Sunday School classes are held at 10:00 a.m. for all ages, toddlers through adults.
Rally Day gathering, beginning the Sunday School year at Westminster
Our rapidly expanding nurseries and Children's Worship programs are a vital ministry of this church. For families visiting or new to our congregation, it is often the first and most important introduction to Westminster.
The nursery (for newborn through 4 years) is available Sunday mornings, 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Our mission for children at Westminster Presbyterian Church is to provide an atmosphere in which they are given the opportunity to experience the stories of our faith. Our Sunday School curriculum this year is in a rotation-model format; this means that children will learn the same story in many different learning styles. Our rotations are Art, Drama, Cooking, Games & Computers, Worship & Music, and Movies.
The class for preschoolers is for ages two, three, and four. There are three classes for children of kindergarten and elementary school age: (1) kindergarten and first grade; (2) second and third grade; and (3) fourth and fifth grade.
Each age group has a "Shepherd" who will be with them the entire year and will go with them to their class each week. The two-, three-, and four-year-olds will rotate within their own classroom with the same teacher for the entire year. Children ages five through fourth grade will go to a new rotation each week with their respective age groups, along with their "Shepherd," who will stay with them the entire year.
The fifth-graders will have a class of their own and will use a mini survey course of the Bible, along with current topic discussions, some fun, and games. This curriculum and format will help prepare them for the Middle School Sunday School program and confirmation.
In addition to the morning Sunday School classes, there are Sunday evening youth fellowship groups: Youth Club (2nd-5th grade) and the Sunday Night Youth at Westminster, (two groups, WAMS for Middle School Youth and SHOW for High School Youth).
You don't have to attend a class from the beginning. You are always welcome, and most of the classes are structured so that if you miss one, it doesn't mean you are out of the loop. Please join us!
The mission of the Adult Christian Education program at Westminster Presbyterian Church is to provide an opportunity to expand our knowledge of the Bible, to address issues of faith, to address issues that present themselves within our denomination, to broaden our knowledge of other religions in order to attain a better understanding and acceptance of them, to address personal/famiy/community concerns, and to have an open forum to review and discuss current topics within our society. All areas of study are explored within the Christian perspective and within the Christian doctrine as it relates to the Presbyterian Church. Each person has a valuable opinion and the right to express that opinion; thus, each of us has an obligation to listen with an open mind and heart, holding each individual in highest esteem regardless of our differences.
Leadership for the sessions may come from volunteers from within the community or the congregation, church personnel, or, in some cases, hired speakers. The learning format depends on the subject matter and can be in the form of book studies, video studies, lectures, or a combination of all three.
During Advent and Lent there are no "topics" classes and instead a special series.
Following are brief descriptions of the programs offered for the spring of 2008.
Sept 14 - Dec 21 The Parables of Jesus
The
Bible Basics class if for adults of all ages and Bible experience. We
are pilgrims in progress who believe that studying the Word is the
foundation for living out the call of God on our lives.
• We are a diverse group, from many different faith traditions.
• We read and compare many different translations of the Bible and question unashamedly.
• We learn from each other, because we believe that God speaks through the Bible to each of us.
•
We want to love God “with all our heart, mind, and strength.”
Thus, we use our intelligence and our life experiences as we read the
Bible to discern what God has to say to each of us. ‘
There are no
prerequisites for this class—everyone is welcome. Join us! This fall we
will be studying the parables of Jesus beginning with the Good
Samaritan. Along with Scripture, we will read Dr. Kenneth E. Bailey’s
book, Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies of the Gospels.
A Presbyterian theologian who grew up as a missionary child and taught
in Lebanon at the Near East School of Theology, Dr. Bailey provides
fascinating insight to the parables. In the four Sundays of Advent, we
will read the Bible account of Christ’s nativity, again using Dr.
Bailey’s book for background. In the Spring, we will choose new Bible
themes depending on the interests of the class.
Mothers in Touch (Prayer Room)
We
are continuing the Sunday School class for Moms with children of
any age. This class is designed to help Moms support each other, and to
give them a format to share ideas and concerns about everything from
diapers to college. There will be copies of the Women’s Devotional Bible
in the classroom and will be used as a spring board for
conversation. This may develop into a weekday or weeknight time
slot so that Sunday School teachers and choir members may attend.
October 26 - November 23
This
fall we will study John Ortberg’s book “The Life You Have Always
Wanted”. This book guides us in the study of what true spiritual life
really looks like, what keeps us from living such a life and how we can
pursue it. There will be a short DVD each Sunday morning followed by a
time for discussion.
"Welcoming the Stranger: Immigration Issues" (Fellowship Hall)
October 26 - November 23 Guest Speakers will be used throughout this series
Churches
and their members have been called upon to act as interpreters,
leaders, advocates, and mediators in communities wrestling with issues
of immigration in an economically troubled time. We will hear from
local activists and leaders who are working closely with the newly
arrived immigrants in Knoxville and the rural areas of Tennessee. We'll
talk about the changes that are affecting the social and religious
institutions of our community and explore some of the legal, social,
and political issues that are involved.
Advent Series (McKinnon Room)
November 30 - December 21
During Advent the adults will be celebrating an "Old Timey Christmas". Each week the class will begin with traditional caroling, followed by a Bible Study on the Christmas story in Middle Eastern culture, and then a sharing of family Christmas traditions. Join us!
11/17/08
Westminster
Home