From the Pastor – June 2007

As we come to the end of another Sunday School year, I’d like to offer some reflections, and let you know what I’m hoping we’ll be able to do in the fall.

First, let me thank our totally awesome teachers (I know that expression is amazingly dated, but it’s still true). Rebecca Pontius and Jessie Vallee took turns teaching the preschool class, Patrick DeFlorio taught the grade school kids, and Joan Saniuk taught the teens. This year, for the first time, we had an adult class. It was my privilege to teach that class. Luci taught all of us a hymn every week, so that we would be ready for worship.

This year has been a “good news/ bad news” year. While our registration was way down over previous years (ten kids registered this year, as opposed to twenty four registered when I arrived nine years ago), the average attendance percentage has been much stronger. (For years we had some kids who would register for Sunday School, but never attend.)

In the fall, we are going to try a new curriculum for the grade school kids (our largest class). “The Way of the Child” helps children learn and experience Christian practices that will lead them to a deeper awareness of God’s presence in their lives.

I’m also hoping that we can expand our pool of parents (and other adults) willing to “sit in” on our classes for kids. We want both our students and our teachers to feel safe. Having more than one adult in a classroom is a helpful way to make that happen.