About
Sunday School Education in the Lutheran Church
From the time of the Reformation, the Lutheran church has been a
teaching and learning church. Throughout his life, Martin Luther, a
university professor, pursued the reform of education on all levels as
an integral part of his reform of Church and society. He taught that
education served the common good of Church and society: Schools for both
boys and girls were necessary so that the Church would have educated and
faithful pastors and the civil community would have wise and good
rulers. Luther understood the Christian life to be one of service to God
and neighbor in one's everyday places of responsibility, and education
was needed to equip Christians for this vocation. Luther insisted that
Christians learn to read, understand, and interpret the Bible and know
the content of their faith. He also stressed the importance of teaching
faith and love to children in the home by word and example.
Faith
formation begins at baptism and continues throughout life. Today, too many
adults do not consider their own ongoing and intentional faith formation to be
vital to their lives as Christians, therefore; too many children brought to the
baptismal font fade away from the community of faith as they move toward
becoming adults.
Both home and congregation are responsible for passing on the
faith to children and youth. Parents can nurture and instruct in the faith by
offering a good example to their children: Here's how:
- By modeling prayer
- With hymn singing
- With Bible reading and private devotions
- By attending worship and Sunday school with their children
- By participating in the life of the congregation
- By witnessing to the gospel
- By faithfully living out their promise to God
St. Paul's Sunday School Classes
St. Paul's welcomes children,
youth, and adults of all ages to actively participate in worship, Sunday school,
confirmation, and youth ministry. The Christian Education programs that are
available at St. Paul's during the Sunday school hour include the following:
St. Paul's Sunday School Secretary is Mildred Zepp who has assisted in the
ministry for the past 25+ years.
St. Paul's is committed to the safety and
protection of our children,
click here for St. Paul's Child Protection Policy.
Primary and Secondary Departments
Preschool and Kindergarten:
- Children learn about God's amazing love,
grace and building Christian character through stories and parables of the Bible.
- Class goals: Grace and Jesus Loves Me
- Teachers - Mary Hall and Sabrina Schue assisted by Deb Jemison Sherrie LaMotte
(secretary)
Grades 1-3:
- Using the Augsburg Fortress "Seasons of the Spirit"
curriculum, each lesson follows the lectionary readings that are read each
Sunday during worship. This curriculum allows for study discussion and role
playing to learn about God's amazing love for us and how we can be instruments
and examples of God's love for each other.
- Class goals: Books of the Bible & The Lord's Prayer
- Teachers - Janet Cutsail and Jeannette Howard with LeeAnn
Miller (music)
The Kindergarten class and Grades 1 -3 spend the first 30 minutes of the
Sunday school hour in choir practice, giving the children an opportunity to use
their singing talents to actively participate in the life of the congregational
worship services.
Grades 4-6:
- Uses the Seasons of the Spirit material
that follows the lessons each week, so these young scholars have a much better
understanding of what is read in church. We also discuss how the Bible lessons
relate to current day issues - which can lead to lively and sometimes too loud
class time. Stop in to check out our "classroom commandments" or ask
one of the kids. These students are our future - let's try to help them be
better Christians by attending Sunday school. Parents are welcome, also.
- Class goals: The Ten Commandments & The Apostle's Creed
- Teachers - Mark and Jan Sweigart
Grades 7-8 (Confirmation):
- Is a two year program to prepare baptized
Christians to participate more fully as adults in the life and mission of the
church. Classroom instruction, committee meeting attendance, worship attendance,
service projects are all part of the program.
- Starting in 2008, students will
participate in a week-long Confirmation Camp at Camp Nawakwa along with
confirmation students from other Lutheran churches in the Littlestown, Hanover,
and Gettysburg area.
- Teacher - Pastor Stellhorn
Grades 9-12 & Young Adults:
- This year we will be studying Ephesians 4:4-6
with the theme "One Body, One God, One Hope".
- Under this verse we will discuss what we get out
of the reading and how it applies to our everyday
life.
- Teacher - Roxann Kline
Adult Department
Coffee 'n Donuts:
- This class is known for serving coffee and donuts
while they discuss life skills, how to relate the Bible to our current living
state of affairs.
- Teacher - Wib Sentz
Kammerer Room:
- The Kammerer Room adult class explores a
current event each week. After a
review of the facts, the event is discussed
in a Biblical perspective, through related
Scripture and questions. This
discussion-based class is open to any adult;
each lesson is completed in a week, so feel
free to join for a single Sunday or for an
extended period.
- Teachers - Jeff Plattenburg and Sue Mauck
Christian Parenting:
- The Christian Parenting Class
explores family relationship issues from
a Christian perspective, in a roundtable
discussion format. We focus on
raising Godly children in an increasing
challenging world. We also discuss ways
to improve our marriage and other family
relationships.
- This year we will be looking at
parenting from a biblical point of view.
- You are welcome to join us for the
year or just drop in anytime.
- Teachers -
Jeff and Robin Caples
Pastor's Bible Study:
- Meets in the Kammerer Room
during the week. Meeting times range
from Tuesday evenings at 7:00PM or
Tuesday's at noon.
- Led
by Pastor Stellhorn.
Living Hope:
- This class is studying the 4 gospels,
currently the book of John.
- Teachers - Pete and Ruth Pautenis
Substitute teachers and helpers include Jill Baird, Robin Caples, Mark
Sweigart and Sue Mauck.
