Welcome!

Whether you have been worshipping here for a short time or for many years, we welcome you and your family to the Sunday school program at Acton Congregational Church.

The Children's Christian Education Committee is committed to teaching the children of our church Christian values and providing a strong spiritual foundation in order for them to begin a lifelong relationship with God. The committee endeavors to provide a comprehensive program of Christian nurture and education by teaching the content of the Bible and how to apply the scriptures to daily living. We endeavor for all teachers and children to be "Growing Christians: knowing and serving God, following Jesus and showing love."

- from the Children's Christian Education Committee's Mission Statement

Sunday School is a valuable component of your child's Christian Education. We know that you and your family face pressures and demands on your time, but our hope is that you will intentionally set aside time on Sunday mornings for church, giving your children the gift of discovering God's word and guiding them towards being compassionate followers of Jesus Christ for the benefit of building God's Kingdom.

Much of what your children will come to know about God and the Christian faith they will learn first and best at home, from you. You are teaching all the time, by your faith, prayers and by your example. Remember that you are not alone; you are part of the Body of Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit – we are all helping each other to grow, in the same direction, closer to God. Thank you for entrusting your children to us on Sunday mornings. I sincerely look forward to getting know them as well as partnering with you, Together we will endeavor to pass the good news of Jesus Christ on to the next generation.

Blessings to you,
Merrill Noble
Coordinator of Children's Christian Education

Children's Chimes - Click here

Sunday School Goals

• To help each child develop a sense of awe and wonder of God.
• To help each child know and accept how much they are loved by God.
• To guide and encourage each child towards a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
• To make each child feel welcome, accepted and loved and to encourage them to do the same with others in their class.
• To foster a sense of belonging to the community of faith.
• To encourage a love of reading God’s word in the Bible.
• To teach familiar Bible stories and help children apply what the Bible says to their daily life.
• To teach the contents of the Bible and how to use it.
• To encourage memorization of Bible verses as a means to empower and equip the children to become more like Christ.
• To encourage character building: love, generosity, honesty and commitment.
• To develop a sense of mission and giving as a loving response to God’s love.
• To partner with families in the Christian nurture of their child at home.

Curriculum 2011 - 2012

Sunday Morning Program and Curriculum

Sunday School is offered during the 8:45 AM service.

Communion Sundays: All grades go directly to their "homeroom" when they arrive at church. Grades 1-6 will transition to The Gathering Place at 9:20 prior to entering the Sanctuary for Communion. The Junior High students also join their families for the Communion Service.

Regular and Workshop Rotation Sundays: All grades go directly to the Sanctuary when they arrive at church. When dismissed for Sunday School:

• Preschool, Kindergarten, Junior High classes go to their Homerooms
• Grades 1-6 go directly to their assigned Workshops
• At 9:40, Grades 1-6 go to the Gathering Place. They are dismissed at 9:55 to Hartman Hall.

Parents of Preschool and Kindergarten children should pick them up outside their classrooms. All other parents are encouraged to enjoy coffee and fellowship in Hartman Hall and to meet their children there.

Preschool – Kindergarten

The Foundations curriculum was written and inspired by a desire to teach the basic principles of the Christian faith. Who is God? What are the Ten Commandments? Why do we go to Church and what do we do there? What is the Bible? What is Prayer and Who is Jesus? A series of Advent lessons will begin teaching the story of Jesus – his birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Through Bible stories, crafts, and interactive activities, children learn about the character of God and His deep, unchanging love for them. We believe this foundation will strengthen their relationship with God, their belief in Jesus Christ and give them the tools they need to begin living the Christian life.

1st Grade – 6th Grade

In the fall of 2010 we adopted the Workshop Rotation Model for Sunday School, using the Cornerstones Curriculum. The curriculum has a six-year scope and sequence, assuring that all the major stories of the Bible are covered and laying a solid foundation for building a mature faith. Each year is sequenced to explore a theme, moving from Old Testament in the fall bridged by Christmas, Jesus' ministry in the winter bridged by Holy Week and the Resurrection and ending the year with Church History. The theme for 2011-12 school year is The Covenant. Some of the stories we will be exploring are Noah's Ark, Abraham, the Ten Commandments, The Good Samaritan, and The Prodigal Son.

With the Workshop Rotation Model, the same Bible story or theme is taught over a series of several weeks in fun, hands-on workshops. Classes rotate through the workshops, participating in a different workshop each week for the duration of the unit or rotation.

The Gathering is held each Sunday at the conclusion of Homeroom time on Communion Sundays, and after workshops on all other Sundays. It is a time of fellowship, worship and singing for children and Shepherds in grades 1-6.

Junior High

The Junior High program alternates between Rev. Holgie Choi's leadership and parent facilitators. A monthly rotation will include Everyday Faith Talk with Holgie, Faith Forum and the opportunity to attend worship when Holgie is preaching. The program will serve to increase fellowship among the junior high students and deepen their faith through sharing and questioning.

 

Registration Form - Click here

Sunday School Calendar - Click here

Teaching Opportunities

Sunday School is offered at the 8:45 AM worship service. A team of 3-4 teachers is needed for each Preschool and Kindergarten class. The team arranges their personal schedules to allow them to rotate teaching responsibilities throughout the year. The team communicates with and supports one another on a frequent and consistent basis.

The Workshop Rotation Model in the older grades provides opportunities for parents and members of the congregation to share their skills and interests, and it easily accommodates busy and seasonal schedules. Shepherds are strong teenagers/adults who provide continuity for the children by committing for the entire year. Whenever possible, a team of two adult and two teen Shepherds provide both the nurturing and administrative component for each group of children or “class.” Shepherds are responsible for introducing the monthly theme on Communion Sundays and facilitating the Bible Scholar Program.

Workshop Rotation Leaders match their gifts, talents and experience with a particular area of interest. They teach the same lesson to a different age group each week for 2-4 consecutive weeks, depending on the number of rotations assigned for each unit. Shepherds are responsible for teaching Bible Scholar tasks in the God's Bible Scholar Workshop. Workshop Leaders are needed to teach in the following learning centers:

Food (Good News Café)
Drama ( Galilee Productions)
Art (Gideon's Art Gallery)
Music (The Gathering Place)
Large body movement and activities (Gospel Games)
Missions and Outreach (Goodwill Missions)

Volunteer Convenant and Application - Click here