Sunday School Preschool/Kindergarten Class

Episcopal Children's Curriculum. Year of the Cross Unit 4 Sunday March 22 through Sunday May 31st, 2009

Teachers: Nancy Dollison and Becky Jordon will be teaching this unit. Please do not hesitate to contact them if you have any questions or concerns. Contact details are on the Teacher's Schedule in your Parent's Information Pack.

Color: This class meets in the Blue Room. The bulletin board at the top of the stairs is color coded with a section for each class so please check the blue section for class updates and reminders of what is being taught each week.

Age Group: This class is for children aged 3+ through those entering Kindergarten in September 2008. We will work with parents to help decide when a child is ready to participate in these more formal classes, which is usually around age 3.

 

Year of the Cross Unit 4: The Church Sings

About this Unit: Music affects us in many ways. It can make us laugh, weep, or dance. It can energize and stir us. It can arouse every kind of feeling and emotion. Music is one of the chief forms of religious expression. Some of the most powerful music ever composed declares the glory of God, and pro­claims the good news of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. The words of hymns and service music from the hymnal are connected to our personal experience. Mo­ments of joy - such as baptisms, confirmations, and weddings - bring to mind the hymns that were sung on those occa­sions. Simi­larly, times of sorrow are frequently associated with music. Scripture passages and excerpts from The Book of Common Prayer that the children encounter are cited below. Look up the passages and excerpts with your child and show them where they are in the Bible and Prayer Book. The Take-Home Cards given to learners each week feature illustrations and text related to session themes. They also include useful instructions for parents.

Summaries of Unit 4 lessons

March 22, Session 1: “We sing our Praise to God” tells how the whole creation inspires music and our hymns of praise. We praise God in song for all that God has made. (Psalm 96:1a)

March 29, Session 2: “Hosanna” focuses on the Liturgy of the Palms. The children learn to wave palms fronds and branches and join in saying, “Ho­sanna!” to express the joy of the event. (Matthew 21:9b)

April 5 (Palm Sunday so the children will start in church), Session 3: “Holy Week” reviews Holy Week events and includes these images: towel and water (for foot washing), bread and wine at the Last Supper, the cross of Good Friday. (Matthew 27:54c)

April 12 – Easter Day. No Sunday School. Easter Egg Hunt after church.

April 19, Session 4: “The Lord is Risen Indeed” concentrates on the Resurrection greeting, “Christ is risen,” and the re­sponse, “The Lord is risen indeed.” (Luke 24:34)

April 26, Session 5: “Alleluia! Alleluia!” explores the use of the “Alleluia!” that is said and sung in celebration of the good news of Jesus Christ's resurrection. (Holy Eucharist, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 355)

May 3 – Bishop’s Visitation. Please encourage children to attend Church. We will have some group time for younger children; more details nearer the date.

May 10, Session 6: “We Sing Our Praise to Jesus Christ” tells how the people of the Church sing hymns of praise for Jesus Christ. (Holy Eucharist, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 358)

May 17, Session 7: “Sing About Loving God and Others” is about the second commandment that we should “love (our) neighbor” as ourselves. Love of neighbor is a familiar theme in our Church's hymns. (Matthew 22:37-39) This is also Recognition Sunday when student attendance and teachers will be recognized in church.

May 24 – Memorial Weekend. No Sunday School but children are encouraged to attend Family Worship.

May 31, Session 8: “The Holy Spirit Comes At Pentecost” celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. At Pentecost we sing our praise for the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:1)

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