Westminster
HomeWhat are the purposes and goals of Westminster's Christian Education program?
The purpose of our Christian Education program is to contribute to the ongoing development of Christian individuals for full participation within the community of faith and in the world.
The goals of the Christian Education program are to provide foundations in biblical knowledge, Christian tradition, Presbyterian doctrine, and church history. The program also provides opportunities for personal growth, community service, and ways for individuals to articulate their own faith journeys.
So why should I participate in Christian Education?
There is never a time in the human life when God stops working in the life of a Christian. There are many times, however, when we seem to lose our way. These times usually occur when we are out of fellowship with the Body of Christ. Christian Education helps us regain our focus.
What does Westminster's Christian Education program include?
The curriculum plan tries to meet everyone's needs, from infants to adult, and we have specific, individualized Christian Education offerings for all ages. Our rapidly expanding nurseries (available Sundays from 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.) and Children's Church programs are a vital part of Westminster's ministry.
Children's Worship meets during both the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship services during the regular year (and also during the one 10:00 a.m. summer worship service). At the 9:00 service, the children are led downstairs by an usher after the announcements. At the 11:00 service they go downstairs after the "Time with Children" portion of the service. Children's Worship is a special time just for children: through storytelling, group participation, and crafts they learn stories of our faith and how we worship together. The 9:00 a.m. Children's Worship service is led by one of our nursery staff; the 11:00 service is led by a rotating staff of adults from our congregation, along with youth helpers.
We have Sunday School classes for all ages, meeting at 10:00 a.m. during the regular year. There is no Sunday School during the summer (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend).
In addition to the morning Sunday School classes, which provide biblical study and spiritual education, there are also Sunday evening youth fellowship groups : Youth Club (2nd-5th grade) and the Youth Connection (two groups, the Middle School Youth Connection and the High School Youth Connection).
There are other adult Christian Education opportunities. During the week the following groups meet for study and fellowship.Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., we have weekly classes on various aspects of theology. The Friday Breakfast Fellowship meets at 7:00 a.m. on the second and fourth Fridays, and the Thursday Fellowship meets at noon on the day before (that will be the second and fourth Thursdays unless the month comes in on a Friday).
Each summer our Christian Education program offers Vacation Church School (several consecutive evenings), with classes for all ages.
The annual series of confirmation classes and experiences for seventh graders (or older) usually begins in the winter, with an introduction, an outline of what we are doing, and an opportunity to get acquainted as a group. Parents and mentors are included in this first get-together. The 2008 confirmation class will be starting up after January 2008 and will be led by both the Rev. Christina M. B. Carrasco, our Associate Pastor, and Mathew Frease, our Youth Director. The confirmation class is an opportunity for seventh-graders to make their faith their own and begin understanding what it means to be Christian and a member of the church. The class covers aspects of church history, the Bible (where it came from and who wrote it), worship, the sacraments, and a little theology. The biggest and most enjoyable part of confirmation is that each confirmand is partnered with an adult member of the congregation as a mentor. Confirmand and mentor work together on Journey through the Bible as well as spending time getting to know each other. This is a special time for both mentor and confirmand!
Updated 9/2/2007