Sunday School Primary Class

Episcopal Children's Curriculum Year of the Cross Unit 4

Sunday March 22nd through Sunday May 31st, 2009

Teachers: Melissa Robinson will be teaching this unit, with Monika Hussell as substitute. 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 Orange Room. The bulletin board at the top of the stairs is color coded with a section for each class so please check the orange section for class updates and reminders of what is being taught each week.

Age Group: This class is for children entering 1st through 3rd grades in September 2008.

 

Year of the Cross Unit 4: Saints of the Church

This unit, Saints of the Church, is offered as a means of examining the lives of eight exemplary figures in Christian history—four men and four women. Two of the eight saints, Patrick and Francis, may be familiar figures to the learners. The other six may be new to them. They are among the Saints whom we honor in our liturgies and Christian storytelling. Their lives are reflections of the Church's long story—its struggles, its triumphs, its failures, and its redemptive witness.

Please note, that due to Easter falling in our Unit 4 teaching, we have exchanged some of the Unit 3 lessons which were specific to Easter with some of the Unit 3 lessons.

Summaries of Unit 4 lessons

March 22, Session 1: “Patrick of Ireland” tells the story of Patrick, born in Britain and destined to be a missionary to Ireland. God called him to Ireland and a life of danger as he proclaimed the Gospel of Christ. Among the many stories told about him is the legend that he drove the snakes out of Ireland. His day is March 17. (Matthew 28:19)

March 29, Session 2: “Jesus' Last Week” is devoted to the story of Holy Week. It begins with Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem with his disciples. The next day Jesus drove the money-changers out of the temple and con­tinued his controversial teaching. Following his last meal with his disciples on Thursday, he was betrayed and then cruci­fied on Friday. On Satur­day Jesus lay in the tomb. (Mark 11:8-9)

April 5 (Palm Sunday so the children will start in church), Session 3: “Easter: Christ Is Risen” brings the glad news of Easter—the announcement that Jesus' body was not in the tomb on the morning of the first day of the week when women went there. The activities are designed to emphasize the true meaning of Easter as the Feast of the Resurrection. (Mark 16:6)

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

April 19, Session 4: “The Church Worships the Risen Lord” focuses on the fifty days of the Easter celebration. The Scripture story is from Acts 1, with its account of Jesus Christ's ascent into heaven. (Acts 1:11b)

April 26, Session 5: “Benedict of Nursia” presents a man who chose to live a simple, solitary life. In time he was sought out by others, and he established a community of monks. His Rule has provided a model for spirituality for both clergy and laity through the present day. The Benedictines, in both male and female communities, are noted all over the world for their quiet disciplines of Scripture reading and prayer. His day is July 11. (Proverbs 1:5)

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: “Julian of Norwich” is the story of Lady Julian of Norwich, England. She became an anchoress—a person who lived in quarters attached to a church. One of her windows looked in upon the church so that she could take part in worship. The other opened onto the street. People came to her to share their problems. Her day is May 8. (John 4:25)

May 17, Session 7: “Francis of Assisi” is about Francis of Assisi—known for his love of the poor and his care for animals and birds. He was an itinerant preacher of Christ. Legend has it that he produced the first Christmas crèche. His day is October 4. (Matthew 11:29)

May 24 – Memorial Weekend. No Sunday School. Children are welcome to attend Family Worship.

May 31, Session 8: “Pentecost: Communion of Saints” is about Pentecost and is meant to be used on the Sunday nearest to that Principal Feast of the Church. The story from Acts 2 is shared. Pentecost, as the birthday of the Church, reminds us of our unity in a truly catholic tradition. (Ephesians 6:18)

 

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