Philosophy
At First Church we believe that education, both religious and
secular, is a vital part of faith. While biblical and theological
grounding is essential, we feel that all learning is done in concert
with events, issues, and concerns of the world around us. And,
while all of us learn, grow, and serve in the world, a basis in
our faith traditions and the Bible can provide a background from
which to make decisions, take positions, and choose to participate
in the society in which we live. We strive to mirror First Church's
commitment to inclusivity, peace, and justice in our Christian
Education programs and curricula.
The
Board of Christian Education relies on a few principles to guide
its work:
·
First, we take seriously the words in our Covenant of Membership
that states "I earnestly seek so far as in me lies here to
find the fellowship of differing but kindred minds." We might
add "and differing but kindred hearts." We believe that
children are not "receptacles" for knowledge but participants
in the learning process with their teachers. We do believe that
it is important to relay information about our faith and traditions,
and to help our children understand the variety of viewpoints
on both religious and secular issues. We do not, however, wish
to tell our children "how" to think or "what"
to believe. We respect the wide diversity that is present in their
own thinking, even at very young ages, and encourage them to respect
the diversity in others around them.
·
Second, we believe that the affective and the cognitive elements
of learning are equally important. We know that children, like
adults, have many different learning styles and that a wide variety
of experiences will benefit a broader range of children over the
course of a program year. We also hope that exposure to different
learning experiences will encourage diversity of thinking and
open new arenas of interest for our children.
·
Third, we believe that the inclusion of our children in the life
of our community is a vitally important part of the education
process. It is not enough to tell them that faith is important,
but then exclude them from some of the most important parts of
that faith.
·
Fourth, the Bible is an essential element in our children's faith
development. Each of the lessons are focused on one or more scripture
passages, and use a variety of learning methods to help the children
experience that scripture.
We
encourage our children to participate in many of our Sunday activities,
like ushering, acolyting, and greeting. We encourage the older
children to participate in the liturgy of the church by being
liturgists during worship. While we know that it is sometimes
difficult for the younger elementary children to sit through worship,
we also believe that much is gained by their exposure to and experience
with our corporate, community worship. The staff work to make
worship services as accessible to children as possible, and there
are always drawing and informational materials with clipboards
for
each child available at the back of the nave.
Curriculum
Based on these principles, First Church provides religious education
for children from three years old through confirmation age. The
curriculum is lectionary based, inclusive, biblically/theologically
grounded, and worship-centered. The Minister of Christian Education
edits and tailors the curriculum for each of the classes, allowing
us to incorporate church-wide events into our learning activities
and enabling us to develop a program well-suited to the particular
activities and convictions of this community.
·
The pre-elementary program (ages 3 through kindergarten) consists
of story, play, art, musical experiences and many other activities.
We hope that our youngest children will begin to know how to live
in community, what their contributions might be, and that they
are welcomed and can also be welcoming members.
·
In the elementary and youth programs, the children and youth have
an opportunity throughout the year to study areas of the Bible,
engage in art work, participate in the life of our church community
both in worship and in fellowship, and explore different religious
traditions. We encourage community building with our children
and youth, and look for ways in which they can participate in
the life of the church while they explore aspects of faith and
tradition.
·
Confirmation is offered for youth beginning in the 8th grade.
At the conclusion of the class, the youth in conversation with
their parents and the group's leaders decide if they wish to become
confirmed.
Teaching
Teams
Our children and youth are taught throughout the year by "teams"
of teachers, who sign up to participate as team members for a
particular church school age-level. Because we believe that learning
happens through many different channels and a wide variety of
experiences, we have tried to vary the approach and the medium
from Sunday to Sunday. We use art, drama, study, and storytelling
among other vehicles for exploring faith and tradition. And participation
with a team of teachers means that no teacher needs to commit
to teaching every Sunday in a row for a period of time (a very
difficult task in our busy world!).
Music
Music is an important element in our education program. Minister
of Music Tom Mustachio works regularly with different ages in
the church school, integrating music into their study and exploration
of faith, scripture, and spirituality.
Church
School Calendar
Our church school begins on the Sunday after Labor Day with an
all-church picnic, and classes begin the following Sunday. Christmas
Sunday and New Year's Day, Palm Sunday and Easter are "church
school vacation days;" and we conclude our formal program
year with a "Church School Sunday" program (led in large
part by the children) on the second or third Sunday of May. The
children also participate in a "flower planting day"
to celebrate the beginning of summer.
