High. Our year starts in September with Rally Day and runs through until June. There are no Sunday School classes in the summer. The first Sunday of every month, all the Sunday School classes meet in Fellowship Hall for a ten minute opening together.
Saint Andrew’s School of Disciples
- Invites all people to spiritual growth in the context of community
- Encourages each person to explore God’s deeper purposes for their lives, and prepares them to respond in dedicated, meaningful ways
- Nurtures and develops biblical understanding through serious, exciting, substantive scriptural study. We seek to open opportunities for discernment, sharing and empowerment, enabling people to experience the incredible liberating power of God’s Living Work.
- Seeks to “equip the saints” for the ministry of Jesus Christ in the world today
- Works to develop a large network of relationships and an expanded experience of “church”
Our Current Studies
Foundations of Faith
Confirmation Class
Our four Confirmands are in the final weeks of this year’s Confirmation experience. During the season of Lent they worked through the “Lenten Journey” curriculum with their Mentors. Their Confirmation Retreat will be a time of reflection and preparation. They are also preparing Confirmation Projects that will give particular expression to the shape and substance of their faith.
Please take time to visit the Confirmation Class blog.
Rite of Confirmation will be celebrated on Pentecost, Sunday, June 12.
Vacation Bible School
Every summer at St. Andrew’s, our church is transformed as we participate in our annual VBS program. A different theme is picked each year and our children learn about God’s love and how to live like Jesus through various means such as skits, Bible stories, crafts, games, and songs.
We have an abundance of talent at St. Andrew’s which becomes apparent during VBS week each year through our volunteers. We end the week with a closing program that takes place during the worship service. Young and old alike look forward to this week. The energy and excitement are felt throughout the church. Everyone has a wonderful time!
This year’s Vacation Bible School was July 11 – 15. Our theme was “Hometown Nazareth – Where Jesus Was a Kid”. Everyone got to explore firsthand the culture of Nazareth when Jesus was a kid. They experienced God’s word coming alive as families enjoyed traditional Bible-times customs, occupations, food and even games! Each day, kids learned a Bible verse, heard a story, visited with Mary, and enjoyed time in the marketplace.
