Sunday School Welcome Letter and Registration Form

Welcome to the new year at St. James’ Episcopal church. Our approach to Sunday School and Adult Education has changed, with some new teachers, new families, and a new time. Beginning September 18, 2011, we will have Christian Education time for all ages after the completion of the 9:15 Family service. The classes will begin at 10:15 and run until 11:00. An Adult Forum will continue to be offered at 9:15.

The nursery will be available for infants to two-year-olds.

Classes for the children will range from a class for two-and-one-half to three-year-olds up to a class for the middle school grades. Our curriculum is "Living the Good News", which follows the Gospel lessons each week for grades kindergarten to middle school. Our pre-school group (twos and threes) will be learning about creation, holidays and simple familiar Bible stories such as Noah. These classes are located in the undercroft and classes will be marked for each age group. All students with the exception of the nursery class will be walked over to the parish hall for dismissal to their parents at 11:00.

Children’s Church: Children ages 3/4/5 are invited to participate in the children’s chapel service in the undercroft at 9:15. The children will have their service and then join their families at communion. This service will run simultaneously with the 9:15 service.

Sunday School classes: Our classes have a teacher and a volunteer and in general have from 8 to 15 children depending on the age groups. Classes are grouped as follows: 4/5 year olds (kindergarten group), 1st grade, 2nd/3rd grades, 4th/5th grades, and the middle school group. Classes have a snack, games and crafts to go with the daily Gospel lesson. Each student is encouraged to bring a food offering each week to give to our food bank collection. Students also have an opportunity to bring their own monetary offering that is collected each week. During the course of the year the students participate in projects such as Heiffer project, stewardship, Earth Day, and making cards for holidays and get-well cards for those on the prayer list.

Nursery: The nursery will be open from 9:00 am to 12:15 pm, and is available for infants and children younger than 3 years. Please note during the Christian education hour, the two-and-one-half to three-year-old children have their own class. During the services these children can go to the nursery room during the service. Iran is our teacher in this class and has been with us for many years.

Middle and high school youth also receive christian education through the St. James' Youth Group. During the school year, the group meets most Sundays from 6-8 p.m. in the parish hall. Program activities include dinner, fellowship, games, and discussions on life's tough questions and how God helps us. Members of the group do not have to be members of the church. The youth also have special activities including ski trips and mission trips. For more information, see the youth web site at http://stjamespotomac.org/youth/.

We are offering a high school class during Building Connections, the 45-minute education time at 10:05 on Sunday mornings. This class follows the lectionary (schedule of readings) and meets in the rector’s office. Don Mullins leads the class with the help of Katie Judge.

Confirmation: Students in eighth grade and above are invited to attend the pre-confirmation class. This class starts in February and ends with confirmation at the Washington National Cathedral in May. Students will receive information in January for class times and location of the classroom and the teacher. Please note all students participating in this class need to be baptized in order to be confirmed.

Parent Volunteers: Each classroom will have a volunteer sheet for parents to sign. This year we are looking for full participation by all parents. Please check you calendars and plan to sign up on the first day of Sunday School. There will also be a sign-up sheet for other opportunities to volunteer throughout the year in the undercroft. We are in need of substitute teachers, helpers with Kingdom Kids programs, Christmas pageant volunteers and people who will take home projects to prepare for the classrooms (includes cutting out templates, addressing envelopes, sewing costumes, etc.).

Registration forms are on the website and we encourage all new families to fill them out and drop them off at church so you can be added to our mailing list and hear about special events that occur through out the year.

See more photos of Sunday School.

The Adult Forum will continue to meet on Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:00 a.m. in the parish hall. Topics concerning contemporary Christian issues are presented by parishioners and outside speakers.

Adult Bible Study occurs on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m., when the rector takes a study class through one book of the Bible at a time; on Wednesday mornings from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m., when the Men's Breakfast Group eats and studies to begin the day; and on Thursday mornings at 10:00 a.m., when the Women's Bible Study Group looks at either individual books of the Bible or other books on Christian living.

For more information on Christian Education at St. James' call Debbie Hokanson about children's programs; Don Mullins about youth programs; or the church office at 301-762-8040 about adult programs.