Avon Congregational Church
6 West Main Street
Avon, CT 06001
Telephone: 678-0488

Jennifer DeSimas,
Director of Christian Education and Youth
ceminister@avon-church.org

CE Calendar

Christian Ed & Youth News

From the Christian Education Office:

It is in community
that we come to see
God in the other.

It is in community
that we see
our own emptiness filled up.

It is community
that calls me
beyond the pinched horizons of my own life,
my own country,
my own race,
and gives me the gifts
I do not have within me.

--Joan Chittister

In July, the Board of Christian Education met to discuss the upcoming Sunday school year. For some time now we’ve struggled with an issue that is common to many 21st century churches—a declining Sunday School enrollment, and the children’s apparent lack of knowledge about worship services—what to do, how to behave, the meaning of the different parts of the service, and more. We remember that, as children, we sat through many church services without crayons or chapter books, and we became accustomed to it, but nowadays it seems as though sitting through a worship service is excruciating for children.

Why? Well, without getting into an analysis of the entertainment choices of today’s youth or a thesis on the brain activity of our youngsters, I think we all can acknowledge that times have changed, and children today are different from the children of 30 years ago. They are active learners, preferring movement and hands-on exploration. They are deeply curious, seeking the “whys” and “hows” along with the “whats.” We know that our children are learning more, and faster, than we were ever asked to do. Moreover, we don’t included them in worship too many times throughout the year; thus, they aren’t used to being there.

The BOCE has begun to address these issues by exploring the latest methods of Sunday School teaching. During the past two years, we have held Rotation Workshops two or three times a year. Each time, the students learned about a Bible story by participating in science, drama, cooking, or games workshops over a four- to six-week period. Each time, the children were engaged, enthusiastic learners, and attendance went up for that session. We have successfully begun to update our teaching methods in the Sunday School.

Now we would like to add consistent congregational worship to the Christian education program. The Board and Rev. Brenda and I have set a calendar for the Sunday School year that combines Rotation Workshops with regular attendance in worship. Every four to six weeks, we will have Congregational Worship, when everyone is encouraged to attend services. Some of these services will occur on Communion Sundays, some will not. Some will occur on holiday weekends, some will not. All will be services with readings and messages that are fitting for everyone to hear and understand.

In past years, I think, an “all-church” worship service was a student’s “Get Out of Jail Free” card for Sunday School—“Oh—no Sunday School? Yippee! A day off! Wait, what’s that? I have to sit in church? No way!”

But attending a worship service is educational. It’s where we learn the songs and rituals and sacraments of our faith. It’s where we learn to sit quietly and listen for the still, small voice within us. It’s where we learn to care about the troubles and joys of our immediate church family. It’s where we learn that we are a part of a community and a tradition that is centuries old, where we begin to sense our place among the generations of followers.

Parents, please bring your children to these Congregational Worship services. Don’t let them talk you out of it. Discuss the service and your expectations beforehand (as we will also do in Sunday School), and come to church that day.

And Members of ACC, please attend these services, too. Don’t look in the bulletin one week, see that the following week will be a Congregational Worship service, and decide that will be a good Sunday to stay home—the kids are so restless and noisy anyway. This is our church family, the family of Christ. Let us all be welcoming and welcomed. It is when we gather in God’s name that we honor Him the most, and when we have the opportunity to teach our youngsters to honor Him too. This is one of our basic responsibilities—and privileges—as Christian adults.

I ask that you keep our children and Church School in your prayers as we embark on another year of love and service in God’s name.

Blessings,
Jennifer

Sunday School Notes
Welcome back to Sunday School! I hope you all have had a restful summer with lots of time to enjoy God’s many summertime blessings.

Our new theme is Gathering in God’s House, emphasizing our aim of having the children more involved in the life of ACC and also of offering more intergenerational events. Our mission recipient for 2008-09 is Loaves and Fishes of Hartford. Even though we focused on this organization a short two years ago, we decided to work with them again—so many more people are dealing with poverty and hunger as fuel and food prices continue to rise. We are proud of the work that we have accomplished with Loaves and Fishes in the past, and look forward to another year of working with them.

We will have Rotation Sunday School Workshops throughout the year. If you have a special talent (drama, science, cooking, crafts, games) that you would like to share on a short-term basis (four to six weeks) with our Sunday School children, please let me know. This is a wonderful way to meet our children and have a little time with them. Parents, you are especially needed and welcome. Without volunteers, we would have no Sunday School.

Come to the church on September 7 for Homecoming Sunday. Parents can sign up their kids for Sunday school and visit with the teachers in the classrooms. A family-friendly worship service starts at 10:30 a.m. Afterwards, let’s get together for an all-church cook-out and ice cream social!

Sunday school officially starts on September 14. That day, children should attend the worship service and stay through the Children’s Message. Then they’ll leave with their teachers for Sunday school during the Passing of the Peace. Sunday school ends around the same time as the worship service, 11:30 a.m.

I’m looking forward to a Sunday school year filled with peace and friendship—I can’t wait to see you all on September 14!

Blessings,
Jennifer
 

Youth Notes
We have several possible events coming this fall for all ACC youth. Watch for details and a calendar in the mail. Parents, all kinds of help (chaperones, drivers) will likely be needed; please consider what events you would like to help with, and contact Jennifer deSimas or Joan Miller.

Occasionally this year, we’ll be combining our youth groups with the kids and teens from WACC for outings and mission trips, and hope that everyone can get to at least a few of these. Mr. Vibert, the youth director at WACC, and I are planning on New York City for the YSOP trip in March. Also, watch the youth bulletin board (outside Classroom 7) for photos of June ‘08 Heads Up! Hartford camp.