Children’s Sunday School

Sunday School 2023—24

 

Christian Formation for Children and Youth will follow a new format this year, which will include at-home components you can work on with your child, and Sunday morning classroom experience in which older children will mentor the youngest.

Click on the link found below to access the curriculum and lesson plan.  For each week new material will be posted by Wednesday.  Material will include discussion questions, projects (like coloring a picture), readings.  You should expect to spend one hour a week working on curriculum materials at home, with your child then participating in classroom follow-up from 0915—0945 on Sunday mornings.

We will follow the Catechism found on pp. 845—862 in The Book of Common Prayer, otherwise known as “An Outline of the Faith”.

The emphases in all study will be practical.  What can you do, and how do you do it?  What do you need to know?

  1. How do we experience Christian culture, including the Anglican flavor of the Church Catholic confessed in the Creed?
  2. What customs and traditions facilitate spiritual growth?  How is faith lived outside of Sunday worship?
  3. What do you need to know about worship to participate more effectively?  What’s important in the annual cycle of worship?
  4. What guidance is readily at-hand for important life decisions, and to guide you when your faith is challenged?  What about when you have doubts?
  5. How has the Church formed who we are by teaching what Jesus taught, and how can we experience this teaching?

 

Questions?  Contact Fr. Karl+

St. John’s Episcopal Church

Laurel, Mississippi

Christian Formation 2023—2024 Curriculum

Instruction in the faith—and in the practice of the faith—will follow the catechism, An Outline of the Faith, found on pp. 845—862 in The Book of Common Prayer, using the Q & A format found in the catechism and importing materials for study and projects from other sources.

1.     What will you need?

  1. You will need a home copy of the prayer book. If you don’t already have one, you can obtain one at the parish, or you can search for “bcp online” or click on this link: The Book of Common Prayer(churchpublishing.org)
    1. You will need a bible. Use the translation you are most familiar with. Course materials will use the Revised Standard Version.
    1. You should plan on using a computer or smart phone with your child/children.
    1. Other materials will either be provided or can be improvised (e.g., materials for drawing).
    1. Plan on spending one hour each week in working with your child/children. On Sunday mornings (0915—0945) all grades will meet as a single class, facilitated by parents and with the older children mentoring the younger children.
      1. Sunday morning classes will focus on Q & A follow-up and hands-on projects.

2.    When do we start?

  1. Instructional materials will first be distributed on Sunday, 10 September. Our first Sunday class will meet on 17 September.

3.    What is the schedule?

  1. September:          10                    Organizational class             [2023]

17, 24              Class

b. October1—29Classes meet each Sunday
c.  November5—19Classes meet each Sunday
 26No class (Thanksgiving break)
d. December3—10Classes meet each Sunday
e.  January14Classes resume                     [2024]
 21—28Classes meet each Sunday
f.    February4—25Classes meet each Sunday
g.  March3—10Classes meet each Sunday
 17—24No classes (Spring br. and Palm Sunday)
 31No class (Easter)
h. April7—28Classes meet each Sunday
  1. May                       5—12               Classes meet each Sunday

19                    Sunday School Awards (10 a.m. service)

Materials distributed/posted for all of September on the 10th.

Distributed materials will include those for use in Family Projects.

Unit 1:           Human Nature (prayer book p. 845):               17 September

Family project: Holy Cross Day                        Week of 9/10 The Cross as the sign of salvation.

Family project: St. Matthew the Apostle       Week of 9/17

Matthew’s call: Focusing on God instead of multitasking.

Unit 2:          God the Father (prayer book p. 846):               24 September

Family project: St. Michael and All Angels Week of 9/24

Let’s talk about angels!

Materials distributed/posted for all of October on the 1st.

Distributed materials will include those for use in Family Projects.

Unit 3:          The Old Covenant (prayer book pp. 846—7): 1 October

Family project: St. Francis of Assisi                     Week of 1 October Family prayers for the blessing of pets.

Unit 4:          The Ten Commandments

(prayer book pp. 847—8):                                       8—15 October

Family project: Prophecy                                       Week of 8 October How do we talk about God to other people?

Family project: St. Luke the Evangelist               Week of 15 October How do we take care of people?

Unit 5:          Sin and Redemption

(prayer book pp. 848—9):                                       22 October

Family project: St. Raphael the Archangel          Week of 22 October The archangel Raphael instructs Tobit. Discuss the idea of a guardian angel.

Materials distributed/posted for all of November on 29 October. Distributed materials will include those for use in Family Projects.

Unit 6:God the Son (prayer book pp. 849—50):29 Oct.—5 November
   Family project: All Souls’ Day Family prayers for our departed loved ones.  Week of 29 October
 Family project: St. Martin of Tours How do we recognize Jesus in other people?Week of 5 November
  Unit 7:  The New Covenant (prayer book pp. 850—1):  12 November
   Family project: St. Hilda of Whitby  Week of 12 November
How does not getting our way sometimes advance God’s kingdom?
  Unit 8:  The Creeds (prayer book pp. 53, 326—7; 851—2):    19 Nov. & 3 December
 Family project: ThanksgivingWeek of 19 November
Preparing your own family prayers for Thanksgiving.

Materials distributed/posted for all of December on 26 November.

Distributed materials will include those for use in Family Projects and for Advent Devotions.

10 December: Special Advent Project

Projects/discussions about Advent and Christmas: How do we prepare for the coming of Our Lord?

17 December—7 January: Advent—Christmas—Epiphany Break

Materials distributed/posted for all of January on 7 January.

Distributed materials will include those for use in Family Projects.

Unit 9:The Holy Spirit (prayer book pp. 852—3):14 January
   Family project: The Confession of St. Peter How do we acclaim and proclaim Jesus as Lord?  Week of 14 January
  Unit 10:  The Holy Scriptures (prayer book pp. 853—4):  21—28 January
 Family project: The Conversion of St. Paul When God confronts us.  Week of 21 January

Materials distributed/posted for all of February on 28 January. Distributed materials will include those for use in Family Projects.

Unit 11:The Church (prayer book pp. 854—5):4—11 February
   Family project: The Feast of the Presentation 6 p.m. Holy Eucharist at the parish!  30 January 2024
 Family project: Cornelius the Centurion and The Martyrs of JapanWeek of 4 February

What happens when our faith is perceived by others as threatening?

Family project: Ash Wednesday                                       14 February Attend the Ash Wednesday liturgy!

Because Ash Wednesday (a fast day) falls this year on a date associated with candy, make sure to come to the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on 13 February.

Unit 12:        The Ministry (prayer book pp. 855—6):                        18 February

Family project:                                                                      21 February

Attend the Wednesday night Evening Prayer and simple supper.

Unit 13:        Prayer and Worship (prayer book pp. 856—7):         25 February

Family project:                                                                      28 February

Attend the Wednesday night Evening Prayer and simple supper.

Materials distributed/posted for all of March on 25 February.

Distributed materials will include those for use in Family Projects.

Unit 14:        The Sacraments (prayer book pp. 857—8):                 3—10 March

Family project: Ash Wednesday                                       6 March Attend the Wednesday night Evening Prayer and simple supper.

7—31 March: Spring Break—Holy Week—Easter

Materials distributed/posted for all of April on 24 March (Palm Sunday).

Distributed materials will include those for use in Family Projects.

Unit 15:        The Sacraments/Baptism

(prayer book pp. 858—9):                                                   7 April

Family project: Bl. Dietrich Bonhoeffer                           Week of 7 April When conscience requires saying “no” to external evil.

Unit 16:        The Sacraments/Holy Eucharist

(prayer book pp. 859—860):                                               14—28 April

Family project: St. Alphege of Canterbury                      Week of 14 April How do we value our “self worth”?

An instructed Eucharist will be offered on 28 April.     Save the date!

Materials distributed/posted for all of May on 28 April.

Distributed materials will include those for use in Family Projects.

Unit 17:         The Sacraments: Other Sacramental Rites

(prayer book pp. 860—861 ):                                             5 May

Family project:                                                                      Week of 5 May

Look at the prayer book pages, and talk about life events

(like marriage, burials) and what we believe about God’s participation.

Attend Eve of Ascension Holy Eucharist at 6 p.m.!

Unit 18:        The Christian Hope (prayer book pp. 861—2):          12 May

Family project:                                                                      Week of 12 May

Practice your child’s role in the youth-served Sunday.

Sunday School Awards/Graduation blessings/youth-served Sunday celebration: 19 May (10 a.m. service).