Christian Education

Dear Church family, 

Welcome to the 2007-2008 year of Sunday School and youth   ministry. I look forward to the many fun Christian education programs in which we will all share our faith and make new friends.  It's exciting to be together in community, praising God with songs, learning in creative ways about Jesus, and being filled with the Spirit of joy as we care about others. 

We hope you will find this information helpful and join us for these educational opportunities at First Church in Windsor. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you would like to volunteer!

 Many blessings,   

 Priscilla Ford  pford@jford.org

Our Mission

To nurture the spiritual growth of our children by inspiring in them a love of God and a commitment to the teachings of Jesus. We strive to provide a loving and safe environment in which children can grow in their faith with the active support of parents, teachers, and all members of our congregation. Through the study of the Bible lessons and activities, the Church School teaches its children to embrace the diversity of God's world in service to others.

The Church School year begins on September 9th. The children and their families will be welcomed in Nelson Hall from 9:00 to 9:45 for registration and an opportunity to meet our teachers. The Board of Christian Education will serve a light breakfast. We will proceed to our classes in the Meetinghouse for the beginning of worship.  At the second hymn we will return to Nelson Hall with our teachers. 

Some of our children attended Vacation Bible School this summer and learned new music that was written by our talented choir master, Mark Watkins. We’d like to share some of the songs we learned during coffee hour and “chuck wagon” brunch—hot dogs and beans! We have some pictures to share from our summer adventures—ASP, White Water Rafting and VBS.

Church School classes run concurrently with the 10:00 a.m. service. The children begin worship in the Meetinghouse with their families and leave with their teachers after the second hymn for their assigned classrooms in The Parish House. The 3rd through 6th grade participate in a rotating class schedule which includes; scripture, art, music, computers programs and possibly cooking. The first Sunday of the month we watch a video clip which relates to the topic we will study for the next three weeks.

A special Chapel Service is held on the First Sunday of each month, Children come directly to Nelson Hall for their own Worship Service, which begins at 10:00 a.m. After the service the children go to their classes with their teachers. There are no Sunday School Classes on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, On January 8th we all celebrate the feast of Epiphany in the Meetinghouse and go with our teachers to Sunday School after the second hymn.

Over the summer months, Sunday school classes continue as multi-age Explorer Groups. Worship begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Meetinghouse. The children then leave with their leaders after the second hymn and go to the Youth Room for their class.

Child care is provided for toddlers and young children in the 3’s and 4’s room of the Learning Center which is in the lower level of the Parish House.

How Things Are Organized

 The First Church in Windsor welcomes everyone in its programs and activities. We strive to provide appropriate and meaningful ways to learn and grow within the larger community of faith and to embrace the diversity of God’s world.

Childcare is provided for very young children in the lower lever of the Parish House. 

Infant care is provided in June’s Room, located behind the 2nd grade class in the First Church Early Learning Center on the lower level of the Parish House.

Toddlers and 2 year olds (under two and walking) enjoy stories, songs, free play, and a snack.  The Three and Four-year old curriculum includes age-appropriate stories, puppets, music, crafts and games. The children meet in the large nursery  school room on the lower level of the   Parish  House and arrive before worship begins at 10:00. The children are members of the Cherub Choir which is led by Jennifer Osowiecki. 

Elementary School children  (kindergarten through 6th), learning usually begins with Sunday worship in our Meetinghouse. The children are invited to attend the first part of our family worship at 10:00 a.m. before leaving for their classes. Our Ministers share a special message for the young people; during the second hymn the children leave the Meetinghouse and walk with their teachers to classrooms in the Parish House. 

Seventh and Eighth graders meet for class and discussion in the Youth Room which is on the lower level of the Meetinghouse.

Ninth graders belong to our Confirmation Class which meets with the Associate minister to explore issues of life and faith.

Our Senior High students participate fully in the life of the church. They are encouraged to serve as Youth Deacons and teaching assistants. There are several fellowship activities that are planned throughout the year and offer many opportunities for service. Over the years many of our students have participated in the Appalachia Service Project, served shelter meals and volunteered to help with Vacation Bible School.

Graduating seniors are urged to apply for the Pearl Tiffany Scholarship and other college financial assistance offered through the church. Scholarship grans are based largely on the applicant's participation in the life of the church and any perceived need.

How We Teach

Our teachers are from our community. They are loving, dedicated adults and teenagers, who find ministering to our children exciting and rewarding. While some teachers remain in place for an entire year, others sign on for only one term of our two-semester year. All teachers and youth workers must be members of First Church and provide personnel references regarding their work with children and youth. Our Associate Minister and Priscilla Ford, the Director of Children’s Ministry, provide teacher orientation and training. The director supplies whatever help and materials necessary for class operation to support the mission of the Church School. In turn, the director reports to a 9-member Board of Christian Education, acting in with the minister’s are responsible for the educational church’s programs. p class="MsoNormal">

Throughout the educational process, every effort is made to be a warm, welcoming and safe community for all children. We believe that our entire congregation is a vital part of our teaching ministry as children experience, through worship, classes, service and sharing, the life and fellowship of their church. Together we live out the covenant we make each time a family brings a child to the congregation for baptism.  In the pre-school and kindergarten through second grade we use materials from Augsburg press called “Witness." The lessons are presented in colorful “take home” form.  They cover familiar Bible stories from the Hebrew and New Testament and make a connection to a child’s every day experiences. All of the children will join together for worship at Children’s Chapel on the first Sunday of the month at 10:00 AM in Nelson Hall. 

This year we will be using materials from “The Witness”/Augsbery” Fortress Press. This curriculum provides the teachers with background information and scripture lessons.  There are handouts and age appropriate activities that can be taken home to share with the family each week.

Curriculum for the 3rd, 4th and 5th and 6th grades is based on the Rotation Model. We will have 4 workshops (classes) for each group that use a multi-sensory approach to learning. It includes a Marketplace (Art), a Theater (skits and plays), an Audio-Visual Workshop, and a Scripture Tent (Bible skills and games) and a Computer Workshop. Each “rotation” is a 4-week period during which we will study a particular Bible story. You can check out this format by logging on to the web site of the Rotation Workshops: www.rotation.org. As the children move through the workshops, the activity illustrates the same Bible story in a different way. We usually begin every “Rotation” with a video presentation in Nelson Hall for all of the grades. And then follow the following schedule: In some segments cooking replaces art. For the most part we follow this format:

First Sunday of the month, all classes are in Nelson Hall following Chapel services:

Topic                      2nd Sunday        3rd Sunday        4th Sunday

Scripture/Drama       Grade 3             Grade 5/6           Grade 4

Art/Cooking               Grade 4             Grade 3              Grade 5/6

Computers                Grade 5/6           Grade 4              Grade 3

Seventh and Eighth grade classes use "Seasons of the Spirit".  This is a lectionary-based curriculum that deals with the word and spirit of God, as found in the Hebrew and New Testaments. We strive to make these lessons and our presentation of them both interesting and relevant to current issues the youth face in their daily lives.  

Youth in grades 6th - 8th are part of a group that meets on the First Friday of the month from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. in Nelson Hall. We usually begin with a meal followed by games, fellowship and fun. Additional activities have included Roller Skating, a trip to a Corn Maze, preparation and serving a shelter meal and a baby sitting fund raiser called Mom’s Night Out! The highlight for this year was a white water raft trip in New York State. The youngsters are already making suggestions for next year’s trip! 

The First Church Library, located on the main floor of the Parish House, offers an collection of reading and reference materials, as well as audio and videotapes.. We have added the computers we use for our Rotation Classes to create a media center where Bible software is available to use on site. It is easy to use and fun to have so much information at your fingertips! The library may be opened throughout the week as well as Sunday mornings after church school.

Children and Youth Musical Groups 

 

Cherub Choir (Jennifer Osowiecki, Director)

Who:  Children 3 – 6 years old

What:  Earliest of the graded choirs

 

Genesis Generation  (Mark D. Watkins, Director)