Changes for Fall

Hey Parents,

I wanted to give you a vision of the fall Sunday School program (or what we will attempt to do with the program) starting this Sunday.  Read below also for the ways you might be able to help...

First, thank you so much to Lydia and Heather (and Matt) who were amazing teachers this summer completing units on Psalm 23 and the Creation Story.  I really appreciated the creativity you put into your lessons and I know those will be special stories for Anna (and the other kids) for many years.

Second, the toddlers (the 2 year olds and and nearly such) will be staying in the service for the music time and being dismissed with the older kids for sunday school.  In the beginning, if parents can help by bringing their toddler over to the office along with the rest of us on the rope, it will help us get used to the number of kids we're escorting to the office.  There are a few teachers (Ashley, Alyssa, Janet, I believe) who will be leading the toddlers on a regular basis along with an assistant.  They'll be reading a bible story, listening to music, snacks, and doing some age appropriate craftiness, as well as playing with toys.  This leaves the nursery open for the infants who will soon be joining in the fun.

Joey will be leading the older kids in the fall.  I know he has great things planned, but I'll let him expound on that.

Finally, in preschool, instead of covering the entire old testament, our 3-5 years olds will be hearing the story of the Exodus.  From Joseph to Joshua, the will be learning the story of God's great rescue plan for his people Israel.  They'll get to know the individuals God rescued so they could lead his people to their home.  This story will take us all the way to Advent where we'll hear the story of God's rescue plan for all people.

We'll be using a portion of the Godly Play/Children in Worship structure, but not the program in its entirety.  The main change from your perspective might be what your kids take home.  The Children in Worship structure allows the kids to choose their method of response to the story.  It might be art, but it could be playdough, sidewalk chalk, dress up, or books. We'll have some similar crafts to the previous lessons for the kids to choose, but they might not choose it every week.

Here is the structure with which we are starting and I'll change it as we go based on what is working and what isn't:

Come into the office, have kids put coats and shoes outside room

Come into room and have each child sit on a carpet square

Welcome to Worship (to each child as they sit down)

-We are in a special place because God is here
-This is our special place to be with God, we can talk to God, we can listen to God, we can hear stories of God

Teach them: The Lord Be With You (and Also With You)

Songs of Praise:
1-2 songs
Be still and know that I am God

Go get the story box for story

Tell the story simply and with motions

I wonder questions (trying to get at the rescue idea)

Let's have our Thanksgiving Feast (at the table)

Everyone gets snack (bring some healthy stuff from home and water cups)
-This is our time of thanksgiving: our feast and our thanks 
-What are we thankful to God for this week?

Read (a part) of the story once more from the Bible

Response time: Everyone can pick a way to tell the story
-Art supplies
-Playdough
-Dress up
-Tactile
-Books

Parents, if you are able to bring a healthy snack (apple slices, cheese sticks, etc) on a Sunday morning, would you text or email me by Saturday evening?

Looking forward to a fun fall with the kids!

Laura