Sunday School
The Sunday School at St. John is an important part of our educational program, and an important part of our ministry to our young people. Currently the Sunday School meets through the fall and the spring, with a few breaks during major festivals or other special Sundays.
This year, we are trying something new with Sunday School. Rather than purchasing expensive, and often disappointing resources, the Sunday school teachers have decided to give the students what they really need for Sunday school - well prepared teachers who understand the scripture assigned for the day, who are able to teach the scripture stories as well as the lessons and a box of crayons. Well, probably more than just a box of crayons, but a simple craft project that goes along with the lesson assigned for the day. ALSO, the teachers have decided to do away with Sunday school classes and have instead decided that they would like to experiment with a single large group of students of all ages. It is a big change this year and will require a bigger commitment on the part of the teachers, but it is being met with enthusiasm and excitement.
Teachers in Sunday school teach roughly one out of every three months and report enjoying their time with the children. Confirmation students have also served as Sunday school teachers with much success.
Sunday School runs September - May, and begins after worship on Sunday morning. Worship is usually about an hour long, but sometimes Pastor Andersen gets a late start, prattles on too long in his sermon, or has too many announcements, and worship goes long as a result - so there is no hard and fast rule about what time Sunday School starts. Children are ALWAYS welcome in worship; in fact we think they are an integral part of the worshiping community. We do not view Sunday school as babysitting during worship, but as another dimension to the children's developing spiritual lives.
If you would like more information, please feel encouraged to contact Pastor Andersen.