This year we are introducing Weaving God's Promises, a new, exciting and innovative curriculum especially for children in the Episcopal Church. The goal of Weaving God's Promises is to teach children the way of Christ, not only in the church but also in the world, and to give them a solid grounding for our youth formation programs, which in turn will prepare them for Christian adulthood.

We build this foundation of faith by covering these three areas:

• Holy Scripture. The great stories of the Old and New Testaments are the core of the lessons, with special emphasis on the life and teachings of Jesus. The stories selected for this year fall under the theme "Weaving Our Faith". They cover our story from the Garden to the Redemption by Jesus, and the central message is God stays with us, no matter what!
• The Church. Throughout the year we will weave in lessons about the church year, its seasons and holidays, as well as stories of our faith tradition, history and sacraments.
• Christian Living. Applying Christian principles to our lives as essential to faith. This includes the principles and practices of prayer, outreach and service, Christian ethics, and contemporary issues.

Please note that Church School begins promptly at 9:15 a.m. It is very important to have your child here on time so that he or she can have the benefit of the full 45-minute class time. After dropping off your child in the classroom, you will find coffee available in Puhlman Hall prior to the church service that begins at 9:30.

The children will meet in these age groups so that we can provide age-appropriate activities:

• Preschool (up to age 5). Meets in the Rose Hall Preschool classroom.
• Elementary (first & second grades). Meets in the "Drama" room.
• Intermediate (third, fourth & fifth grades). Meets in the "Art" room.

For infants through two-year-olds, we offer a nursery, staffed with a trained caregiver, providing a safe and caring environment for our littlest ones. The nursery is open on Sundays from 9:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

What about the weekly activities?

Each Sunday, our lesson follows a pattern of Gathering, Story, Prayer, Sharing, Enrichment, and Dismissal. Offering something for every learning style, the activity types are varied and include arts, crafts, dramas, games, and others. At the end of the lesson (approximately 10:00), they are led into church to join their families at the passing of the Peace.

Through this church school curriculum, we hope to foster the spiritual formation and growth of our children in Christ's love and mercy, to teach the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation, and to send our children out into the world as Christ's ambassadors.

Be encouraged and woven together in love. (Colossians 2:2)