Sunday School
From the Director: My name is Janet Stone and I am writing to invite your child to join us for in-person Church School each Sunday, September through May. Church School is where students will learn about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and how to live a Christian life. We learn Bible stories and we learn how to use those stories to help us be better people. All PreK-8th Grade students are welcome. Children start out in Church at 10:00 with their families and are sent to Church School following the Children’s Sermon. Please note that on the first Sunday of the month, children are directed to the Education Building first and then return to the church building in order to be with their family for communion. I am looking forward to a fun-filled Church School year! Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. ,
2025 Camperships
Camperships are financial gifts given to Church School students who wish to attend either Camp Quinipet or Camp Kingswood. Camperships are determined by the Education Scholarship Committee. Consideration is given to church involvement, church school attendance and service to church. Submissions may be made by email or paper. See the link for application. Please note that it is due no later than May 23rd. Late applicants may receive a reduced scholarship. Please be sure to submit both sections (parent and camper).
2025 Campership Application Link
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10e9xI9VUWRRGx4Kz7upP5vzIrXm-f6klvypcBy2sWns/edit?usp=drivesdk
2025 Educational Scholarships
Education Scholarships are financial gifts given to church members who are college students. Consideration is given to church involvement and community service. Submissions may be made by paper or email no later than May 23rd. Only complete applications will be considered.
2025 Scholarship Application link
May 11, 2025
After the fellowship of breakfast, Jesus spoke directly to Peter. Three times he asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Each time he commanded Peter to feed his sheep or lambs. By the third time, Peter was distressed. Perhaps Jesus was reminding Peter that he had denied knowing Jesus three times. But Peter was able to move beyond his previous relationship with Jesus to claim the unity and intimacy he thought he had before. These verses point to a future for Peter that is based on his relationship with Jesus after the Resurrection. Jesus’ charge to Peter was a pastoral commission, positioning him to live out his love for Jesus. He was calling Peter to love Jesus’ sheep as Jesus loved them. Peter’s authority came from the fullness of his love for Jesus. “Follow me,” Jesus’ command to Peter, was a prediction of Peter’s martyrdom. Then Peter was able to do what he boasted about before but couldn’t do—lay down his life in love.
Please note that May 18th will be the last day of Church School for this school year. We will resume Church School on September 7th.
May 4, 2025
Jesus traveled to the Sea of Tiberias in Galilee. Some of the disciples had been fishing there all night but hadn’t caught any fish. Jesus stood on the shore and called out to them, “Children, have you caught anything?” Children implied the intimacy of a family. The disciples replied that they hadn’t caught anything. They didn’t recognize Jesus yet, but when Jesus told them to cast their nets on the other side, they immediately obeyed. Quickly, their net was filled with 153 large fish. The net was so full they couldn’t pull it in, but it didn’t tear. This miracle was the catalyst that caused the disciples to recognize Jesus. John exclaimed, “It is the Lord!” Peter jumped in the water and swam to Jesus, while the other disciples brought the ship and net to shore. They found Jesus by a campfire cooking breakfast for them. The fellowship of the meal confirmed the intimacy of the relationship between Jesus and his disciples. It is a picture of Jesus as the giver of gifts and the source of life-sustaining nourishment.
April 27, 2025
It was the first day of the week, three days after Jesus had been buried in a borrowed
tomb. But this was the most amazing day in history. The earth shook, the soldiers fell down like dead men, the angel of the Lord appeared and rolled the stone away from the entrance to the tomb. When the sun was coming up, Mary Magdalene and Mary came to the tomb bringing spices to treat Jesus’ body. (Would the soldiers let them see Jesus’ body? How would they remove the stone?) When they reached the tomb, it was empty—Jesus’ body was not there. The angel of the Lord spoke to them and told them Jesus was not there because he was risen! Then the angel commanded them to go and tell the disciples that Jesus would meet them in Galilee. On their way to the disciples, the women met Jesus. He had his resurrected body, but he wasn’t a ghost. They took hold of his feet and worshipped him. The women were the first to witness the empty tomb, the first to tell the good news that Jesus was alive, and the first to see the resurrected Jesus. True to his word, Jesus appeared to the disciples to teach them about the Resurrection and send them out to serve.
April 6, 2025
Peter followed at a distance when the soldiers took Jesus to Caiaphas, the high priest. The rest of the disciples ran away just as Jesus had prophesied. A number of people were in the courtyard of Caiaphas, so Peter tried to blend in with them. He was afraid, so he didn’t want anyone to know he was a follower of Jesus. Three times during the night, he was challenged by others in the courtyard. Three times he denied he knew Jesus. Then the rooster crowed just as Jesus said it would happen. Peter left the courtyard and cried uncontrollably over his betrayal of Jesus. He had failed Jesus, but he repented. Jesus always offers us forgiveness and reconciliation. Peter thought he understood what following Jesus meant, but he really didn’t understand until after Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, and resurrection. He had boldly claimed that he would never betray Jesus, but Jesus’ arrest made him afraid and he reacted to the fear. Peter’s sorrow and repentance were immediate, but he wasn’t able to make it right with Jesus until after the Resurrection and Jesus appeared to the disciples. After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter was entrusted with a mission to take the good news to the Gentiles.
March 30, 2025
At the end of the Passover meal, Jesus and his disciples sang songs of praise and went to the Mount of Olives. Jesus told the disciples that all of them would fall away from him before the night was over. Peter passionately declared that he would never betray him, but Jesus told Peter he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed. Then they went to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus with Peter, James, and John went into the garden. Jesus was distressed, sorrowful, and anxious in the face of his death. He longed for human companionship in his hour of need. Jesus asked his three disciples to stay alert and pray. Then he went a little further, fell on his face, and prayed, “If it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. However—not what I want but what you want.” The disciples couldn’t stay awake. Three times Jesus went into the garden to pray and three times the disciples fell asleep. The third time Jesus told them to get up because it was time for him to be betrayed. Jesus had moved from praying for deliverance to trust and commitment to God’s will. Judas brought the soldiers to Jesus. They arrested Jesus and took him to the high priest. Jesus was not arrested against his will. He willingly accepted the will of God. Instead of using violence and retaliating, Jesus showed love to his enemies.
March 23, 2025
The Passover meal was a family affair and a time of celebration of God’s deliverance. Jesus chose to share the meal with his disciples. He sent them to prepare for the meal. The preparations included locating a place in Jerusalem to have the meal, removing items in the room containing yeast, obtaining a lamb and having it slaughtered by priests in the Temple, roasting the lamb, and preparing the meal. During the meal, Jesus announced his “hour” had come and indicated that one of his disciples would betray him. The disciples declared that they would never betray him. Judas asked, “Is it I, Rabbi?” Jesus knew his fate and the identity of his betrayer. He confirmed Judas as the betrayer, but the other disciples didn’t understand. Jesus served the bread and the wine to his disciples. He told them, “Do this in remembrance of me.” When we take Communion, we do it in remembrance of what Jesus did for all of us. Jesus’ purpose, the forgiveness of all our sins, was accomplished by his death and resurrection. Jesus’ sacrifice sealed the bond between God and people and established a new covenant. The Passover meal points to a memorial celebration of our deliverance through Jesus’ death and life.
March 16, 2025
Today’s lesson was from Luke 19:1-10. The story of Zacchaeus is the last in a series of Jesus’ encounters with outcasts. Zacchaeus was a tax collector. The system of collecting taxes in biblical days was open to abuse. The tax collector was free to collect more in taxes than the people owed, pocket the difference, and become rich by doing so. The tax collectors were not liked, and they were assumed to be dishonest. Zacchaeus heard Jesus was coming to town and wanted to see him. But the crowd served as an impediment to Zacchaeus because he was too short to see over the other people. His desire to see Jesus was so strong, he cast aside his dignity by running ahead of the crowd and climbing up in a sycamore tree. Jesus “saw” Zacchaeus and stopped to talk to him. The crowd probably expected Jesus to pronounce judgment on the dishonest person. Instead Jesus again crossed the barriers of ritual purity. He bestowed honor on Zacchaeus by going to his house. Those who saw what happened began to grumble saying that Jesus loved sinners. But Zacchaeus rejoiced. Zacchaeus declared his resolve to make amends. He promised to sell half of his possessions and give to the poor. Jesus confirmed that Zacchaeus had changed his heart and life. Jesus’ message is often impeded by prejudice that we think we know who people are and believe they can’t change. Words of grace can still be spoken and
forgiveness can still be experienced.
March 2, 2025
Continuing the theme of lost and found, Jesus tells a story of two sons and their relationships to their father. First, we hear about the younger son who demands his inheritance from his father so he could leave home, a request that made the son dead to the father in that culture. He traveled to a faraway land and wasted his wealth through extravagant living. When he had used all his resources, he took a job feeding pigs (disgraceful for a Jewish man). At his lowest point, he decided to go home and ask his father if he could work for him as a slave. In their culture, if the son came back, the father could stone him, the community could turn him away, or the father could make him a slave. During the time when the younger son was gone, the father diligently watched for his son and anticipated his return. He saw his son a long way off and ran to meet him. Middle Eastern men never ran in public because it was humiliating to expose their legs. But he wanted to reach his son before anyone else did. The father immediately showed his love for his son and called for a celebration. The younger son humbly accepted his father’s goodness. Next, we hear about the older son—possibly the most important part of the story. When he heard about the celebration for the younger son’s return, he was furious and refused to go to the party. Again, the forgiving father reaches out to a lost son. The older son argues with his father showing disrespect and revealing an attitude toward his father that was not much different than the younger son’s attitude when he left home. His self-righteousness had blinded him to his need for repentance. Again, graciously, the forgiving father tells the older son, “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate—your brother was dead and is alive.”
February 23, 2025
The Pharisees were very upset that Jesus was ministering to people they considered “sinners.” The Pharisees saw themselves as righteous men, and they despised the sinners. They had concluded Jesus could not be from God because God did not like sinners either. Jesus responded to the unspoken question, “What is God’s attitude towards sinners?” by telling a parable about the lost and found. A shepherd lost one of his one hundred sheep. He left the ninety-nine sheep to look for the one that was lost, because a sheep that strays away from the shepherd is in danger. The shepherd had compassion for his lost sheep. He didn’t get angry or punish the sheep. Instead, he had great joy when he found the lost sheep. When he returned the sheep to the sheepfold, he called his neighbors and friends to come celebrate with him because the lost had been found. A woman had ten silver coins in a piece of jewelry traditionally worn by brides. When she lost one of the coins, she searched her house carefully to find the coin. When the coin was found, she called her neighbors and friends to come celebrate with her. The sheep and the coin both had great personal value. With the words of these stories, Jesus paints a beautiful picture of God’s grace. Getting right to the answer of the question, Jesus says, “I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes both heart and life than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to change their hearts and lives…joy breaks out in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who changes both heart and life (Matthew 15:7, 10).
February 9, 2025
This week’s lesson was based on Luke 10:25-37, The Good Samaritan. A lawyer tried to test Jesus with the question, “What must I do to gain eternal life?” The lawyer believed he could do enough good works to assure his place in the kingdom of God. Jesus responded by asking the lawyer how he interpreted the question. The lawyer quoted the Law, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus told the lawyer his answer was correct, and if he did that, he would live. Possibly at this point, the lawyer had some doubts about his ability to follow the Law perfectly. So he pressed Jesus with another question, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus responded with the parable we often call, The Good Samaritan. A man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked by thieves and left to die on the side of the road. We can infer that the man was Jewish. A priest came by and walked past the man. A Levite also walked past the man. Then a Samaritan man came down the path. Samaritans were considered outcasts by the Jews. They worshipped God, but they had religious traditions that were unacceptable to the Jews. In direct contrast to the prejudices of that day, the Samaritan showed compassion to the injured man. His actions exemplified the fine qualities that describe a neighbor. The Samaritan helped a stranger. He helped a man who normally wouldn’t have even talked to him. He helped a man who was in crisis and could not help himself. He helped someone whom others had ignored. He provided medicine and first aid to care for the man’s injuries. He also took care of the man’s physical needs for shelter and food. Then he helped the man financially. Jesus’ command to the lawyer at the end of the story is applicable to us today, “Go and do likewise.”
February 2, 2025
Our Church School lesson was based on Luke 8:4-15, The Sower. Jesus used parables to teach important lessons about God and God’s kingdom. Jesus drew from common-life experiences of the people to teach truths about God. His stories were designed to call listeners into the story by identifying with someone or something in the story. Most of Jesus’ parables were told in response to questions, and his answers in the parables always went directly to the heart of the issue. The parables conveyed truth to the listeners who wanted to know, but the figurative language sometimes veiled the truth from persons who did not want to believe Jesus was the Son of God. The parable of the sower was the first in a series that Jesus taught to the crowds that gathered to hear him. Agriculture was a major business in Galilee, so a sower was a very common sight. As the sower walked over his land scattering seed, some of it fell on the path, some on rocky dirt, some in the weeds, and some fell on good soil. The birds would come and eat the seeds on the path. The seeds in the rocky dirt may sprout, but without roots, they would quickly dry up and die. The seeds that grew up in the weeds would be choked by the weeds and eventually die. But the seed in the good soil would grow and yield as much as one hundred times more grain than was scattered. Jesus explained that the seed was the Word of God. When we love and obey God’s Word, that seed is growing in us—we are the good soil. The good soil receives the Word of God, believes it, and produces fruit of righteousness and obedience. Faith needs to be spoken and practiced, and it will continue to grow in us. Jesus ended this parable with a challenge, “Everyone who has ears should pay attention.”
January 26, 2025
The Pharisees had shown great interest in Jesus, and they didn’t like the things Jesus was teaching. The Pharisees prided themselves in their knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures and in obeying all of God’s laws. But one of the Pharisees, Nicodemus, was impressed with Jesus’ teachings, and he had seen the power Jesus had in his message and miracles. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest legislative and judicial body of the Jews. He was also a respected teacher of the Old Testament Scriptures. Nicodemus visited Jesus at night, probably so the other Pharisees wouldn’t see what he was doing. He showed Jesus respect by addressing him as “Rabbi.” Nicodemus told Jesus, “We know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could do these miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him” (John 3:2). Nicodemus believed Jesus had divine authority from God, and he wanted to know more about Jesus’ relationship to God. Jesus responded with a very direct answer, “I assure you, unless someone is born anew, it’s not possible to see God’s kingdom” (John 3:3). With one short sentence, Jesus told Nicodemus that neither his system of religion nor his natural birth as a Jew was the key to the kingdom of God. Nicodemus didn’t understand. He took Jesus’ statement literally, and responded, “How is it possible for an adult to be born?” (John 3:4). Jesus gently rebuked Nicodemus, “You are a teacher of Israel and you don’t know these things?” (John 3:10). Jesus continued, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness [Numbers 21:8-9], so must the Human One be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (John 3:14-16).
January 12, 2025
Today’s lesson featured Matthew 3:13-17. Elizabeth and Zechariah’s son, John, was preaching in the desert of Judea. John announced to the people, “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!” (Matthew 3:3). Crowds of people came out to hear John and be baptized in the Jordan River. Like the prophet Isaiah had said many years before, John was the voice in the wilderness shouting, “Clear the Lord’s way in the desert!” (Isaiah 40:3). Many people wondered if John was the Promised One, but John told them, “I baptize with water those of you who have changed your hearts and lives. The one who is coming after me is stronger than I am. I’m not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11). When Jesus was about thirty years old, he came to the Jordan River and asked John to baptize him. John recognized Jesus as the Promised One. He felt unworthy to baptize Jesus, so he said, “I need to be baptized by you, yet you come to me?” (Matthew 3:14). Jesus answered him, “Allow me to be baptized now. This is necessary to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). As the people showed their commitment to God, so Jesus’ baptism would mark his allegiance to God’s righteousness. John honored Jesus’ request and baptized him. As John brought Jesus up out of the water, heaven opened and God’s Spirit came down like a dove and landed on Jesus. Then God spoke from heaven so everyone could hear. “This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him” (Matthew 3:17). God showed God’s approval and delight in Jesus, God’s Son. The triune God was revealed in glory from heaven. Jesus’ baptism marked the beginning of his public ministry. From the very beginning, Jesus demonstrated he was the Promised Messiah.
January 5, 2025
Our lesson today was based on Matthew 2:1-12. The magi were astrologers from Persia. Their exciting discovery of the appearance of a new, bright star indicated to them that an important person, a new king, had been born. The star was miraculous. It appeared suddenly, moved at a much faster rate than any other star, moved then stopped, and appeared and disappeared. Although the magi were Gentiles, they had studied the Hebrew Scriptures. They knew about the prophecy of a new king of the Jews who would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). After the appearance of the star, the magi prepared for their long journey and traveled from Persia to Jerusalem (1000–1200 miles). Traveling that distance by camel probably took up to twelve months. There was already a great stir in Jerusalem over the magi and their search for the new king. Herod the Great, the wicked king who ruled over Israel at that time, met with the magi to find out what they knew about the birth of a new king of the Jews. He sent them on to Bethlehem and told them to come back after their visit and report to him so he could go and worship the child. The magi followed the star to Bethlehem (six miles) and found Jesus in a house with Mary. As much as two years had passed since the star had first appeared and they began their journey. With great joy, they knelt and worshipped Jesus as king and presented him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. After being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they traveled back to Persia a different way. Herod devised a plan he hoped would get rid of the new king. He made a ruling that all Hebrew baby boys two years old and younger would be killed. But Joseph was warned by the angel of the Lord to take Jesus and flee to Egypt. The family stayed there until Herod died, then returned home to their family in Nazareth.
December 22, 2024
One night long ago, the most special baby ever born was announced in the most unusual way you could ever imagine! On the quiet hills outside of Bethlehem, Jewish shepherds watched over their flocks at night. The shepherds were there to care for and protect their sheep. At that time in history, shepherds were considered to be on the lowest rung of the social ladder. To this humble group of shepherds, an angel of the Lord appeared in glorious light, and the shepherds were terrified. The angel’s first words were, “Don’t be afraid!” Then the angel announced the good news that the promised Savior had been born in Bethlehem that night. The angel used very significant words: Savior—deliverer; Christ—anointed one, Messiah; Lord—ruler over all. And the shepherds were told
they would find this newborn baby wrapped snuggly and lying in a manger. Suddenly, a multitude of angels appeared in the night sky praising God together. All heaven rejoiced in praise to God for this gift of God’s Son—the Savior of the world. Just as quickly, the angels returned to heaven. The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem where they found Mary and Joseph, and they saw the baby lying in a manger just as the angel had said. With joy and excitement, the shepherds told all who would listen about the angel’s announcement of the birth of the baby. Everyone who heard was amazed at the shepherds’ words, but Mary considered their words carefully and kept them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned to their homes, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. The first announcement of the birth of God’s Son was made to lowly shepherds on a hillside caring for their sheep. A handful of shepherds, put down by the social and religious elite, were chosen to herald the Messiah’s birth.
December 15, 2024
In the Old Testament, the prophet Micah said that a ruler of Israel would be born in Bethlehem, and this king would bring peace and justice to the land (Micah 5:2). Hundreds of years later, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy. The Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, ordered that a census be taken. All were required to return to their ancestral homes to register and pay taxes. Since Joseph was from the ancestral line of David, he and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem, the city of David. The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem was difficult because the time for Mary’s baby to be born was very close. When they reached Bethlehem, a large number of people were already in the city to register and no room was available. Mary and Joseph were of the peasant class, so they didn’t have many choices for lodging. When an innkeeper offered his stable, Mary and Joseph accepted immediately because of their urgent need for a place for Mary to have her baby. How amazing that Jesus, God’s Son, would be born in the most humble and unlikely place—a stable with an animal’s feeding trough for his bed. Mary’s baby was Immanuel, the living presence of God with them (Isaiah 7:14). He was the fulfillment of the angel’s promise to Mary and Joseph (Luke 1:26-28; Matthew 1:18-25), and they named him Jesus, God saving us, as the angel told them to do. The angel also said about Jesus, “He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom” (Luke 1:32-33). The Creator of the universe chose this humble birth for God’s Son to show God’s love for all people.
December 8, 2024
We continued on with the Christmas story by learning about Joseph. Joseph was a righteous man who became the earthly father of Jesus, God’s Son. The Hebrew Scriptures gave a promise of a king from the line of King David. This new king would restore Israel to its former greatness. Joseph was the link to this promise in the Old Testament because he was part of David’s family.
Joseph and Mary were engaged when Mary shared with Joseph that she was pregnant. The engagement was as legally binding as a marriage, so Joseph could have had Mary stoned for adultery. Although he was greatly distressed from the news, he decided to put her away quietly. Then an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and gave him God’s message: “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child she carries was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21).
Just as Mary did, Joseph accepted God’s Word and obeyed. Joseph and Mary were married. She gave birth to a child, and they named him Jesus. From very early in his life, Jesus knew he was God’s Son, but Joseph also played an important role in his childhood. Joseph accepted the role as Jesus’ father. He protected Jesus, provided a family life for him, taught him life skills, and obviously loved him dearly. Some scholars think that Joseph died before Jesus became an adult since he wasn’t
mentioned during Jesus’ ministry. However, Joseph fulfilled his appointment as Jesus’ earthly father until it was time for Jesus to be about God’s business.
November 24, 2024
We began our celebration of the birth of Jesus with the study of Luke 1:26-38,46-47. The lives of the people of the Nativity are among the most familiar stories in the Bible, and yet each time we hear these stories, we find new insights born from our growing life experiences. We excitedly wait for the celebration of the birth of Jesus every year. Jesus was God’s greatest gift of love to the whole world and God’s plan for the salvation of humanity. During our worship time, we will light the candle of LOVE to remember and celebrate the gift of Jesus. God chose Mary to be the mother of God’s Son. She was a young Jewish girl living with her parents in Nazareth when the angel Gabriel appeared to her and delivered an amazing message. Mary knew about the promise of the Messiah from the Hebrew Scriptures, but the angel’s message caused great concerns. Her response in spite of the concerns was acceptance and obedience, showing her complete trust in God’s Word. When Mary quickly shared her good news with Joseph, the man to whom she was engaged to be married, she didn’t know what to expect from him. In Jewish culture, an engagement was as binding as the marriage, and Mary knew Joseph could choose to have her stoned based on their laws. God had told her of God’s plan for her life, and she knew that it would be fulfilled. She went forward with faithfulness and trust. The Bible doesn’t give us a lot of details about this time in Mary’s life, but we do know that she spent some time with her cousin, Elizabeth, who was miraculously carrying a child too. Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist who became the forerunner of Jesus. In the appointed time, Mary gave birth to her child and named him Jesus. She graciously became the mother of the Son of the Most High.
*Please note there is NO Church School this coming Sunday (December 1) as it is Thanksgiving weekend.
November 17, 2024
Our Bible story this week, entitled The Peaceable Kingdom, comes from Isaiah 11:6-9. After hearing about Moses and the Israelites for the past several weeks, today we moved out of the book of Exodus and heard from the prophet Isaiah. Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah foretold of a time of extensive peace. Isaiah described a world where animals that are usually predator and prey would live peaceably together, and toddlers would have no need to be afraid of snakes. These verses are not a criticism of present times or a call for action. Instead the verses paint a visual picture of what the world could look like if peace reigned. And there is hope in these verses— hope that God’s peaceable kingdom will one day arrive. Isaiah’s message was delivered to people who were living through difficult times. His description of peaceful times ahead brought hope to a weary world. Although our world is much different than when Isaiah lived, we still long for the peace Isaiah foretold. We still need hope.
Sunday, December 1st is the beginning of Advent. We will be creating a classroom Nativity Scene. As we learn about the Nativity Scene, we will be reminded of the verses from Isaiah describing God’s peaceable kingdom. Isaiah’s prophecy may be new to our students, however. Help your children connect Isaiah’s description of widespread peace to the message of peace Jesus taught throughout his life. Advent is an exciting time in Sunday school. Children enjoy hearing the familiar story and celebrating Christmas. Let the enthusiasm of the children remind you that
children can lead us as we work toward peace in God’s kingdom.
November 10, 2024
Our Bible story this week was Exodus 20 with a focus on The Ten Commandments. The longest psalm in the Bible, Psalm 119, is a song of praise about God’s laws. At one point, the psalmist exclaims, “But I love your commandments more than gold, even more than pure gold” (Psalm 119:127). Few of us adore laws and rules enough to write a 176-verse psalm about them. We can, however, see the point the psalmist is trying to make. In general, rules are a good thing. Laws and rules provide structure for our lives. God’s laws are provided to help us know how to love and serve God and how to live in relationship with each other.
The first and probably most famous set of God’s laws given to the Israelites following their escape from slavery in Egypt was the Ten Commandments. Even though it has been over 3,000 years since God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, these basic laws are still applicable to our lives today. The Ten Commandments are more than a list of “do’s” and “don’ts.” These laws are about relationship. Four of the commandments address the relationship between God and us as God’s chosen people. We are not to worship anyone or anything except God, and we are to honor God’s name. Being in relationship with God includes setting aside a day to rest and worship God. The remaining six commandments address our relationship with one another. To live together in community, we need to treat each other with love and respect. These commandments provide a framework for living together as God’s people.
Children are used to rules. They may sometimes express frustration with following the rules imposed on them by others. Help your children understand God does not give us commandments to make our lives harder but to help us know how to live. If we trust in God’s rules, they can help us live full and joyful lives.
November 3, 2024
This week’s lesson comes from Exodus 15:1-21 The Song of Moses and Miriam. God acted in powerful ways to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The story began with the saving of the baby who would be named Moses. When Moses was an adult, God called to him from a burning bush and sent him back to Egypt. In Egypt, God’s powerful acts eventually persuaded Pharaoh to set the Israelite slaves free. When Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after the Israelites, God intervened again and provided a way for the Israelites to cross the sea on dry land. God had freed the Israelites from slavery. Then it was time to praise God! Today’s Scripture contains two poems or songs remembering God’s mighty acts and praising God. The first poem is presented as a song of Moses. It is recognized as one of the oldest and most important poems in the Old Testament. The theme of the two poems is the power of God that resulted in victory over the oppressors and delivered the people of Israel to safety.
The first part of Moses’ song focuses on the defeat of Pharaoh’s army. We may not want to celebrate God as a militant commander who destroys those in God’s path. As always when reading the Bible, it is important to remember the context of the story. The Israelites had been enslaved for over four hundred years. They were recounting the acts of a powerful God who had freed them from oppression. The second poem in this Scripture is described as a song of Miriam, Moses’ sister. This poem is a short three-line stanza. It directs the people to praise God. Miriam’s song is considered to be even older than the song of Moses and may have been composed soon after these remembered events occurred. The songs of Moses and Miriam celebrated God’s powerful acts, and they were reminders for the Israelites of God’s power. Today they are reminders for us.
October 27, 2024
Our lessons continue focusing on Exodus 6:6 – I’ll set you free with great power. After years of slavery in Egypt, the Israelites were finally free. You would think this would have been a wonderful thing. Yet at one point the Israelites cried out to Moses, “What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we tell you to leave us alone and let us serve the Egyptians?” The Israelites were afraid. They were leaving a life of slavery, but they were leaving for an unknown land and a new way of life. Leaving Egypt was the beginning of a long struggle for freedom. As they left Egypt, Pharaoh’s army began to follow them. Pharaoh had changed his mind (again) after the Israelites left. Facing an uncertain future, the Israelites began to question whether God was really with them. Moses once again reminded them that God had brought them this far, and God would deliver them from the Egyptians. Sometimes we act like the Israelites and question whether God is really with us. When we are scared and feeling overwhelmed by life, we wonder where God is in the midst of our turmoil. Just as the Israelites could see no way out, sometimes we feel trapped by life’s circumstances. Moses reminded the Israelites to put their trust in God. God provided a way for the Israelites by parting the waters of the Reed Sea so the Israelites could cross. This story once again demonstrates God’s power.
As you prepare to face the upcoming week, take time to reflect on the people in your
life who remind you to trust in God. Thank God for these people in your life.
Children understand what it’s like to be scared. Let your children know that they
can trust God to be with them when they are scared. During this week, you can help them recognize and remember times they’ve felt God’s presence, perhaps through the love of a parent or friend. Reassure them that just as God has been with us in the past, God will be with us in the future.
October 20, 2024
Our lesson this week focused on the scripture from Exodus 6:6 “I’ll set you free with great power.” Last week we heard about God’s recruitment of Moses for a special task. When Moses was making excuses to try and avoid God’s call, he told God he’d never been any good at speaking. God told Moses to take Aaron with him to do the talking. This Bible story can be divided into three sections. The first section is the initial asking. Moses and Aaron approached Pharaoh and asked him to let the Israelite people go. Pharaoh was not about to let his work force walk away into the desert. Instead Pharaoh increased the work of the Israelite slaves. The increased workload caused the Israelites to blame Moses and Aaron for coming and making their lives worse. God reassured Moses that God was in control. The second section is the sending of the plagues. In order to convince Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery, God performed a series of powerful acts. The plagues were designed not only to change Pharaoh’s mind but also to display God’s power and demonstrate God’s control over all of creation. This section can be briefly summarized as a repetition of the following events: 1. Moses and Aaron asked Pharaoh to let God’s people go. 2. Pharaoh said no. 3. God caused something terrible to happen. 4. Pharaoh agreed to let the Israelites go but then changed his mind when the plague went away. This pattern was repeated until God sent death to the Egyptians, and Pharaoh finally agreed to let them go. The third section focuses on remembrance. Directions were given for celebrating Passover. During the celebration of Passover, God’s mighty acts in setting the Israelites free from slavery were to be remembered. God did a big thing in freeing the Israelites from slavery and wanted to make sure the Israelites remembered. It is always a good thing to remember what God has done for us and to be thankful.
October 6, 2024
Pastor Kim’s message on bigotry a few weeks ago stayed on my mind and so I decided to take that ball and along with the children run a few more yards with it. Empathy was a new word for some, but seeing situations from the guy’s point of view (whether or not we agree) is the first step to understanding. Bigotry is nothing new. It goes back to Bible times. There were lepers, Samaritans, outcasts and outsiders. We looked back at the stories we know and explored the motives of each one involved. Why would the well-respected priest and Levite (Luke 10) pass by a seriously injured man on the road? That was mean! How about the Samaritans? Why were they scorned? Just because they came from the town of Samaria! That’s not nice! Finally, why was Jesus reprimanded for healing a man on the sabbath (Matt 13)? He was expected to follow the rules just like the priest and the Levite followed the rules and believed they were justified. Sometimes there is more than one opinion to consider. Sometimes we have to do the right thing and be a God pleaser not a people pleaser. -Lenore Kurz
September 22, 2024
Our lesson continued with Genesis 39:2, The Lord was with Joseph. When we left Joseph last week, he was still in prison. Joseph had correctly interpreted a dream for Pharaoh’s wine steward who had been in prison with him for a while. Although Joseph had asked the wine steward to remember him when he returned to his job, the wine steward did not, at least not right away.
Two years passed. Then there were more dreams. This time it was Pharaoh who was dreaming. Although Pharaoh summoned all of his advisors and all of Egypt’s religious leaders, none of them were able to interpret his dream. It was only at this point the wine steward remembered the young Hebrew man in prison who had correctly interpreted his dream. Joseph was summoned. Even before Joseph heard the dreams, he assured Pharaoh that God sent the dreams to Pharaoh and God would provide an interpretation of the dreams through Joseph. Joseph informed Pharaoh his dreams meant God was going to send seven years of abundance followed by seven years of severe famine. Throughout Joseph’s story, God’s work behind the scenes was evident. But Joseph was not a passive bystander relying on God to do all of the work. After interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph proceeded to offer unsolicited advice. He recommended a wise person be appointed to take charge of the grain harvest in the years of plenty in order to save grain for the years of famine. As Joseph obviously had hoped, Pharaoh took his advice and appointed Joseph to be his second-in-command. Joseph was thirty years old when these events occurred. It had been thirteen years since his brothers had thrown him into a pit and then sold him into slavery. During all of those years, God was with Joseph, at work in his life and in the lives of those around Joseph.
September 15, 2024
This week we continued our study of Genesis 39:2, The Lord was with Joseph. Joseph was seventeen years old when his brothers sold him into slavery. The Ishmaelites who bought Joseph sold him to an Egyptian official named Potiphar who worked for Pharaoh. Joseph made himself useful to Potiphar and quickly earned a position of responsibility in Potiphar’s household. Unfortunately, Potiphar’s wife found Joseph attractive and harassed him. When Joseph refused her advances, Potiphar’s wife lied and accused him of taking advantage of her. It is likely that Potiphar did not believe his wife’s story, or he would have had Joseph executed. However, he did have Joseph thrown into prison. In prison, Joseph again made himself useful, this time to the prison warden. While Joseph was in prison, Pharaoh’s chief baker and chief wine steward were thrown in prison on unnamed charges. Chief wine steward and chief baker were important positions as part of their jobs was to protect Pharaoh from being poisoned. While they were in prison, both the wine steward and the baker had unsettling dreams. Joseph interpreted their dreams although he attributed his interpretive ability to God. Joseph interpreted the wine steward’s dream favorably and asked him to please remember Joseph when he was released from prison and reinstated to his job. The interpretation of the chief baker’s dream was not favorable. When the two men were released from prison, Joseph’s interpretation of their dreams was shown to be correct. The wine steward, however, happily back to work, forgot about Joseph. Joseph’s up-and-down journey suggests that God does not always get God’s way in the world. However, God’s presence with Joseph was constant. When things were not going well, God was still at work behind the scenes, making opportunities for Joseph to be successful. Joseph’s journey continued, and through it all, God was present.
September 8, 2024
This week’s lesson, Joseph and His Brothers, was based on the Bible story found in Genesis 37:1–36. Joseph was part of a large family. His father, Jacob, had 12 sons. Joseph was his favorite because Joseph was born in Jacob‘s old age to Jacob‘s favorite wife. That Jacob loves Joseph more than his brother was not necessarily the problem. The difficulty arose in the way Jacob expressed that favoritism publicly. Jacob gave Joseph a special coat – a long coat made from many different colored cloths. Joseph’s brothers began to resent him and were jealous of the special attention Joseph received. Joseph’s attitude and actions did not help the situation with his brothers. He wore the coat Jacob had given him in front of his brothers and told his brothers about dreams he had that he would someday rule over them. When opportunity presented itself, Joseph’s brothers got rid of him. At first, the plan was to kill Joseph, but one of the brothers, Ruben, convinced the others to throw him in a deep pit. Another brother, Judah, suggested selling Joseph into slavery. It is in this way that Joseph ends up in Egypt. Joseph’s brothers, who had stolen Joseph’s coat before throwing him into the pit, smeared the blood of an animal on the coat and used it to deceive Jacob into believing Joseph was dead. It is important to recognize that God never left Joseph, even when things got bad. This story shows how God is present through the valleys and the victories of life. God is present during sibling rivalry, scheming, bullying, kidnapping, time in prison, rise to leadership, feast, famine, and reconciliation. Through it all, God is there. We know that God did not cause these bad things to happen to Joseph, but rather that throughout whatever happened, good or bad, God was there. Just as God was with Joseph throughout his entire life, God is with each of us as well.
May 19, 2024
Today’s Bible story is about a woman who was widowed named Tabitha (Acts 9:36-43). Her Greek name was Dorcas. Tabitha made beautiful clothing for the poorest women in her town, Joppa. In the Bible, women were completely dependent on men for their survival. If a woman’s husband died, the woman’s life took a drastic turn for the worst. Women were not allowed to own property, so if the husband died, they would be at the mercy of others to be able to live. Tabitha somehow had the resources to sew for others less fortunate. Unfortunately, Tabitha became very ill and died. When the other disciples heard about Tabitha’s death, they sent for Peter. Peter rushed right over and went upstairs where Tabitha’s body lay. Many community members were there, crying and showing one another tunics and other clothing Tabitha had made. The presence of the community showed how dedicated Tabitha was to loving and serving others. Peter asked the people to leave the room, and he knelt down and prayed. Peter then commanded Tabitha to get up, and she opened her eyes and sat up. Her friends were astounded and overjoyed at the same time. One of the acts of love in this story is praying for one another, as Peter did for Tabitha. Tabitha showed love through service not only with her sewing, but also by performing other “good works and compassionate acts on behalf of those in need” (verse 36). The community also showed love for Tabitha in their efforts to bring Peter to town to pray for her. Through this story, we can help children to know that the exchange of loving gestures is part of being in the community of believers.
Please note that May 19th was the last Church School class for this school year. We will resume again on the Sunday after Labor Day weekend. Enjoy the summer! Janet Stone
May 12, 2024
Today’s lesson was on Acts 6:1-7 Choosing the Seven. The story begins by describing a conflict between two groups in the early church. The issue involves the case of some widows not receiving enough food during the daily distribution of food. The Twelve call a meeting of all the disciples. The Twelve realize that they need to focus on prayer and proclaiming God’s word rather than on serving food, so they ask the community to select seven disciples from among themselves to serve. They specify that the “new disciples” must be wise and filled with the Holy Spirit. This proposal pleases the whole community. The community selects seven people and presents them to the Twelve, who pray for them and lay hands on them. God’s word continues to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increases.
Children may wonder why the disciples needed more help or why they couldn’t do it all on their own. We might have this problem too. Sometimes children say, “Don’t help me. I can do it by myself!” But sometimes we actually need help. It’s OK to ask for help and to work together to spread God’s love. In the story, the Twelve recognized that their gifts to share with the community were prayer and proclaiming God’s word. They needed help from these “new disciples,” the Seven, to share their gifts for the distribution of food. This story provides us with an example of how to share our unique gifts in the Body of Christ. It shows that the disciples were paying attention; they wanted to provide more help for the community and then moved forward to organize that work. We all are called to find ways to unite and act in love for one another, each sharing our individual gifts and talents to benefit the larger goals of the faith.
May 5, 2024
This week’s story is from the Book of Acts. It highlights the way the early Christians worked together for the good of everyone in their community. It says they “held everything in common”—rather than saying, “this is mine”—meaning that they shared and looked out for one another. By doing this, they created a community where no one was needy. They even sold their properties and houses to add to the shared wealth of their community. Their shared resources were managed by the apostles, who distributed them to those in need. This was not mandatory, but people who were able did this to share, and to honor God by sharing the resources God had provided. Sharing was a way of showing love and friendship. As Christians today, we are called to share what we have with those in need. Sharing is hard for kids sometimes. It also can be hard for adults, as we might feel ill-equipped or unable to help those who need the most. We often want to hold close the things we have worked hard for. For many, today’s story seems impossible. How could we live in a world where everyone shares all that they have? This might never be possible today, but we can find small and imaginative ways to share. It is important that we acknowledge and help children see that many people are in need, but that there are ways we can share. This story also lends itself to conversation about the basic needs of all humans and how we assure all of God’s people are cared for.
April 28, 2024
Today’s lesson was based on Acts 3:1–10, Peter and John. Today’s story illustrates the wonders of Jesus and his amazing power to heal. During biblical times, poor people who needed assistance would sit by the gates of the temple and ask for help from people who passed by. People sometimes would give them money, food, or clothes. Jesus instructed people to give to everyone who asked. In the story, when a man who is crippled sees Peter and John, he immediately asks them for money. However, Peter tells the man that they have no money for him, and instead offers him something better. Peter commands the man to rise up in the name of Jesus and then pulls him up by the hand. The man is healed by the power of Jesus and begins to walk, leap, and praise God. He even joins Peter and John in the temple. People are amazed to see this man who was unable to move on his own for so long, up and moving about freely. Children also encounter people who need help. They might not always know what to do. We can’t always heal everyone, but we can help with a small task or assist one person at a time. This story includes amazement and surprise, common responses to these kinds of healings. Like many of the stories we have read, there is great mystery in what happened; they give children the space to wonder about Jesus and his teachings, healings, and ministries. As disciples, we can choose to be a witness to the love of Christ to people who are sick and shut in. While we may not be able to heal everyone, we can share the love of Christ with others during times of sickness or trouble. We can share the love that has been shared with us.
April 14, 2024
In today’s Bible story, Jesus gathers his eleven disciples around him on a mountaintop in Galilee. Jesus commissions his disciples with the task of forming a community of believers. This community is to embody Jesus’ presence in the world to strengthen and guide God’s children. However, some of the disciples express doubt. They are still having trouble grasping the mystery of the Resurrection. While some worship Jesus immediately, others have questions. There are many times in the Gospels when the disciples express doubt or disbelief even though they are devoted to Jesus. So it is natural that we, Jesus’ modern disciples, also experience some doubt. Just like the disciples before us, we have to accept a little mystery with our faith. Like them, we must accept that there are some answers we don’t have and some things that can’t be explained. Jesus knows this is a lot for the disciples to take in, and he promises to be with them always as they spread the gospel. We call Jesus’ instructions to form a community of believers the Great Commission. A commission is a call to something God wants you to do. God commissions all of us to share Jesus with the whole world. We do this in many ways, such as ministry and showing kindness, love, and respect. We are called to go and baptize, teach, and serve others. These were central actions in Jesus’ ministry, just as they are central to our calling as followers of Christ. Jesus promises to go with us always, even when we doubt, as we carry out the Great Commission.
April 7, 2024
Today’s lesson is based on Matthew 28:1-10, Resurrection. In this story, women are the first to find the empty tomb. They do not come to anoint Jesus‘s body, like in Mark, they come to see the tomb. Some argue. This is because they remember Jesus’ teachings about his resurrection, and wanted to see if God‘s promise had been fulfilled. As the women approach the tomb, there is a great earthquake, and they see an angel roll the stone away, and sit on top of it. The angel tells the women not to be afraid. The angel says that Jesus is not in the tomb. Jesus is alive! “Go tell the other disciples that Jesus is alive and will meet them in Galilee,” the angel says. In awe and amazement, and maybe fear, the women run to tell the other disciples what the angel had said. But wait! As the women run down the path, Jesus himself appears to them. They fall to their knees when they see Jesus, and he reiterates what the angel had said: “Go, tell the disciples I will see them in Galilee.” A direct command from Jesus to the women – to remember his resurrection, share the good news with others. We have many ways of remembering Jesus’s resurrection. On Easter, we use symbols like Easter lilies to represent the new life offered through resurrection. Resurrection can remind us that with each new day, there is opportunity to see God‘s goodness, and to share that goodness with others. God continues to give us new life, exemplified in the story of Jesus’s resurrection. We may also shout in worship, “Christ is risen!” to remind ourselves and one another of the many ways God offers us new life through the life of Jesus.
March 24, 2024
Today we experienced the excitement of Jesus being welcomed into Jerusalem, even as we know that this week in Jerusalem will result in his death. In Luke 18:31-33, Jesus told his friends, the disciples, that he would be killed in Jerusalem. Jesus and his friends knew as they entered Jerusalem that Jesus’ life on earth was short. Jesus knew he was in danger as he entered Jerusalem, but he did not try to hide. He arrived, almost in defiance of those planning to kill him. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, crowds gathered on the road to greet him as people greeted kings in those days, by spreading their clothes on the road for him to walk on along with palm branches cut from nearby trees. As Jesus passed, the crowds shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” By riding a donkey instead of a horse, Jesus was saying he came in peace. A king would ride a horse if he was coming in war and a donkey if coming in peace. Jesus asserted he was a king of peace for all. There are many symbols in this story. Today we focused on the symbol of the palm branch and the ritual of waving palms on Palm Sunday. We know this is one way we can remember and praise God.
Next week is a Family Worship Sunday as it is Easter. Church School will resume the following Sunday, April 7.
March 17, 2024
Our lesson this week is from Luke 22:39–46, Praying in the Garden. The Bible story begins after Jesus and the disciples have shared the last supper and gone to the Garden of Gethsemane. While his disciples sleep – despite Jesus‘ instructions to pray – Jesus goes to pray. Jesus knew his death was coming soon. He didn’t want to die, and he was probably sad and anxious. He prayed that God would present him with a solution so he wouldn’t have to die, but he also knew it was up to God. After praying, Jesus was visited by an angel. The angel set his mind at peace, and Jesus knew what he had to do. In the story, Jesus provides us with a model for prayer, taking his sadness and his fear and turning it over to God – as we are taught to do. Jesus asks for what he wants, but ultimately prays for God‘s will to be done – as we also are expected to do. The children learned that no matter what is happening, they can pray to God and God will hear them. They can go to God with what is hard, just like Jesus did. It might not change the outcome or take away something painful that has already happened; however, it can bring comfort to know that God goes with us and is present in the middle of our fear and sadness.
March 10, 2024
This week’s lesson came from Luke 22:14–20 The Last Supper. The Passover meal was celebrated each year to mark the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt. Jesus and his disciples would have observed Passover many times throughout their lives. This year, the Passover meal with Jesus would be different from others, but they did not know that. During this meal, Jesus gave thanks for the bread and broke it, and then took a cup and blessed it. Jesus used the bread and the cup, everyday items, to remind the disciples of his body (the bread) and his blood (the cup), given for them, and for us. They have become symbols of God‘s love in Christian churches today. During communion, we recite the familiar words, “Do this in remembrance of me,” and share the bread and cup to remember the life and death of Jesus. We all might practice and participate in communion differently. However, we can remember Jesus and his example by simply sharing a meal. Whether we share a meal with friends and family, or come forward to receive the elements in worship, we have the opportunity to remember. We discussed the importance of remembering Jesus and our faith in many ways, not just on Communion Sunday. We know that it is important to have faith rituals and that we can use our creativity to remember and keep our faith active anywhere we go.
March 3, 2024
This week’s lesson focused on John 13: 1-17, Jesus Washes Feet. Today we explored the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet. As Jesus and his disciples were having a meal, Jesus knelt down and began to wash the feet of his friends. This act typically was something done by a servant, so the disciples were surprised. Peter said to Jesus, “No! You will never wash my feet!” This was a strong response. But Jesus, who soon would be led to his death, had a purpose behind his actions. By washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus wanted to make it clear to the disciples that in God‘s world, all are created equal. The servant and the master are loved equally by God and treated the same. Jesus wanted his friends to remember him by his example of serving others, especially those society said should serve him instead. We, too, can serve like Jesus. This story reminds us of Jesus’s life, and of who we are called to be as his disciples. Some of the children in class thought this was a yucky thing for Jesus to do and not something we do today. We compared this idea of washing other people’s feet with other kinds of service, such as helping a neighbor take out the trash, caring for someone who was sick, or helping a friend clean up a spill. Through this story, we can understand that we are serving like Jesus when we do unexpected acts of love.
February 25, 2024
“Let the children come.” We recalled times that made a difference. For example, David was a young teenager when he defeated Goliath. We turned to another story as found in John 6:1-14. It is the only account of Jesus feeding the 5,000 that includes the boy who generously shared his food. When he made that decision, the young boy at that moment became a partner with Jesus in a miracle. Makes you wonder if anyone else in the crowd had food that they chose not to share. An opportunity missed. Jesus knew exactly what he would do then. Just as he knows how to solve our problems. He looks for participation on our part as a demonstration of faith. Lenore Kurz
February 11, 2024
This week’s Church School class lesson was based on Mark 4:35–41, Jesus Calms the Storm. In this Bible story, Jesus has been teaching large crowds, and decides to take some time away with the disciples. Jesus and the disciples take a boat on the sea of Galilee. Jesus, tired from teaching and ministering, falls asleep. Soon, a storm hits, the boat shakes, and the disciples are afraid. They go to Jesus for help and are surprised to find him sleeping. How can anyone sleep when there is a chance the boat might be overtaken by water and they all might drown? But Jesus remains calm. He gets up and calms the storm. He then asks the disciples why they are scared, as if their feelings of fear are unnecessary. After Jesus woke and handled the storm, the disciples were amazed. What amazing power Jesus has! There is so much mystery in the story. What a gift it is to know that there is someone like Jesus who can be present with us in the midst of our life storms! It reminds us that there is always something bigger to rely on when we are overwhelmed. The children in our class are learning that the teachings in the Bible and prayer can help us in so many ways. We have to be ready to listen and be aware of God‘s guidance. There will be no Sunday School on February 18 due to Presidents’ Day weekend.
February 4, 2024
Today’s lesson focused on Matthew 6:5-15, The Lord’s Prayer. We read through the prayer several times exploring the text, defining the words and figuring out what it all meant. We decided that the Lord’s Prayer was a great prayer to pray when you don’t know what else to pray for and that Jesus wanted us to pray all the time. We prayed this simple version: God in heaven, your name is holy. Let what happens in your kingdom happen on earth. Give us everything we need. Forgive us; help us to forgive others. Help us make good choices, instead of bad ones. We are thankful that Jesus taught us how to pray this way.
January 28, 2024
Lepers, Samaritans and Other Outcasts – Luke 17:11-19
The story of ten lepers being healed by Jesus and only one leper said “thank you” has been taught to generations of children. The lesson: say “Thank You”. But wait, there’s more. We got to work exploring this whole event and came up with questions. What is leprosy? Why were the nine in a hurry to show themselves to the priests? How did Jewish rules on health and hygiene affect them? What about the one who remained behind and thanked Jesus – and he was a Samaritan? Who were the Samaritans and why was that significant? Why were they scorned? Finally, what is our take- away here? How does Jesus treat the disabled and minorities? How should we treat the “uncool” classmate who gets picked on by the mean kids? You know him. You might find him standing by the fence, left behind after the captains chose their teams. –Lenore Kurz
January 21, 2024
Today’s scripture was Matthew 4:18–22, Calling the Disciples. Jesus was walking along the sea of Galilee one day when he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew, fishing. “Come follow me, “Jesus said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people”. The brothers immediately left their nets and followed Jesus. Farther down the beach, he came across two other brothers, James and John, who were repairing nets with their father, Zebedee. Jesus repeated what he had just said to Simon and Andrew. Then James and John left their father to follow Jesus too. Simon, Andrew, James, and John were the first disciples of Jesus. Today in class we talked about what we thought Jesus meant when he said, “I’ll show you how to fish for people”. We realized that fishing for people could be as simple as being kind to them. Being friends with people that maybe no one else is friends with. We can share our gifts and talents with others. That way, others can see what a disciple of Jesus is like. We are thankful that God is calling us to follow him.
January 7, 2024
This week in Church School, we talked about Jesus‘s baptism as found in Matthew 3:13–17. When Jesus grew up, he was ready to begin his ministry He went to the Jordan River to see John the Baptizer. John was baptizing people in the river. Jesus asked John to baptize him, but John tried to stop him. “I need to be baptized by you!” said John. Jesus said to John, “Please baptize me. It is important for my ministry.” So, John agreed to baptize Jesus. When Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens opened to him, and he saw the spirit of God come down like a dove and rest on him. A voice from heaven said, This is my son. I love him. He makes me happy.” The class talked about baptism, and what it means to be washed by water and the Spirit. We decided that every time we turned on our faucet, and let the water run through our hands, we would say “God loves me. God is pleased with me. God is happy with me.” It’s an easy way to remind ourselves of God’s love.
December 31, 2023
Today’s lesson focused on Matthew 2:1–12, the story of The Magi. In a far away place they were Wise Men, Magi, who spent their time watching the stars. One night the Wise Men noticed a very special star in the sky. It was extra bright, and seemed to be moving ahead of them. The Magi thought this special star would lead them to the new king. The Magi wanted to bring special gifts to the new king. The Wise Men packed three gifts fit for a king – frankincense, gold, and myrrh. The Magi then set out to follow the star. They arrived in Bethlehem, following the special store until it stopped over a stable. When the Magi entered the stable, they met the new king, Jesus, and His mother, Mary. The Wise Men knelt down and offered their gifts to Jesus. Our class discussed the fact that gold, frankincense, and myrrh were gifts that would be given to a worldly king. Not necessarily a gift for a baby. We also talked about what our gifts were. Not the presents under the tree, but gifts that God has given us. Were we patient, kind, creative or artistic? Would these be gifts that would be good enough for our king? As we thought about the new year beginning, we decided to give some of our gifts back to Jesus by sharing them with others. We prayed, thanking God for the gift of Jesus. We also prayed that we will be able to share the gift of the Good News with others in 2024. Happy New Year to all!
December 17, 2023
Thank you to Liam LaVoie, Janah Whittaker-Roth, Lauradjeen Jacques and Chloe Jacques, for sharing the story of Christmas during our church service this week. They did a wonderful job, and we are very proud of them!
This week in Church School, we looked at the word according to John, Chapter 1 verses 1-14. Our specific focus was on verse 9: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” As we continue on our Advent journey, we focus on the light that is coming. We talked about what the word light means. One child said it is something that you use to see in the darkness and another student said that it means something that is not heavy. And of course, both of these are true and both of these are ways we can describe Jesus. He is the light that drives away darkness and by following him we can turn our burdens over to him, and he releases the weight and makes our way light. Naturally, the Grinch did not know about this. At this point in our reading of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, we were with the Grinch on his homemade sled, in his fake Santa suit, as he careens down the hill towards the town of Whoville, set on stealing all the things that he believes makes Christmas important for the Whos. But of course, the point that he is missing, the true importance of Christmas, is the Light that is coming with Baby Jesus. So, after some discussion, we decided that if we keep the Light in front of us, we will be safe in the darkness and our travels will be easy.
December 10, 2023
This week in Church School, we continued our journey toward joy with verses from Matthew 2:1–15. Specifically we looked at Matthew 2:10, “When they saw the star, they were filled with joy”. The Bible story tells us about the magi following the star to find the baby Jesus. The journey was long, and it was likely difficult. However, when the magi found the child, they were filled with joy. In the lesson, we also read more about the Grinch. In the next section of the story, we saw the Who-village excitedly preparing for Christmas. They were buying toys, making noise, hanging stockings, and spreading joy. This bothered the Grinch. He did not want to share in the Christmas joy. So, the Grinch made a plan to ruin Christmas. The magi, the Whos, and the Grinch are all leading us on a journey toward Christmas. All the characters in our stories are preparing for Christmas in different ways. When reading these stories, we can see that our individual journeys towards celebrating the birth of Jesus can look different for everyone. Sometimes it takes time to find joy at Christmas. Each of us experiences the season differently, but all of us will end the season discovering the joy that Christmas brings.
December 3, 2023
Today we began our study of Matt Rawle’s book The Heart That Grew Three Sizes: Finding Faith in the Story of the Grinch. This book explores the familiar Christmas story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and ways the Grinch’s transformation and redemption point us to aspects of the Christian faith, especially the hope we find in Jesus’s birth. Today’s lesson focuses on Luke 1:26-56, and the specific verse “Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her.” ~Luke 1:45. We also read the very beginning of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, in which it is quickly revealed to us that the Grinch hated Christmas. The Bible story is about Mary and the birth of Jesus. Although the angel’s announcement brought Mary much confusion and fear, Mary finds joy. Joy is what the Christmas season is all about. But the Grinch does not understand this quite yet. First the Grinch must go on a journey in which he discovers Christmas means more than what he thought. It’s a journey toward joy. Our journey toward the joy of Christmas takes place through the season of Advent. It is our movement toward the joy of Christmas. With Mary as our guide, together we (and the Grinch) can welcome the joyous news of the coming of Christ Jesus.
November 19, 2023
In Church School this week we focused on Genesis 28:10–22. Jacob finally got the birthright in the blessing that rightfully belonged to Esau. However, because of Esau’s anger, Jacob had to flee his home and family. As Jacob was leaving his home, he grew tired. He found a stone, placed it near his head, lay down to sleep, and had a very vivid dream. He dreamed that there was a large staircase that started on the ground and reached into the sky. God appeared in Jacob’s dream, and promises to be with Jacob and bless him and all of his descendants – promises that God had made to both Abraham and Isaac. When Jacob awoke, he knew God was present with him in that place. Jacob had not been expecting a visit from God, but he knew when he woke that God had been there with him. God came to Jacob when he was tired and scared. God sometimes shows up in our lives, and in very unexpected ways. We might not have vivid dreams of angels and staircases. However, there might be times when we least expect it, that God leads us and shows us a new way. This can happen through prayer. There are no limits to where God might show up. If we will just pay attention, we can find God everywhere.
November 5, 2023
Today’s lesson found us studying Genesis 25:29-34. Esau and Jacob continued to grow up. Esau still enjoyed hunting, and spending time outdoors, while Jacob enjoyed cooking and working in the tent. One day, Esau returned home from hunting. Jacob was making lentil stew, and Esau was very hungry. “Can I have some lentil stew and some bread, Jacob?“ Esau asked. “Sure, if you trade me your birthright for some stew,“ Jacob said. Esau thought about this. His birthright would make him the leader of their family when they became adults. That was still several years away. He was hungry now. Did he really need to be the leader and get all the family’s riches? Or did he need to eat? “You can have my birthright,“ said Esau. “One bowl of stew, coming right up!“ said Jacob. After reading the story, we wondered what would we have done if we were Esau? And what would we have done if we were Jacob? We are thankful that God is always with us when we have to make difficult decisions. How helpful would it have been if Esau had prayed to God before he gave away his birthright? We know that God is always there to help us and to listen to us when we pray. We are very thankful for this blessing!
October 29, 2023
Today’s lesson was the story of Jacob and Esau, taken from the book of Genesis 25:19–28. Isaac grew up and married a woman named Rebecca. They prayed to God for a child. When it was time for Rebecca to have a child, she discovered that she was going to have twins! Isaac and Rebecca had two boys and, although they were twins, the boys were very different from each other. One twin was born with red hair and was very hairy. They named him Esau. Esau was born first. He loved to hunt and be outside. Isaac loved Esau very much. The other twin was named Jacob. Jacob liked to stay at home and helped Rebecca cook and care for the house. Rebecca loved Jacob very much. Jacob and Esau were blessings to Isaac and Rebecca and we are blessings to one another. We are blessings in our family, in our church, with our friends and with our community. As we move through each day, we are to remember that we are special and we are all blessings from God.
October 22, 2023
This week we learned that God keeps His promises! In Genesis 21:1-7 we read that Sarah did have a child, just as God had promised. Abraham and Sarah had waited a long time for God’s promise to be fulfilled. There were probably times they wondered if this would ever happen. Still, they remained faithful to God. When Isaac was born, Sarah laughed. Her laughter was one of joy! The joy of having a son and the joy that God’s promise was kept. Abraham and Sarah had faith. They believed their God was always present, even in times of doubt. They had continued to hope even when it was hard to do so. When things seem dark and hopeless, we can remember the faith of Abraham and Sarah and look to God who always keeps His promises!
October 15, 2023
This week in Church School, we began our study of the story of Abraham and Sarah, focusing on Genesis 15, God’s Promise to Abraham. In this story, Abraham and Sarah had faith in God. They took a long journey to the land that God had promised to give to them. When they arrived, they built a new life but they were still waiting for a child. God spoke to Abraham and told Abraham to look at the stars in the nighttime sky. There were more stars than Abraham could count. God said, “I promise, you will have as many children as the night sky has stars.” Though he couldn’t imagine how God would give him so many children, Abraham had faith in God’s promise. When we have faith, we believe God is present with us and God’s presence gives us hope. When we look at the stars, we are to remember that God is with us. We will have faith and God will bring us hope.
October 1, 2023
Thank you to Mrs. Lenore Kurz for teaching our Church School class this week. The lesson included some Bible navigating skills and stories of Jesus from Mark 4:37 – 5:43. Finally, there was a review of the meaning of Communion before heading across the street to participate in Church.
September 25, 2023
Our Church School lesson this week comes from Genesis 2:10-23, God Creates Helpers. In Genesis we have learned that God created the earth and all the creatures, both plants and animals, of the earth. God then created humankind in His likeness. Adam was to live in and care for the earth and its creatures. Adam was also tasked with naming all the animals. But God saw that man was lonely. So God created a helpmate for Adam. Together, Adam and Eve cared for all that God had made. And God saw all that He had created – the earth, the animals and the people. God saw that it was all beautiful and very good. We know that we are created to be caring and creative people. Using our creativity and caring for our world around us is how we can honor God.
September 17, 2023
This week in Church School we continued our study in Genesis. In Genesis 1:26-2:4 we learn about the creation of humankind. God looked at the beautiful world that He had created and thought that the world needed people to enjoy and care for it. So God set His creativity in motion and created humankind. We learned that we are made in the image of God! God made us with His own hands and so we looked at our own hands and saw that although we are the same, each of us having hands, we are also uniquely different, with each of us having unique lines upon our palms and fingers. God shaped us this way so we can be unique individuals. As we are a part of God’s creation, we have been instructed by God to care for the earth and all the living creatures within. In just this small section of scripture, we have learned how we are created in God’s own image as unique individuals with the divine guidance and expectation to care for the beautiful earth we live on and the amazing creatures living here with us!
September 10, 2023
Welcome back to Church School! Today’s lesson was focused on Genesis 1:20-25. God created the earth and saw that it was good and beautiful. But there was something missing. So God decided the earth needed living things. God made trees, grasses, and flowers of all colors. Then God added fish for the waters, birds for the sky and animals for the land and God delighted in all of His creations. We are thankful to the Lord for all the wonderful and interesting living things He has created, including us!
May 21, 2023
This week in Church School we learned about the Ascension of Jesus from Acts 1:6-11. We learned that, although Jesus cannot stay here on the earth with us, we can have him in our hearts. We can speak with him through prayer, and we can do his work by helping others. Please note that this was the last Church School for the school year. We will start up again on September 10, 2023.
May 14, 2023
Today in Church School we learned about the Holy Spirit. We read John 14:15-21. We learned that Jesus sent the Spirit of Truth who abides in us. This is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our helper, teacher, comforter, and friend. He becomes a part of us when we become a Christian and understand that Jesus died and rose for us. When we’re ready to live our lives in honor of God, the Holy Spirit will lead us and guide us every day. We are grateful for the Holy Spirit!”
May 7, 2023
Today our Church School students went fishing with the disciples! We read the story from John 21:1-14 wherein the disciples spent an entire night fishing only to come up empty handed. Jesus comes along at daybreak and tells them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat and suddenly 153 fish were caught in their nets. This miracle was the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples and from it the students learned that if we stay on the “right” side of life, living with Jesus in our hearts, we will always be equipped with what we need and will live a good life in God’s care.
April 30,2023
This week our focus was on shepherds and sheep. We read through John 10:1-10 and our focus was initially on sheep – what they eat, where they live, what they give us and who takes care of them. Then we discussed the responsibilities of a shepherd – they always provide what the sheep need and how they always protect the sheep. Then we made the leap in our thinking to the idea that we are just like sheep and that Jesus is just like a shepherd. We have needs like food, shelter and protection from our enemies and Jesus can help us with the needs that we have! Our scripture of focus was “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him and the sheep hear his voice”~John 10:3. If we reach out to Jesus with our needs, he will certainly hear us and help us.
April 23, 2023
This week Church School students learned about the road to Emmaus. We learned that sometimes we don’t recognize Jesus right away. We have to look a little deeper to find His goodness. Students practiced by thinking about disguises and masks and how if we look past those disguises and masks we can find the goodness and blessings that life has to offer.
April 16, 2023
This week in Church School we spent our time together retelling the story of the sadness of Good Friday through to the joy and wonder of Easter Sunday and the Risen Christ. The children learned to tell the story using a storyboard featuring the tomb and depictions of Jesus after his death, and of the angel who tells of the Good News. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” Luke 24:5 Good News indeed!
April 2, 2023
Today in Church School we discussed Matthew 21:1-11, Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King. We learned that instead of a royal entrance into the city, complete with a majestic steed, flowing robes, glittering jewels, triumphant music and grand proclamations, Jesus approached the city with humility, connected to the common man and our Father in heaven simultaneously. Our craft time found us tracing each of our hands onto green paper, cutting them out and gathering them together. We mixed our “palms” together and glued them onto sticks, representing the palm branches waved by the witnesses to Jesus and the beginning of Holy Week. While joining hands together as Christians, we can sing out “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
March 26,2023
Today we learned the story of Lazarus, who was a friend of Jesus and brother to Mary and Martha. While Jesus is preaching, he gets word that Lazarus is ill and dying. Jesus goes to him, but it is too late. Jesus called upon his Father in heaven to save Lazarus, which God does. Lazarus is resurrected from the dead. Our students learned that we too can call upon our friend Jesus and be brought away from darkness and into the Christian life. If we follow the teachings of Christ and pray to our heavenly father, we too can have a new life.
March 19, 2023
Today in Church School we heard the story in John 9 about Jesus healing the blind man and by healing the blind man, Jesus knew that others would see His light and want to follow it. We talked about our eyes and our heart, how we know that our eyes help us to see and we know that our heart keeps our blood moving and our body alive. So we figured that by using our eyes to see Jesus it will help us to open our hearts as well to help others. Ephesians 1:18 says in part, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you”. When we prayed, we asked that Jesus help us to open our eyes so that we can love and serve those around us.
March 12, 2023
This week’s scripture teaches us about the woman at the well. We thought about how we cannot live without actual water as our bodies need it and we thought about how our bodies use water – to sustain us, to wash us clean and for enjoyment. Then we looked at what Jesus said -”Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” ~John 4:13-14. We learned that Jesus is what we need to sustain us, wash us clean and give us joy in our lives!
March 5, 2023
February 26, 2023
February 12, 2023
Valentine’s Day will be upon us this week, so our thoughts have turned to love. As children, we are thankful for the love we receive from our parents, and we are thankful for the love we receive from God, our Father in Heaven. Just as earthly parents provide guidance and boundaries, God our Father has provided us with the 10 Commandments. He has given us these commandments because he loves us and it is through obeying these commandments that we can grow as his children. In Church School this week, we reviewed the 10 Commandments and thought about how these commandments help us be better people and how as better people, we are able to share the love of God with others. Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!
February 5, 2023
Today in Sunday school, the children learned about being salt and light. Our scripture was taken from Matthew 5:13-16. We learned that what Jesus is telling us to do is to share His light through our actions so that others can see what life is like when following Jesus. And we are to add our own flavor to the world showing others how we live our lives abundantly with joy. Our craft this week was to draw a picture of a candle, showing the light that Jesus represents. We then outlined our drawing with glue sprinkled with table salt representing the flavor we can bring to our lives. We pray with thanksgiving that God allows us to be His salt and light to the world.
January 29, 2023
This week in church school we focused on Matthew 5:1-12 The Beatitudes. We learned that the word beatitude means blessing and this scripture teaches us that God’s gift of blessing is granted to those who choose to be disciples. We listened to the scripture and talked about how blessed we are already. But we also know that there are many times when we need God’s help. When we live our lives according to Jesus’ teachings and God’s word, The Beatitudes tells us that we will receive even greater blessings. We colored and created a Beatitudes spinner to help us remember them and we did a Beatitudes word search. As children, our students are pure in heart and as our scripture tells us “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God”.
January 22, 2023
January 8, 2023
Mark 1:4-11 The Baptism of Jesus
We shared the story of John baptizing Jesus and we thought about the verse “And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness” ~Mark 1: 11 We learned that John encouraged people to be baptized to show that they had changed their hearts and lives. When Jesus is baptized, the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, descends on Jesus. A voice from heaven declares “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness” This heavenly declaration affirms God’s love for God’s Son. God also shows us love in this act as well, as God happily claims us as his beloved children. We drew pictures of Jesus being baptized by John and painted with watercolors to show the blue water of baptism (our sins being washed away) and yellow sunshine representing God’s light and love for us. Then we made beaded bracelets with blue and yellow beads to remind us that God’s forgiveness and love goes with us wherever we go!