Starting in the Fall of 2021, we began a new curriculum design for Sunday School with a theme of "Sunday's Cool". We began using modules of 4-6 units, rotating through the units on a weekly basis. Similar to a VBS program, the units involve story, craft, drama, music and kitchen activities.
Our initial module was "What is Worship: teaching children about the prayer book". We followed with "What makes our Church Special", an Advent module on preparation and gifts, "Emanuel, God with Us", "Pray without Ceasing" and "The Mystery of Easter". The children have learned about the history of St. John's, walked a prayer labyrinth, made crosses, stained glass windows and prayer beads, baked pretzels, made Communion bread and Resurrection buns, drawn their own Stations of the Cross among many activities.
We have a core group of 10-12 students each week and renovated our nursery room into a nursery/classroom shared space with the flexibility to suit our active new Sunday School program. As sessions dictate, we will also be using the kitchen and the Parish Hall theater space.