The Church of the Good Shepherd Sunday School provides a solid Christian education for children ages Pre-K through 8th grade. This foundation is followed by Youth Group activities for ages 9-12th grade.
The Sunday School program provides a foundation in Biblical study, the Episcopal tradition and the use of God’s teachings in daily life through several different venues, as outlined below.
1) School Year Lectionary-Based Sunday School Program: Sunday School is held every Sunday throughout the school year during the 10am Service. Class begins at 10:00 and runs until approximately 10:45 when children are brought to the church in time for the Eucharist. A typical class for Pre-K-5th graders consists of a children’s service, a lesson with age appropriate discussion, an active game tied to the lesson and a craft also linked to the theme of the lesson for the day. 6th-8th graders do a more in-depth bible study and project during each class.
2) Family Sundays: Every 6 weeks or so the Sunday School children take a hiatus from classroom study and participate in the regular Sunday 10am service. Each child is given a special role in the service, including alcolyting, distributing bulletins, ushering, offering, oblating, reading lessons, reading the prayers of the people, counting attendees, and playing instruments or singing in the choir. During these services children spend some time with their families and are proud to participate in the typically “adult roles” of the service.
3) Special Events: The Church of the Good Shepherd’s calendar year is full of special Sunday School sponsored events for children and their families. The year kicks off with the annual Blessing of Backpacks during the 10am service on the first Sunday after Labor Day. Sunday School registration is held that day as well and each child is given a special back-to-school gift bag. The Sunday School Committee also hosts a Halloween party where grown-ups and children alike wear costumes to church and then celebrate the holiday with a special after party including piñatas, apple bobbing and donuts on a string. December brings a visit from Saint Nicholas and a lesson on the history of his ministry. Easter time is known for the 1,500 Easter Egg Hunt Eggs-travaganza on the church lawn. The school year concludes with a special graduation ceremony and each child is given a Sunday School Completion Certificate and special reward for working so hard all year.
4) Holiday and Summer Craft Sundays: Just because school is out does not mean Sunday School is closed at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Every holiday Sunday (e.g., President’s weekend, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc.) and throughout the summer months, a member of the church provides a “laid back” craft time for the group in attendance. Some members share a special skill with the children, others provide a more structured lesson or craft. Either way these special times provide a way for children to expand their faith and get to know more adults in the church community in a fun and unstructured environment.
5) Community Outreach: The Sunday School children are always very excited to play an active role in giving back to their community, which Good Shepherd values as an important part of church membership. In the Fall, the children work to put together and decorate bags of toiletries (donated by church members) for people living in a homeless shelter. During Advent, children are given a Mite Box to take home for the season and fill with all of their family’s spare change. The boxes are collected and blessed at the 12th Night Celebration, and between $100-$300 is donated annually to American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (AFEDJ). During Lent, the children make Easter baskets (with supplies donated by church members) for children at our community partner, the Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center. Community outreach is a wonderful way to bring faith into a child’s daily life and give to those less fortunate.
6) Summer Vacation Bible Camp: The Church of the Good Shepherd began a 3-day Summer Vacation Bible Camp in late August 2014. For three hours each morning campers enjoy a mix of scripture, lessons, songs, crafts and other activities. The camp is open to children 3-12 years old with counseling opportunities for teens 13-18 years old. Each day of the camp has a biblical theme, such as Jesus and Water, The Harvest, and Celebrating Meals. Some of the daily activity highlights include making and racing pirate ships, cooking in the kitchen each day, eating the results of our labor, preparing for a family feast, and spending time outdoors: playing with water, hiking, tree rubbing, scavenger hunting and touring Stuart’s Farm. All of this fun is wrapped up in some great lessons about God, loving the earth and being a good member of our community. The camp concludes with a barbecue for all involved families to celebrate a successful camp. We look forward to building on our experiences and making this a better camp every year!
7) Special Courses of Study:
EUCHARIST STUDY
This in-depth 7-week study of the Eucharist is offered from time to time, during normal Sunday school hours. The study is adapted from “This Bread and This Cup – Episcopal Communion Instruction for Children,” with full understanding that “This communion instruction…acknowledges that Baptism is full membership with all the rights and privileges but a time comes when we really want to know more.” Themes include Communion as a Meal, Eucharist in the Gospel, The Sunday Service, The Tools for the Eucharistic Celebration, and Body Language of Prayer. The course of study culminates with a special “first informed communion” celebration during a Family Sunday service.
CONFIRMATION
Confirmation Preparation Class is offered every two years for young people in grades 8-12 who wish to participate. The class typically meets ten times over ten months (nine classes and one visit to the Community Center of Northern Westchester). Themes may include Using your Gifts, Outreach, Bible Basics, Being an Episcopalian, Christian Ethics, Pain/Death, and Why am I a Christian. The course of study culminates with the celebration of confirmation with the Bishop.
Would you like to help teach Sunday School? There’s no experience necessary; all you need is the desire to help root children in the knowledge of Christ! Please contact the parish office if interested.