Sunday
School at St. Dunstan's
In
fall, winter, and spring, younger children begin each
Sunday with children’s chapel.
The program begins with singing (often with instruments)
and the lighting of the candles on the altar. Children
say prayers similar to those said in adult worship,
but in children’s language, and give an offering.
They go directly from children’s chapel into
Sunday School classrooms by age group.
During
the fall and winter, we provide Sunday School and youth
Christian education for ages 18 months through high
school. During the summer, we provide Sunday School
for ages 2 through sixth grade.The fall/winter/spring
curriculum is:Toddlers: learn
one word each month, such as church, family and God.
The toddlers do this through stories, play, games and
snack.Younger
children (age 4 and
grades K-1): BibleQuest curriculum, which is based
around Bible stories, supplemented by information
about Episcopal liturgy. The program includes stories,
games, music, crafts and snack. Grades
2 and 3: “Exploring Faith,” a
Bible-story curriculum
that includes a story and crafts, often offered in
a learning station format that enables the child to
choose which craft or experiential station he or she
prefers. Grades
4 and 5: Episcopal Children’s
Curriculum, which includes Bible stories, church history
and liturgy. This class also does outreach once a month
at a nearby home for older adults with impaired memory. Middle
School and Teens: Rite
13 for middle schoolers and a curriculum that focuses
on the Bible, church history and the arts for older
teens. We have introduced the Journey to Adulthood
program for all teens. This is a spiritual formation
program based upon the premise that manhood and womanhood
are gifts of God but adulthood needs to be earned.
Young people transform into Christian adults through
study, fellowship and outreach within their group,
the parish and the community; through mentoring in
chosen ministries by adults in the congregation; through
participating in activities such as pilgrimage; and
through rites and liturgies celebrated in the parish
community.
The summer
program typically
includes Bible storytelling, games, crafts, music
and occasionally movies and scientific experiments
that support the lesson.
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