Sunday School Welcome Letter and Registration Form

Welcome to Sunday school at St. James’. For the 2012-2013 school year our schedule has changed.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION HOUR: 9:15

WORSHIP FOR ALL AGES: 10:30

Sunday School is now at 9:15. Our new session is called J.A.M. (Jesus and Me) and B.L.A.S.T. (Bible Lesson Activities, Story telling). All ages infant – high school will meet in the undercroft (bottom floor of church building) and then participate in multi-age groupings with developmentally appropriate activities.

Our schedule at 9:15: J.A.M. and B.L.A.S.T.

Prek-elementary students will be using the Godly Play curriculum. This is a program with a Montessori approach. Children are learning about the bible stories and our church through hands on activities that are guided by their independent creativity. There will be story telling with various visual materials that will make the stories come alive. They will have art centers, games and arts and crafts. This year we have included a music component, at 10:00 all students (4-5^th grade) will be going to Children’s Choir so everyone can become familiar with the various venues of church hymns, including contemporary and traditional. The choir will sing at the 10:30 worship service several times throughout the year. This program will be in the choir room in the Parish hall and then dismissal for this age group will be in the parish hall at 10:20.

Middle School- high school students: These students will have opportunities to volunteer with the elementary activities, as well as have their own sessions to participate in. They will meet in the youth room with a fellowship time (time to get to know their peers), a club each month: drama, learning about the church and it’s history, what is an Episcopalian, Music (having guest musicians, reviewing music lyrics of contemporary bands), and then having a game time to review different events in the bible. There will be service projects offered and the students will generate some projects that they are interested in.

Nursery Program: Infants -3 year olds are welcome to come and play. This program runs from 9:00 to 12:00. Parents come and drop off and pick up for this program. The three year olds will have a designated teacher to play with them at 9:15 and then the teacher will take them to the storytelling and activities with the other children and when done they will return with their teacher to the nursery room.

WORSHIP FOR ALL AGES: 10:30

10:20…..1^st– 3^rdgraders : Go to the meeting room in the St. James’ children school ( located on the first floor of the parish hall) to participate in a children’s worship service. The service format is from the morning prayer book with children’s involvement in reading the gospel, writing prayers of the people, activities to help understand the gospels message and participating in preparing and taking communion. This program is led by one of our minsters each Sunday.

3½ , 4, 5 year olds will begin in the undercroft in Childrens Chapel. Here they will participate in singing, listening to a bible story and saying the lord’s prayer and an opening prayer. Then after the 30 minute service they will join a teacher for games, arts and snack before returning to the adult service for communion with their families.

4^thgrade and up: worship with families at the adult service in the church.