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Church School
Pre-School PDF Print Email

St. James' Episcopal Church Sunday School for Pre School provides 3 and 4 year old children their first exposure to the Bible within the Sunday school setting. Each Sunday, the children hear a simple Bible story with opportunity for discussion about what they heard. The story is then tied into a class project, reinforcing what they have learned. The projects range from simple collages, to planting seeds, to baking pretzels – all geared toward this age group’s level of interest and ability. Once this class is completed, the children will be ready for Kindergarten Workshop Rotation where they will continue to build upon the foundation laid for them during Pre School.

Preschool Calendar

March 14 - The Lost Coin Parable

March 21 - The Good Samaritan Parable

March 28 - Palm Sunday - Symbols of the Church

April 4 - Easter - No class

April 11 - The Resurrection

April 18 - Parables of the Kingdom

April 25 - Sermon on the Mount

May 2 - Birth of Issac

May 9 - Prayer booklets

May 16 - A bright light

May 23 - Pentecost - Fire and WInd

May 30 - End of the year celebration

June 6 - Youth Sunday - Everyone in church

 
Workshop Rotation - Grades K-5 PDF Print Email

To proclaim the Gospel to children in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade in a warm, welcoming, creative environment so that they may experience Biblical truths, faith stories, and traditions in ways that will empower them to respond to God's love in order to live and share with others the Love of Christ. To appreciate children's abilities and readiness to represent Christ and his church, to bear witness to him wherever they may be, and according to gifts given them, to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world, and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the church. (Ministry of the Laity- pg. 855 BCP)
Catch the Faith is the name of our Church School program for children in Kindergarten through fifth grade. At St. James', the children hear and experience the Biblical stories and our faith traditions in wonderfully creative learning environments that include the Temple Room, the Sea of Galilee Art Room, and the Bedouin Camp.
Using the workshop rotation model of teaching and the theory of multi-intelligences, a selected Biblical story is told over a period of four to five weeks as the children rotate through "workshops" such as art, games, drama, movement, music, cooking, video, and science. By returning to the story over several weeks and providing experiences for the children to process information, seeds of faith are grown. The goal of transformation, not just the relaying of information and facts is accomplished by providing a place where encounters with God are made possible and where experiences with God can be felt.

 

K-5 Workshop Rotation Calendar
 
March 7 – March 21      Crucifixion & Resurrection
               
                Mary and Martha’s Bed and Breakfast - The children will hear from Joanna, who will share how the blood of Christ forged a new covenant between God and humankind. Individual banners will be created.
            Bible Improv - Students will discover the differences between the Old and New Covenants. They will create a variety of ads to publicize the “new and improved” version of the Covenant.
            Created by the Spirit - Paper embedded with seeds will be made by the students as a reminder of Jesus’ death and resurrection, Old and New Covenants, and how they are each a seedling that God nurtures into his/her full potential.
 
March 28 Palm Sunday
Celebration - Through the creation of different “musical” and movement activities, children will come to a deeper understanding of the development of God’s covenant with Israel and the establishment of the New Covenant through Jesus.
 
April 4 – EasterNo Classes
 
April 11 – April 25      Parables
 
            Puppetry - A Bunraku puppetry show, where children stand behind and move life sized puppets, will be performed to tell the story of the Good Samaritan.
            Where in the World is? - Students will examine the history of the difficult relationship between the Jews and the Samaritans at the time of Jesus. They will make connections to those who are “invisible” in today’s society and how we, as Christians, should respond.
            Eat your way thru the Bible - The students become servants of the Prodigal son’s family, preparing the feast. As they cook or bake, they will be encouraged to voice the opinions of the various family members about the event.
 
May 2 - Parables Celebration
 
May 9 – May 23        Early Church
 
            Video Live - Students will look at a car engine to discover how all of the parts work together to make the car run. They will read scripture to discover how all the people of a church work together to make the church run. They will make a video of the scripture using the car engine as an analogy.
            Mary and Martha’s Bed and Breakfast - Priscella, a tentmaker who was also a friend of Paul, will visit the children. She will share her experiences of founding and nurturing the church in Cornith. Students will make a leather craft to connect tent making o the body of Christ.
            Puppetry - The children will explore how the human body works as an analogy to Paul’s reference to the Body of Christ. A puppet show will be performed to portray this scripture.
 
May 30 – End of the Year Celebration
June 6 – Youth Sunday – Everyone is in Church
 
Youth - Grades 6-12 PDF Print Email

At St. James,’ we utilize a modified Rite 13 and Journey to Adulthood (J2A) curriculum that is both dynamic and current in terms of meeting the spiritual needs of today’s teens.  We strive to deliver a comprehensive formation program that targets four specific components of every Christian teen’s life; aspects of self, spirituality, society, and sexuality.  Both our Rite 13 (grades 6-8) and our J2A (grades 9-12) programs utilize both DVD and internet technology to study and discuss age appropriate issues that affect today’s Christian teenagers.  We also utilize “Ten Minute Moments,” a youth targeted Bible study program, that encourages young people to engage in specific Bible passages that are meant to be thought provoking, and again, meaningful to today’s teens.
Because flexibility and variety are key in working with teens, we’ve modified our curriculum to include teambuilding activities, the integration of service projects, and regularly scheduled Eucharistic liturgies where our teens serve as lay ministers.  At St. James,’ we believe that youth Christian formation and education includes study, fun, service, and worship – four components that round out our youth programs and place learning into action!


St. James’ Rite 13 & J2A Youth Calendar:  Winter/Spring 2010

January

3rd: (Lesson Day) Rev. Paul will be in the Loft with both Rite 13 & J2A groups to discuss service projects
10th: (Create and discuss the “Talking Stick”) “Church Street Eats” ministry is also scheduled for today
17th: (Fellowship/Teambuilding/Service Day) “Guided Meditation”
24th: Discussion of “The Twelve Steps;” Addiction to Recovery; special guest speaker today.
31st: (In Church Day) This is also “Recovery Sunday” (Rite 13 & J2A youth participate as lectors, intercessors, acolytes, etc)

February

7th: (Lesson Day) Engaging “Tai Chi” as a spiritual and meditative practice. Instructed class in the Parish Hall; 10:00AM.
14th: (Lesson Day)  "World Mission Day" Making plans to meet with friends at L'Eglise de L'Epiphanie on March 6.

19th: FRIDAY, Youth Winter Vacation Event, 1:00-4:00PM; Making natural maple sugar candy @ The O'Keefe's ranch!
21st: (Fellowship/Teambuilding/Service Day) .
28th: (In Church Day) Bishop Laura Ahren visits St. James’ to meet and greet everyone! (Rite 13 & J2A youth participate as lectors, intercessors, acolytes, etc)

March

6th: (SATURDAY) RITE 13 & J2A YOUTH TRAVEL TO STAMFORD TO VISIT YOUTH OF L'EGLISE DE L'EPIPHANIE; 4:00-7:00PM
7th: (Lesson Day)
14th: (Lesson Day) “Church Street Eats” ministry is also scheduled for this day....AND see below:
14th: Interfaith Youth Day at Muslim Mosque in Berlin, CT. 1:00-3:00PM
21st: (Fellowship/Teambuilding/Service Day)
28th: (In Church Day) This is PALM SUNDAY. (Rite 13 & J2A youth participate as lectors, intercessors, acolytes, etc)

April

4th: Easter Sunday – No church school
11th: (Lesson Day) Hope Johnson facilitates discussion with both Rite 13 & J2A youth on her recent trip to Africa
18th: (Fellowship/Teambuilding/Service Day) OUTDOOR SERVICE PROJECT DAY; TOWN OF GLASTONBURY
25th: (In Church Day) (Rite 13 & J2A youth participate as lectors, intercessors, acolytes, etc)

May

2nd: (Lesson Day)
9th: (Lesson Day)
16th: (Fellowship/Teambuilding/Service Day) OUTDOOR SERVICE PROJECT DAY; TOWN OF GLASTONBURY
23rd: (In Church Day) (Rite 13 & J2A youth participate as lectors, intercessors, acolytes, etc)
30th: (Planning for Youth Sunday) MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

June

6th: (Youth Sunday) Church School Concludes

 

Upcoming Events

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Contact Information

St. James' Episcopal Church
2584 Main Street
PO Box 206
Glastonbury, CT 06033-0206

phone:  860-633-8333