The Church School at the Garden City Community Church, sponsored by the Christian Board of Education, has been buzzing with activity during the fall season. The Church School, which is open to all children from toddlers through the seventh grade, recently completed a six week series from the Spark lectionary-based curriculum. Each Sunday morning, while their parents are in worship, the children focus on a Bible story, and relate it to their everyday experiences through the mediums of art, drama and play and under the direction of their teachers.
At the conclusion of their six-week series from the gospel of Mark, the children gathered for Children’s Chapel with their parents on Sunday, October 28th. Children’s Chapel is a simple worship service for children and their families, held in the Chapel of the Community Church, an intimate prayer space.
“What makes Children’s Chapel special is that each grade level is given an opportunity to lead different parts of the service,” explained Paula Tusiani-Eng, Interim Director of the Church School. “Our youngest children led the responsive call to worship, and the oldest dramatized the scripture passage, and it was a wonderful collaboration of the community’s gifts and talents.”
Following the service, children had some spooky fun in Gardner Hall as they engaged in faith-based Halloween crafts led by teachers Melissa Bradley, Courtney Rhein, Ann Teleisha, and Christine Rumsey. A fellowship was provided by parent volunteers who also donated sweet treats and decorations to make the celebration festive for the children.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Church School has supported the young children on their faith journey. Without power and wearing coats to stay warm, the children gathered on Sunday, November 4th to share their experiences of the storm. They created a large cross, which hangs in the Church School, writing dozens of individual petitions for light, heat, safety and other pressing concerns, and prayed as a community over the cross.
Then the following Sunday, on November 11th, as many started to show signs of healing and hope, regaining power and a renewed sense of security, the children turned their thoughts outward toward the needs of others. The Church School classes worked on a “giving chain” which spanned across the room, articulating all the ways they can give in ways big and small to those in need. This prepared them for the theme of Thanksgiving, as they wrote Thanksgiving Graces for their families to share for the holiday, and reflected on their blessings.
Another highlight of the fall seasoned included a presentation by Andrea Laisure and Emily Schaubeck, two of the eighth graders in the Confirmation Program, on Sunday, November 18th about the work of UNICEF for their Girl Scout Silver Award Project. Both Andrea and Emily spoke and interacted with the children about UNICEF. They involved the children in a letter-writing effort to reach out to those in need, who UNICEF serves.
The Garden City Community Church is located at the corner of Stewart Avenue and Whitehall Boulevard. It is an “Open & Affirming” congregation of the United Church of Christ (Protestant), so no matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey all are welcome. Please call 746-1700 or go to www.GardenCityCommunityChurch.org for more information.
