Sunday School • 9:45am
13100 Warwick Blvd • Newport News • VA 23602
Tel: 757.249.0374
Course Catalogue
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
In 2003, the decision was made to name Reformation’s Christian education program “Learning and Living” rather than referring to it as “Sunday School.”
The thinking behind that change was two-fold: to move away from the word “school” which has an academic sound to it (homework, papers, tests, evaluations, etc.) and to embrace the concept that to live the Christian life we need to learn about the Christian faith by growing in our understanding of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, the history of the Christian Church, and how to apply the wisdom of the Scriptures and the lessons learned from history to our lives. We need to learn the faith to live the faith.
The catalogue represents hours of research. The words of the Fourth Evangelist come to mind, “But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (Saint John 21:25, NRSV). Well, there is so much to learn about God, the Holy Spirit, Jesus, the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, and the Church that it would consume tons of paper!
This is a selection based upon the perceived needs at this moment. You are invited to complete the enclosed survey form. Based upon your selection, we will build the Christian education program for 2007-2008. After reviewing the selections and you had something in mind but it was missing, let us know and we will include it in the educational plan.
Some thoughts to ponder: research indicates that parents have a profound impact either positively or negatively on their children. In a comprehensive survey on the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers1 – the first such survey – Christian Smith notes:
- The vast majority of teenagers tend to be quite like their parents when it comes to religion. If parents not only attend church, but also are involved in church, so will their children.
- The church is where teenagers make significant contacts with adults other than family members. Church is intergenerational.
- The more religiously involved teenagers are the better they do in life.
- The youth who are involved in a religious youth group are more likely than those who are not to attend religious services without parents more often.
- The more religiously serious and involved a teen is the more their good friends seem to be.
Of course, the foundation for the Christian life begins with Holy Baptism and continues with a commitment to live the Christian life by gathering for worship, for learning, for service and for fellowship.
We invite you to learn about the faith so that you will be empowered to live the faith at home, in the marketplace and in the work place.
Please complete the survey and return it to the parish office.
Sincerely, in Christ
| James P. Nickols | Cheryl Ann Griffin | Linda Lamma |
| Pastor | Associate Pastor | Director of Christian Education |
1Smith, Christian, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Last Updated: Monday, May 5, 2008 5:52 PM