Church School

Church School at SUMC

The mission of our church school is to aid parents and the congregation in the Christian nurture of their children in accordance with their baptismal and membership vows. It is the duty of all of us (teachers and the congregation at large) to “provide training for the children of the church throughout their childhood that will lead to a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, to an understanding of the Christian faith, and to an appreciation of the privileges and obligations of church membership.

2011 - 2012 Church School Calendar & Rotation Schedule

SUMC offers Sunday morning (10:30 a.m.) church school classes for preschoolers through seventh graders. Eighth and ninth graders are invited to attend Sunday evening confirmation classes. Nursery care is provided for infants through age 3 at both the 9:00 and 10:30 services. Our preschool children use the Cokesbury curriculum, Rock Solid: Building a Heart of Faith. The colorfully illustrated storybooks included with each lesson introduce the youngest church schoolers to traditional Bible stories. During their church school hour each week, the preschoolers are invited to participate in games, crafts, and songs as they learn about God’s love for them. Fall '10 themes include Judges and Kings and a United Kingdom. The preschoolers also have a weekly music lesson with the church's Children's Music Director.

The children in kindergarten through grade 5 participate each week in a dynamic multi-intelligence rotational model of learning. This model provides children opportunities to know God and understand God’s Word through varied learning experiences. One major Bible story or theme is taught for a five-week period (a “rotation”) in a variety of kid-friendly workshops, such as art, drama, music, games, storytelling, science, and cooking. The children attend a different workshop each week that reinforces the Bible concept under study.

Our junior youth class consists of 6th and 7th and 8th graders. The class leaders engage the children in in-depth studies of Bible stories they may (or may not) be familiar with, providing greater insight and perspective into the Bible’s “big picture.”

Confirmation is a ten-month commitment that involves attendance at worship, community service, and participation in the Confirmation class. The confirmands are encouraged to participate in one of the services each Sunday morning, either as acolytes, readers, or simply as part of the congregation. Our confirmation class is for 8th and 9th graders, and it meets every other year. The next confirmation class will be 2011-2012.

Junior and Senior MYF groups meet most Sunday evenings of the school year. You can access the Youth Fellowship page by clicking here.

For questions about our church school program, or to inquire about volunteer opportunities throughout the year, please contact Debbie Beckius, church school coordinator at debbie@simsburyumc.org