Christian Education Program at SUMC Christian Education at SUMC encompasses innovative and formative activities for all ages from infants to adults. Nursery Care is provided by volunteers each Sunday during worship in the Family Room above the narthex for infants -2 year olds. Parents are welcome to be with their children and the service can be both seen and heard in the Family Room. Our Nursery is a “nut-free” zone. Cradle Roll is an at-home program for families of children through age 2. It is sent monthly by mail to families of young children so that faith formation may begin in the home. Please contact drelizabeth@sudbury-umc.org if you would like to receive these mailings. ChurchSchool for children ages 3-11 takes place on Sunday mornings following the Children’s Moment during worship. The first few minutes of education time takes place as a joint Church School Musical Time. Our talented Church Musicians join us to share both songs specific to seasonal themes in our curriculum and traditional hymnody. Following music time, our children break into three age-groups: 3-5 year olds, 6-8 year olds and 9 year olds-5th graders. We use Seasons of the Spirit, a curriculum that focuses on the lessons being heard during worship. The curriculum invites creative exploration of the biblical passages through storytelling and other artistic forms of expression. We are blessed to have talented members of our congregation who generously offer their gifts as potters, needle workers, painters, birdwatchers, environmentalists, etc to add richness and variety to our ChurchSchool lessons and projects. On holiday weekends and during the summer months, Seasons of the Spirit offers the flexibility of meeting as a one-room church school. To register your child, please contact drelizabeth@sudbury-umc.org. The Grapple Group for 6th, 7th and 8th*graders also meets during the program year (September –May) following the Children’s Moment in worship. Grapple invites our junior high school youth to explore questions of faith by “grappling” with questions from scripture and exploring through games and discussion how God is at work in their lives. The program has game component accessible through a secure on-line component. The group is mentored by parent volunteers. To register your child, please contact drelizabeth@sudbury.umc.org. The “God Squad” is our youth group for teens in 8th*-12th grade. Meetings are generally held two or three times a month on Sunday afternoons from 4-6 PM. Programming blends fellowship, exploration of biblical topics and service to our greater Sudbury neighbors and beyond. A Mission trip takes place each year in either a local, regional, national or international setting. Our God Squad has been to Pennsylvania and New Orleans the past two years and will be heading to Dominica this coming June. Our congregation has a 30 year relationship with Dominica and this June, our God Squaders will be working on the community center for the Wesley Church in Wesley, Dominica. Fundraising events take place throughout the year. To get your teen involved in God Squad, contact Tyler Kirk, our Youth Leader, tyler@sudbury-umc.org. Click here for the God Squad schedule, permission slip and medical release forms. * Please note that 8th graders may join both Grapple Group and the God Squad. We also welcome them in worship and invite their assistance in the ChurchSchool. CornerStones is our Christian formation program for adults. A variety of classes September –June take place either following worship on Sunday mornings or on Monday or Wednesday evenings. Recent topics have included wide–ranging subjects: anti-racism awareness, discussion of the Occupy Wall Street Movement and Wesleyan understandings of Holy Communion and Grace. Please see the Chronicle for our current class offerings. Most classes take place in Davison Chapel. Special Annual Programs: During Wednesday evenings in Advent and Lent, families are invited to the Church for a soup supper and seasonal programming. Supper begins at 6:00 pm in Hawes Hall. Following supper, programming takes place from 6:30 -7:30. While one of our pastors leads a study for adults in Hawes Hall, our youngest children are invited to Davison Chapel for seasonal crafts. During Advent, our Director of Christian Education leads our 3rd Graders and a parent in an exploration of the Holy Bible. During Lent, our Director of Christian Education offers program focused on the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion for our 2nd-5th graders and a parent. Our Christmas Pageant is an annual and much anticipated event. Our 4:00 Christmas Eve Service is centered around our pageant in which children of all ages participate. Rehearsals take place on Saturday mornings beginning the week before Thanksgiving from 8:00 AM -12 PM. We bring together a cast of animals, shepherds, dancing angels, kings and Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus –along with Pedro, our wooden donkey. Friendships are formed not only among our children, but their parents who assist with lighting, microphones, music and dancing. For more information, please contact drelizabeth@sudbury-umc.org. Acolytes serve at our altar each Sunday, bringing the light of Christ into our sanctuary and assisting with the offering. Children grades 1-8 are invited to join this program. Training is offered at various times during the year. Please contact drelizabeth@sudbury-umc.org if your child is interested in becoming and acolyte. Baptism is offered several times a year for those of any age who wish to be committed to Christ. Please contact our Senior Pastor, pastorjoel@sudbury-umc.org if you are interested in baptism preparation for yourself or for your children. Confirmation at Sudbury United Methodist takes place on the Feast of Pentecost. Preparation begins in the fall of the 10th Grade year. Our Associate Pastor leads this group and content focuses on our identity as Christians in the Wesleyan tradition. For further information, please contact pastorjordan@sudbury-umc.org.