SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN

Each year church school begins the Sunday after Labor Day and runs until the second Sunday in June. Children gather in the church and then proceed to their classes after the children's message. We are very excited about our new curriculum, Living the Good News. Like our past curriculum, Seasons of the Spirit, it follows the common lectionary cycle.

We are grateful to have an amazing group of dedicated teachers. Over forty men and women will dedicate their time and energy to this important task. Some are veterans, others are brand new, and all are committed to nourishing the spiritual life of children. However, we are still in need of teachers for a few grades. Please consider teaching as a way of contributing to the life of our church. Teacher Training Seminars are held each September and throughout the year. Please email Emily Sullivan (ce@ryepc.com) if you have any questions or are interested in teaching.

Our goal is to provide our young people with a warm, welcoming environment where their spirituality is taken seriously. Children are encouraged to explore their faith and deepen their understanding of the scriptures and God's presence in the world.

A Typical Sunday

On most Sundays, children stay in the 10:00 service through the children's message and then are invited to their classrooms. Children ages threes through eighth grade meet for approximately forty minutes. At this time, teachers and children meet to explore the daily lesson through discussion, art and activities. The curriculum we use is called Living the Good News. This interactive program uses vibrant art, music and drama to help children understand the meaning of the lesson in their daily life. We have over fifty volunteer teachers who teach on a rotating basis. If teaching is an area of church life to which you feel called, we would love you to join us - now or in the coming year.

Children's Chapel

Once a month, children in grades kindergarten through sixth are invited to a Children's Chapel service. We celebrate special days in the church school year such as All Saint's Day, a visit from St. Nicholas and more. The service features songs and music as well as prayers and birthday blessings.

Singing Our Faith

This program brings music to all of the children and youth involved in the Sunday School. Once a month, Lisa Rawson, the Director of Choirs for Children and Youth gathers the Sunday School classes into age appropriate clusters, from preschoolers to middle-schoolers, to sing music that appeals to their age groups. The program familiarizes the children with our service music and some of our well loved hymns and Bible stories. It also uses song to convey an understanding of theology and Christian identity. This program helps our children internalize the fundamentals of a Christian life by learning their faith through song.

Enrichment Sundays

Four times a year, we gather for Enrichment Sundays. These days typically fall on holiday weekends when attendance is often lighter. The focus of these Sundays is on community service and world mission awareness. In the past, we have written letters and collected books for hurricane victims, made snack packs for after school programs and craft kits for hospitalized children. Other special events include our spectacular Christmas Pageant and fall and spring picnics.

Childcare

For infants and toddlers, we offer professionally staffed childcare. Young children play in a well-supervised, spacious room filled with toys and age-appropriate activities.

For more information:

If you have any questions about our church school or would like to know more, please call our Christian Education office at 967-0842 x17 or email us at ce@ryepc.com . Many thanks and welcome! Emily Sullivan and Yvonne Zuk.