Christian Education
Christian Education is an important part of St. Anne’s community life and we offer many opportunities for both Adults and Children during the year.
- Sunday School
- Education for Ministry
- Summer Series
- Other Adult Education Opportunities
Sundays at 9:30 am - Our children are divided into three groups:
Godly Play is offered for children preschool through kindergarten. Godly Play uses a careful telling of scripture stories, engaging story figures and activities to encourage children to seek and find answers to their own faith questions.
Grades 1-4 and grades 5 and up use The Whole People of God curriculum. This program links the weekly Bible passages (the same ones read in church) to the daily lives and activities of our children. They are encouraged to share their experiences and also have a lot of fun with things such as “Bible Hang Man” and Mad Libs.
Thursdays at 6:15 pm - Education for Ministry (EfM):
EfM is offered as a weekly education program for adults. EfM relates our lives to the scriptures through sharing our stories, studying the Old and New Testaments, church history and contemporary theology. We engage in theological reflection and special activities such as sharing our personal spiritual autobiographies and personal theologies.
Summer Education Series:
Every summer special learning programs are provided. Adult groups have studied the Book of Job and The Revelation to John. We have explored World Religions and hosted a Vacation Bible School based on the Toy Story films. These programs are designed to appeal to adults and children with a wide range of knowledge and church experience.
Sunday School
Sunday School - Teachers & Greeters. St. Anne’s uses rotating teams for these important jobs. We offer Godly Play for the younger children, a well regarded program based on Montessori principles adapted to spiritual education. The older children (8 and above) use a lectionary based program using the New Revised Common Lectionary.
Ages 0-3 - Baby Sitting
Sitters are available in the nursery every Sunday and for many of our programs.
Preschool-kindergarten - Godly Play
We continue to offer the Godly Play program for the younger children up through kindergarten. This is a well regarded program based on Montessori principles adapted to spiritual education. Godly Play uses a careful telling of scripture stories, engaging story figures and activities to encourage children to seek and find answers to their own faith questions. Godly play respects the innate spirituality of children and encourages curiosity and imagination in experiencing the mystery and joy of God.
Grades 1-4 - Whole People of God
This class uses the Whole People of God curriculum, just as the older kids do. The Whole People of God is a lectionary-based curriculum that uses the same Bible readings each week as the adults use in church. The curriculum for the early elementary kids is geared toward their learning levels. They enjoy listening and learning about God and doing fun activities each week that relate to our lesson.
Grades 5 & Up - Whole People of God
The curriculum (“Whole People of God”) offered for the older children is a lectionary-based program using the New Revised Common Lectionary. The children are able to follow the same seasonal readings as the adults are using in the Church. The program includes activities that are adaptable to the ages and learning styles of the children. The curriculum ties the lessons of the scripture to the daily lives and congregational worship that the children experience. In addition it explores themes, such as “grace” and how these spiritual concepts can be applied in the children’s day-to-day activities.
The children enjoy the opportunity to talk about God, and how the lessons impact their lives in school, at home and with friends. Particular favorites this year were the opportunity to write their own Group Psalm, church-based Mad Libs, and Bible verse Hangman. We have fun and explore the impact of faith in our daily lives.
Education for Ministry
Education for Ministry - EfM participants deepen personal faith through better understanding of what we believe and why we believe it. At EfM you discover that your personal experience is a primary resource for your theological education. It enables you to learn more about God and ourselves by relating history, culture and scripture to our own experience in the world. Over a course of 9 months of study, worship and personal reflection with a group of 6-12 people, we share our insights and discoveries about who God is and what God is saying to each of us.
Our EfM community provides a confidential, safe and nurturing space to seek, share and question our relationship with God and consequent ministry in the world. The entire program consists of four 9-month segments that may be taken consecutively or at your own pace.
This year is the 15th year that EfM has been offered at St. Anne’s. We meet once a week for 3 hours, for a total of 36 weeks, taking breaks for Christmas and Holy Week.
Adult Education Opportunities
- Summer Bible Study Series on the Book of Revelation
- “Newcomer’s Class” based on the book Your Faith, Your Life: An Invitation to the Episcopal Church by Jennifer Gamber.
- Summer Bible Study Series on the Book of Job
- A Labyrinth Workshop
- Documentary film and discussion: “Invisible Children”
- Soul of Money - A 5 part series on money and its place in our lives
Classes, workshops, films and group discussions are offered at various time during the year for interested adults. These classes are led by our Rector, parishoners, and other guests from the church and our community.
Some recent selections include: