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Last updated: January 31, 2008
Christian Education
Christian Education (CE) includes Adult Education, Youth Education, Junior Church, Confirmation Class, Vacation Bible School, Women’s Bible Study, Youth Groups, a mid-week ministry program called BLAST, and special events for Easter and Christmas. The CE Committee includes: Jennifer Dunfee, Trish Robertson, Matt Brooks, Mary Cullings-Wright, Brenda DeFeo, Bret Fields, Suzanne Howell, Lisbeth Kozy, Rene Law, Kathy Lesser, Hope McCaw, Chris Martin, David Mero, Carol Palmer, Diane Reimers, Nicole Smith, Dale Stanton-Hoyle, Karen Willis, and David Wright. In addition, a nursery service is maintained for infants during the worship services and special occasions, which is supervised by our nursery attendant, Kim Meisl. Our Youth Group Interns were Billy Lesser through May and Rachel Dellinger and Rachel Woodward began service in the fall.
Our Sunday School offers five age-range classes and our recently expanded Junior Church program includes students up through fourth grade. We also offered a mid-week ministry program, BLAST (Bible Learning and Spiritual Teaching). Our CE staff includes:
- Pastor Jennifer Dunfee, Associate Pastor of Youth and Families who was installed in Feb. 2007.
- Bonnie Davis, our Adult Ministries Pastoral Assistant, who prayerfully decided to begin a process of discernment and sabbatical, left our service in the fall.
- Our Seminary Intern, Gayle Schlenker, returned for the second year of her internship and assisted with Adult Sunday School, Women’s Bible Study and Children’s Time during the worship service.
- Our Parish Associate, Lewis Johnson, assisted CE with Adult programs and Children’s Time.
Adult Education this year included:
- Sunday School: was offered between the services at 9:45 a.m. Some of the class topics included:
- A study called “Simply Christian” which was led by Seminary Intern, Gayle Schlenker and Elder Francine Maestri. The class offered group discussion following video presentations by Dr. N.T. Wright, a well-known New Testament scholar and Anglican bishop, making the case that faith is reasonable and rewarding for us today.
- “An Invitation to the Old Testament,” a 10-week mini Disciple that shares the story of God’s calling the people of Israel through the many voices of the Hebrew text was led by Pastor Lynn Stanton-Hoyle and Pastor Lewis Johnson.
- “Serious Answers to Hard Questions” a video and discussion-based class.
- A two-week “Akaloo” course designed to encourage growing in faith and discipleship.
- A Parenting Seminar taught on Sundays and as part of BLAST, led by Mary Cullings-Wright and Jim Wright.
- A Disciple Class entitled “Under the Tree of Life” was offered twice on Tuesdays: in the morning from 9:15-11:15 am led by Pastor Lynn Stanton-Hoyle, Elder Francine Maestri and Deacon Karen Willis and also in the evening from 7:00 to 9:00 led by Pastor Lewis and Elder Mary Cullings-Wright. This 32-week class discussed the promise of finding shelter, security and rest in God’s love through this study of Old Testament Writings, the Gospel of John, the Epistle of John, James and Jude and finally, Revelation.
- Disciple I (Survey of the Bible) and Disciple III (Study of the Old Testament Prophets and Letters of Paul) classes also continued into the fall of 2007 led by Bonnie Davis and by Pastors Lynn and Lewis, Deacon Karen Willis and Elder Mary Cullings-Wright.
Youth Education included:
- Sunday School is conducted from September through June and has 37 children registered. The five classes offered are: Preschool for 3-5 year olds (taught by Rene Law, Kathy Lesser & Suzanne Howell), 1st-2nd grade (Hope McCaw, Chris Martin & Carol Palmer), 3rd-4th (Bret Fields & Lisbeth Kozy), 5th-6th grade (Brenda DeFeo & Nicole Smith), 7th-8th grade (Bill Lesser, Dale Stanton-Hoyle, & David Wright), 9th-12th grade (Associate Pastor Jennifer Dunfee, Matt Brooks, & David Mero). We continued to use the same curriculum strategy: Godly Play for our preschoolers, Cokesbury curriculum, “Exploring Faith,” for 1st-6th grade, and Zondervan, “Talk Sheets,” Akaloo Bible Study Series and other topically based bible studies for 7th-12th graders.
- “How to be a Christian in College” by J. Budizewski was also continued through the summer as a special class for our seniors and other interested high school students to discuss this book. Currently enrolled college students came to talk with this group about their perspectives, experiences, and recommendations. This class was led by Elder Laura Lanier and Associate Pastor Jennifer Dunfee.
Junior Church and JC4ME are held at the 11 a.m. service throughout the year. Our Junior Church program is for current preschool through 4th grade students. Although the church level is flexible, the children are divided based on whether they are a reader (2nd – 4th grade) or non-reader (preschool through 1st grade). The non-readers continued to use the Gospel Light, Movers and Shakers curriculum and Sue Hatcher coordinated this program with many volunteers. The reading group, known as JC4ME, uses the Gospel Light, For KidsTime curriculum and Associate Pastor Jennifer Dunfee coordinated this program level using many volunteers as well. JC4ME does not meet the first Sunday of each month so that the children can participate in our communion worship service.
Vacation Bible School was held July 23-27 from 9-12 p.m. The kids and adults had a fun time with our “Soaring to New Heights with God” theme. Almost 70 children participated in this week of adventure, fun and fellowship. Karen Willis coordinated VBS. We had 30+ volunteers, comprising both of adults and youth. Each day the kids enjoyed homeroom time with their teachers, mission, snack, recreation, Bible story time, and arts/crafts.
Women’s Bible Study is held each week on Tuesday from 9:30-11 A.M. The topics this year included:
- “Simply Christian” led by Seminary Intern, Gayle Schlenker.
- “Above & Beyond: Hearing God’s Call in Jonah and Ruth” also led by our Seminary Intern, Gayle Schlenker.
Youth Groups continued for our 5th – 12 graders. This program helps our children grow in their Christian faith, and develop fun and faithful relationships with other youth in our church. They met from September through June, with some special get-togethers during the summer for fun and service.
- We continued to host middle and high school youth groups. These groups met together and separately. The Middle School youth group, known as Middle School Madness, was led by our Associate Pastor Jennifer Dunfee and Jeanine Wrightson. The Senior High Youth Group, usually met from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. and this group was led by Associate Pastor Jennifer Dunfee with help from parent volunteers: Linda Diseati, Dale Stanton-Hoyle, Joanne Woodward, Rob Bartholomew and others.
- The Club 56 youth group, for the 5th – 6th graders, continued to meet monthly on Sunday afternoons following the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Starting in December, they met on Wednesday night at the BLAST meeting. Associate Pastor Jennifer Dunfee and Faith Angrove served as the adult mentors along with other adult volunteers.
The Middle School Retreat took place the weekend of Nov. 9th – 11th. 5 Middle School students and one high school leader, Sam Hensle and Associate Pastor Jennifer Dunfee attended. The High School Retreat took place the weekend of Dec. 7th – 9th. 7 High School Students, youth ministry intern Rachel Woodward, Rob Bartholomew and Associate Pastor Jennifer Dunfee attended.
BLAST (Bible Learning and Spiritual Teaching), a mid-week ministry program began in January and ran for 10 weeks through March. The opening group included 18 children and 10 adults. This will be an annual winter program for the church. This program is offered on Tuesday nights from 5:15 – 7 p.m.; it includes dinner, intergenerational fellowship, Bible study program, games, crafts, and worship. This ministry offers programs for adults and children ages 4-6th grade. Associate Pastor Jennifer Dunfee coordinates this program with volunteers, and Leslie Peterman led the children in music.
Special events were held for Easter and Christmas. For Easter, the traditional Easter egg hunt for the younger children was held on Saturday, April 7th at 10 a.m. This outreach activity allowed 25+ children to enjoy fellowship, a craft, the Easter story, snack, an egg roll, and Easter egg hunt. The Christmas event was held on Sunday, December 16th at both services. It was a play called “No Ordinary Night.” The play director was Bette Petersen, and the musical director was Ellen Thacher. Twenty-five children participated.
Submitted by
Elder Trish Robertson
Chair, Christian Education Committee