KC - Eternity for Today: September 5, 2010
Education
Developing a relationship with God is important during a child’s early years, and for this reason St. Mark’s considers its Children’s Education a vital part of its ministry.
St. Mark’s currently offers Sunday school for children from age three to Grade 8. Sunday school follows the Children’s Message (approx. 10:15 a.m.) and ends at 11:30 a.m.
St. Mark’s Sunday school has an enrollment of approximately 90 children with an average attendance of 40 – 45 on a weekly basis. Combinations of grades in six classes vary from year to year, depending on the number of students in each grade. Fourteen volunteers share the teaching positions, with a coordinator, assistant coordinator overseeing the Sunday school.
Confirmation classes are held for students in Grades 8; 9 on alternating Wednesday evenings. Confirmation at St. Mark’s is a two year program.
The Sunday school curriculum for the Preschool – Grade 6 classes uses “Come See Jesus”, an Australian based series which follows the Revised Common Lectionary. The Grade 7/8 class has its lessons taken from a book called “Wild Truth Bible Lessons” and “Pictures of God”. Baptismal birthdays are celebrated monthly in the Sunday school.
A portion of the Sunday school offering for each year is designated for a specific benevolence, with the remainder used within the Sunday school.
The Sunday school children sing occasionally at the church services and special events, with an annual Christmas concert held in December. Occasionally special “Bring a Friend Sunday’s” occur during the year to encourage outreach to friends. A highlight for the children is always the annual church picnic.
