Sunday School
We hope you will join us for our Sunday School program at Bethany Lutheran Church. The information on this page is intended for children ages 3-18. While children attend Sunday School, we encourage parents to consider one of our Adult Learning programs that are offered at the same time.
Christian Education for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten
Time: Sundays 9:00 – 10:15 (Sept thru May)
Godly Play is the name of our Christian education curriculum for children ages 2 ½ – 5. It is an approach to working with children to support, challenge, nourish, and help guide their spiritual development. The goal of Godly Play is to teach children to enter into the biblical story and relate it to their personal experience. We play with the language of God and God’s People: our sacred stories, parables, liturgical actions and silence. Through this powerful language, through our wondering, and through the community gathered together, we extend the deepest invitation of all: an invitation to come and play with God.
In Godly Play, we follow the pattern of worship – getting ready in the music opening (Gathering), listening and responding to a Bible story (the Word of God), the feast (the Meal of Holy Communion), and saying goodbye (Blessing and Sending).
The Godly Play stories are presented with objects that make the images of our religious language come alive. It is customary for the children and storyteller to sit in a circle on the floor. The multi-sensory storytelling materials are placed in the center of the circle, symbolizing the fact that God can be present and accessible to everyone.
After a Bible story is told to the children, the storyteller and children use “wondering questions” to reflect on the story as a whole. Having the storytelling materials physically present, laid out in the middle of the circle, helps this process take place.
Periods of silence occur during the storytelling and wondering so that God is known to be present in us and that we are in God.
The craft response helps the child re-enter the lesson to express in an art medium what the lesson stimulates. As they work, children are invited into conversation to explore the story and the “wondering questions.”
Helpful Tips for Parents
- Please sign in and sign out your child each week.
- You may help your child find his/her name tag.
- Be sure the name tag is turned in at the end of the class session.
- Parents are encouraged to sign up to bring a simple snack (nothing messy, and please nothing with nuts due to possible allergies).
- Parents may sign up to be a helper. We always need extra hands, and it’s a good way to see what’s happening in Sunday School! We especially invite dads to participate!!
- Your child is encouraged to bring an offering each week in the envelope provided. The habit of thoughtful giving is important to cultivate. 100% of children’s offerings are used to help the needy in our own community and around the world.
- Please pick up your child promptly, or let the teachers know if you will send an older sibling, grandparent, etc. to pick up your child.
We encourage parents to sit down with your child at home to talk about the story, using the weekly Parent Page as a guide. As a parent, you are your child’s most important spiritual teacher! Your faith conversations at home are the most powerful influence on your child’s faith development. Sharing stories is important, because through story we help give meaning to our world and to our lives.
Contact: Rit Vogel
Phone: (303) 758-2820
E-Mail: rit@bethany-denver.org
Christian Education for 1st through 5th graders
Time: Sundays, 9:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Kids Light information 2011 for teachers and shepherds
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Our mission is to teach children to:
- Know Jesus as God’s Light shining in the world;
- Love Jesus and let His Light shine in you and transform you;
- Serve Jesus as you “Go and let your Light shine to others.”
A warm and welcoming environment awaits children in the Kids’ Light program. Each creatively decorated classroom is functional for a specific kind of learning experience.
Kids’ Light uses a Workshop Rotation approach, which brings children into small group workshops for creative and relevant Bible learning. Major bible stories and concepts are taught through kid-friendly, multi-media workshops (art, storytelling, games, drama, A-V, computers, movement, puppets, cooking, etc.). Each Bible story is taught for 3-4 weeks and children rotate to a different workshop experience each week. Activities are designed to enhance each child’s multiple intelligences and give them opportunities to learn in their own way.
Shepherds are caring adults who provide continuity and nurture, so children come to a place where they feel welcomed, valued, and cared for while learning to know and follow Jesus.
Celebration Station: All 1st-5th grade children gather in the Great Hall, where they are greeted by their Shepherds and they participate in a lively, large group music opening. We sing together, collect offerings, do a brief introduction of the lesson or liturgical theme, and close with prayer. Then, accompanied by their Shepherds, children rotate to a different workshop each week.
Jerusalem Room: Listen to a storyteller in costume give a firsthand account of the story in a Bible times environment.
Art in Heaven: Express your understanding of Bible stories using your own creativity and a variety of art media. Learn to appreciate fine religious art.
Holyword Theater: See Bible stories come alive through DVD selections such as The Visual Bible or animated versions of the Bible story or reflect on the story in contemporary situations. Relax and learn while enjoying a bag of popcorn.
Abraham’s Arcade: Learn Bible stories through a variety of Bible games. You may team up with others to be contestants in a game show, play a life-size version of a board game, or learn through other exciting and popular games.
Acts of Faith: Experience the Bible story through body movement, no-script drama, pantomime, or puppets. Learn the story by being in the story. Get to know Bible people as real people with feelings and emotions. The drama room is equipped with lots of costumes and props.
Kingdom.com: Interact with Bible stories, create contemporary versions, or play computer quiz games using a variety of exciting computer software.
Treasure Hunt: Search for faith treasures in this map room. You may explore where and how to find the story, background facts, Bible geography, Bible culture, or be challenged by questions which apply faith to today’s world.
This flexible space is used for music and movement activities and for a variety of special workshop activities.
Contact me if you have questions or wish to volunteer:
Rit Vogel, Minister of Faith Formation for Children’s Christian Education
303-639-4349
Email: rit@bethany-denver.org
*** Middle School Sunday School ***
Join us Sunday Mornings in the Youth area for Connect; the Sunday morning youth program. We connect with others, ourselves and our faith. We will do this through lessons, fellowship and service. Lots of fun, games, and, of course, food! Music is always a key component and a High School youth band will lead our opening time together.
Senior High (9-12 grade) and Middle School (6-8) grade will join together for this rocking opening in room 412, before dividing into groups. Middle school will remain in 412 for interactive lessons and small group discussion.
JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY FROM 9:00 – 10:00
*** High School Sunday School ***
Join us Sunday Mornings in the Youth area for Connect; the Sunday morning youth program. Through lessons, fellowship, and service we will connect with others, ourselves and our faith. Of course, we include lots of fun, games, and food!
Music is always a key component and the Senior High youth lead our opening time together with a house band. Senior High (9-12 grade) and Middle School (6-8) grade will join together for this rocking opening in room 412, before dividing into groups. Senior High move next door to the Soul Schopp for interactive lessons and small group discussion.
JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY FROM 9:00 – 10:00
