Sunday School Information: The purpose of St. Andrew’s Sunday School is to bring the children of the church together to learn about Jesus and his life; to help them understand the bible by bridging everyday events with biblical events. We also want to encourage them to be the caring individuals Jesus wants each of us to be.
The job of the Christian mentors is to create a comfortable and secure setting which fosters a sense of community among the children and allows the children to blossom.
Sunday School Superintendent - Victoria Espenshade
Assistant Sunday School Superintendent - Craig Vaughn
Sunday School Superintendent can be contacte at 609-744-8426 or via email at sundayschoolstandrewschruch@gmail.com
Nursery (2 to 3 years old)
Pre-K /Kindergarten (4 and 5 year olds)
Mentor – Marquita Speed
Primary -1st thru 3rd Grade (6, 7, and 8 years old)
Mentor – Simi Chandy
Intermediate -Grades 4th thru 6th (9, 10 and 11 years old)
Mentors – Beth Parker and Susan Ryan
Rite 13 - Grades 7th thru 8th (12 and 13 year olds)
Mentor – Lucy AdamsSunday School classes meet each Sunday expect on Youth Service Sunday’s for 2011 - 2012 (Oct 2, Jan 1, March 4, and May 13)
Sunday School children will be with their families during the beginning of the 10am service. The children will then be dismissed right before the Homily to attend class. The children will return to service before the start of Communion.
St. Andrew’s Sunday School Curriculum: “Living the Good News”
For close to three decades, Living the Good News has provided mainline Christian churches with up-to-date Christian education resources based on the ancient cycle of Bible readings known as "the lectionary."
Living the Good News bridges our everyday stories with the timeless stories of our Christian faith-a celebration of God's unending love and grace!
Morehouse Education Resources is a division of Church Publishing Inc. CPI serves the Episcopal Church as well as several other liturgically-minded, ecumenical denominations. The Morehouse Education Resources division is responsible for the development of faith formation resources to serve churches in a variety of settings.
Sunday School Ministries:
The Sunday school participates in various ministries and outreach projects throughout the year. This year, we will sponsor a Fall, Winter, and Spring Outreach Project. This Fall we will be reading books to raise funds for the MS-Read-A-Thon, to help stop the effects of Multiple Sclerosis. Our Winter Outreach will be collecting shoe boxes with everyday items to send overseas for children in third world countries through “Operation Christmas Child”, and in the Spring, we will host “Alex’s Lemonade Stand” to help fight cancer.
The Sunday school will also honor and remember our deceased veterans of St. Andrew’s during Memorial day by helping the local VFW place flags on the their gravesites at the St. Andrew’s Church cemetery.
OUTREACH PROJECTS
Operation Christmas Child - An annual rite of passage for millions of families is Operation Christmas Child, the shoebox ministry managed by Samaritan's Purse bringing hope to disadvantaged children around the world. For more than fifteen years, families across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and other countries have had a wonderful opportunity to impact the lives of less fortunate children across the globe. Through the ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization headed up by Franklin Graham, Operation Christmas Child has delivered more than 46 million shoeboxes filled with toys, personal hygiene items, booklets, school supplies, and other items not readily available locally to many of the recipients. What started out as a relatively small campaign to help homeless children in Romania has expanded into one of the largest relief and evangelical programs of its kind. It isn’t too early to start thinking about how you and your family can participate – Operation Christmas Child is your opportunity to impact young lives as well as demonstrate to your family the real meaning of Christmas giving. St. Andrew’s Sunday School students will be participating in Operation Christmas Child as an Outreach project. Each student is asked to bring in a shoebox with items listed above by Sunday, November 13th.
(MS READaTHON): MS (multiple sclerosis) means “many scars”. The disease has this name because it causes scars on the nerves of the body. The brain sends messages through the nerves to other parts of the body, but when scars form, they slow or stop these messages. As a result, some people with MS may have a hard time moving their arms, legs, or seeing and speaking clearly. The MS READaTHON offers children an opportunity to help people living with MS. The program encourages children to get sponsors and then read as many books as they can. For many children, MS READaTHON provides the first experience of raising funds for a worthy cause. In return for their efforts, the children will be able to choose from a range of prizes.
Please help your child get sponsors (it can be family, friends, and Church members). They also can read any type of genre of books for this project. This fundraiser will begin before the start of Sunday school. This is so we can get a head start on our first Outreach Project of the year. Sponsorships for the MS READaTHON will be announced.
SUNDAY SCHOOL HAS A NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS: sundayschool.standrewschurch@gmail.com. Feel free to reach out to the Sunday school with any thoughts or ideas you have, and also let us know if you are interested in volunteering!
Youth Services:
Quarterly, on the first Sunday of that selected month, the Sunday school holds a “Youth Service” at the 10am in place of class. During this service, children volunteer to participate by doing things such as reading lessons, ushering, greeting and taking up the bread and wine.
Father Chandy uses his sermon time to preach directly to the children, who sit with him during the sermon. During Communion preparation, children join Father Chandy on the altar for a first-hand look at what takes place
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sept 18 - Sunday School Begins
Oct 2 - Youth Service 10am - NO CLASS
Jan 1 - Youth Service 10am - NO CLASS
March 4 - Youth Service 10am - NO CLASS
April 8 - No Class Easter Sunday
May 13 - Youth Service 10am - NO CLASS
J2A & EYC Update
J2A = Journey to Adulthood Program. This program encompasses lessons, community service & fun, social events. The entire St. Andrew’s parish is embracing our young adults as they go through their journey to adulthood. We are all in this together. Keith & Lucy Adams are the coordinators of this program.
The J2A-Rite 13 Class is open to all 6th to 12th graders. They meet three Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. & 1 Saturday evening (The first Saturday, starting January 2012 after 5 p.m. service) a month. It’s not your typical Sunday School class, as you know it. (And yes, there is usually food!) We encourage all young adults to gather with us and then attend the 10 a.m. service. Friends welcomed! Lucy Adams is the facilitator.
EYC = Episcopal Youth Community. The EYC (aka: Youth Group) is open to all 7th to 12th graders. The normal schedule will resume in January with meeting on the 2nd Thursday of each month, unless noted. Due to the many activities in December (see the following schedule) we will not meet on that Thursday. Friends welcomed, even if they are not from St. Andrew’s. Steve Martin has taken on this ministry & is assisted by Lucy Adams.
May 18th- Save the Date! EYC & J2A Community Service & Fun Activity TBA (Confirming details)
May 20th -J2A & EYC – Bagels on the Beach! We will venture to Long Beach Island in the morning; stopping at a local bakery and proceed to the beach for our “class”. Leaving St. Andrew’s at
7:30 a.m. returning by 12 noon. Dress comfortably. Bring a jacket, blanket/towel, beverage, cameras, $ for breakfast. No swimming today. Permission slip needed. RSVP by 5/17 to reserve your seat.
May 24th – EYC Monthly Meeting 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Bring a Friend!
May 27th – Memorial Day Weekend; No class today.
LOOKING AHEAD
June 3rd – J2A Class downstairs of Parish Hall 9 a.m. Favorite Muffin Day!
June 10th – J2A Class in the downstairs of Parish Hall 9 a.m.
June 14th -Monthly EYC Meeting 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
June 17th – Class today will be at the Church picnic; 10 a.m. at Smithville Park. All J2A & EYC members
are encouraged to attend. Be ready for some fun!
June 24th -J2A Class in the downstairs of Parish Hall 9 a.m.
July 1st – No Class today. Happy 4th of July!
July 8th – J2A Class in the Church Hall 9 a.m. (Everyone needed today plan upcoming events!)
July 12th - Monthly EYC Meeting 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
July 29th - J2A & EYC Gathering on the Beach. Today, we will venture to Island Beach State Park for
service, swimming, hiking and more! Tentatively: Leave St. Andrew’s at 8:30 a.m. Return
2:30 p.m. Details to follow.
Together we make the difference