Christian Education at Roxbury Church

The Christian Education programs for children include a church school for those from age 3 through Confirmation in grade 9.

Click here for the Church School Registration form

For Kindergarten through Eighth graders

Fall 2008: We are very excited as we embark on a new method of education. We will be using the "Rotational Model."

Briefly, with the Rotational Model, the same Bible story or theme is taught for several weeks. Each week, learners rotate to a different station. The story remains the same, but children encounter it in different ways in each station. Repetition is an important part of the rotation approach. The more different ways children explore a story or concept, the more it is reinforced in their memories. The variety of experiences keeps interest high throughout the unit. Teachers teach the same lesson, with age-level adjustments, for the length of the rotation. Rotational learning is exciting for students and teachers alike, as teachers teach to their strengths and students experience Bible stories in ways they learn best.

For this year, we will be using a curriculum called:

Dig into the Bible - September 2008

The Main Idea:

The Bible is the inspired Word of God written by people like you, for people like you, and about people like you.

Our Children will explore how through oral tradition, God helped storytellers keep the stories of the Bible alive for hundreds of years before those stories were written down. That God inspired many people to write down the stories and teachings of the Bible. And that God inspires people to read and study the Bible and helps the live faithfully.

The Church School students will learn how to find specific Bible verses in the Bible, begin to learn the names of the books of the Bible, learn that the Bible was written down by many people over hundreds of years and learn that the Bible offers us a guide for daily living.

Stations rotated by grade each week:

Storytelling , Cooking, Arts & Crafts, games

Other Units Planned (not necessarily in order):

Adam and Eve

The 10 Commandments

Journey to Bethlehem

Breakfast on the Beach

Journey to the Cross

For our Seventh and Eighth Graders:

A new program also beginning Fall 2008 called:

:

This curriculum uses a multi-faceted approach to spark the imagination and the energy of this age group. There are a number of themes which are explored using discussion, video and current events.
Themes include:
The Game of Life
Takin' Out the Trash
For Heaven's Sake
Walk Tall
Awesome Powers
Finding You

The committee is busy preparing for the upcoming Sunday School year, including purchasing supplies, recruiting teachers and setting up the education spaces(classrooms).

Don't forget that
classes start on Sunday, September 14.

The church school students worship with their families each Sunday for the first approx. 10 min.,

leaving after the children's sermon.

The last Sunday of the month will have Ask the Minister. A question and answer time.

A nursery program runs during the 10:30 hour with supervision.

Learning Goals
Parents are encouraged to support the church school teachers by working with their children at home

on the following learning goals:

Pre-Kindergarten: Prayers & Graces

Kindergarten / First Grade: The Lord's Prayer
Gloria Patria - The Lord's Prayer

Second Grade / Third Grade: Doxology
Baptism
Psalm 23(King James Version)

Fourth Grade / Fifth Grade: Basic Bible Skills
Know the first five books of the Old and New Testaments
Ten Commandments
Jesus' Commandments

Sixth, Seventh & Eight Grade: Psalm 100(King James Version)
Holy Week
Order of Worship
Sacraments of the Church
Liturgical Seasons

CONFIRMATION PROGRAM ( for Ninth Graders)

Our Congregation uses a program entitled, Making Disciples, written by William Willimon. Making Disciples is a mentor-based confirmation program that pairs confirmands with adult mentors and guides them through a variety of learning experiences that will strengthen the student's understanding of the faith while connecting him or her with the community of believers in a personal way. It can be used as a stand-alone program, or in conjunction with your current curriculum as a special experiential unit.

Willimon used an “apprenticeship” approach to confirmation, pairing adult mentors from the congregation with confirmation students. He produced a series of learning experiences where adult mentors and confirmands are both teachers and learners at the same time. We also have confirmands attend worship with churches of other traditions as well as a Jewish synagogue and an Islamic service to have a broad, rich experience that will last a lifetime. Confirmands also write their own statement of faith. Confirmation is on Pentecost Sunday by tradition.

Elements of the Program
So what exactly is Making Disciples? It is a 13-session confirmation mentoring program Topics explore the basics of Christian faith:
God
Jesus
the Holy Spirit
worship
the Bible
gifts
ministry
baptism
spiritual life
death and resurrection
the Church

Want more information? click here

For Adults:

Faith Through Fiction

A book discussion group that reads one book each month to discuss from a faith perspective.

Please speak to either Rev. Monti-Catania or Joan Temple for information.

Bible Study Series

Prayer Group

Both of these group meet for short blocks of time. Each block focuses around an issue or particular book of the bible.

Speak with either Rev. Peters or Rev. Monti-Catania.

A SAFE CHURCH

We subscribe to generally accepted Safe Church principles and practices. We have developed a Safe Church Policy in our congregation and for use by the programs that we sponsor. All who serve with children and/or youth must have a background check.

Click Here for a copy of the Policy

Click Here for a copy of the Disclosure Form for those who work with children and youth.

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