Welcome to the Resource Center for Teachers and Leaders
Greetings from the Board of Christian Education of the Southern Province and the Eastern District Christian Education Commission of the Northern Province
We realize that many things are changing in the Sunday School curriculum world in the coming years and would like to provide some standards and guidance to Moravian Churches so that you will have a clearer idea of what is happening in the curriculum world. Marie Couts and Beth Hayes spent the summer evaluating many new curriculum options and met together in September. They are recommending six curriculum options for churches to consider that are sound educationally and consistent with Moravian theology and beliefs. Some are lectionary based, some rotational models, and some are more bible based curriculum options. Each of these is previewed in this booklet along with a model for churches to use in choosing a Sunday School curriculum. Marie and Beth will be glad to do workshops for churches or come to do more extensive training and review on any one of the options. It is an exciting time in this area and we want to be as much help as we can in helping you to see what is going on in the curriculum world.
The six curriculum options that we are highlighting are Gather Round, FaithWeaver, and LIVE B.I.G. from the story based models, Powerxpress and Come Join the Circle from the Rotational model, and Seasons of the Spirit from the Lectionary based model. If you have been using Bible Quest for the past few years, it will be in existence for one more year and we strongly recommend that you continue using it until it rotates out. We are offering these new options now to you so that you can begin looking at a replacement for the Bible Quest curriculum.
With all of these options, we are offering to order and ship any of these options to your church. We will not have material in stock as we have in the past unless we have one option that appears to be the top choice for many churches. The turn around time will be as short as possible but it does mean you will need to plan ahead to be sure that we can get the material to you in plenty of time for your teachers to prepare to use it. It is beneficial to the Moravian Church for you to place curriculum orders through the BCE of the Southern Province. We can get the best price for you and it will benefit us in helping to keep our Resource Center up to date with the latest resources for you to borrow from us. We have agreements with most publishing houses to get books and curriculum pieces at a discount prices so please let us provide this service for you.
We hope you will find this booklet helpful and look forward to further helping your congregation in this important ministry.
Marie Couts and Beth Hayes
A WORKSHOP MODEL FOR WEIGHING CURRICULUM ALTERNATIVES
Before Workshop
Make copies of the curriculum survey out of this booklet so that all members of your committee will have a copy. Have a copy of the congregation’s mission statement, CE mission statement if you have one, information about the number of students you have in Sunday School. Prepare the room in two areas: table space and a worship circle. At the center of the worship circle, set a small table with a cloth, a candle and matches, a Bible, and some objects that symbolize your congregation. You should also have a bundle of small sticks, one for each participant.
Beginning - Naming the Goal
Gather the group in the worship circle and take time for introductions. Let them know that you will be leading them in a process to consider curriculum options for your congregation. Begin by lighting the candle and saying something about the objects that symbolize the church. Distribute a stock to each participant and share the following story:
In native Hopi tradition, decisions are made around the children’s Fire. All members of the community sit in a circle. The grandmother and grandfather hear from all who wish to speak and in the end, they ask, “How will it be for the children?”
Talk a little about how this group comes together – what role do these people play, what skills do they bring, what commitments do they bring.
Continue by talking about gathering to explore curriculum options, and we each bring gifts and hopes and concerns. Take a moment to think of something you are bringing to this discernment process. Then place your stick near the candle that symbolizes the children’s fire and name what you are bringing.
When all participants have had a turn, thank everyone for their offering and encourage them to keep the question of “how will it be for the children?” in their minds as they work together.
In the worship circle, invite participants to name expectations they have about this meeting. Jot down comments on newsprint and look at them together. Identify areas of similarity and clarify where there are differences. Come to some agreement on a shared understanding of what you are seeking to accomplish. Check in before moving forward to make sure everyone is comfortable and there are no unexpressed ideas. This way they own this entire process.
Naming Our Concerns - Shedding
The discernment process asks us to be indifferent to all but God’s will. Shedding gives the group a chance to name whatever preconceptions and concerns they have that might block them from being open in the process. You are not asking them to abandon their concerns but to name them and put them aside. Invite the group to pray together: Gracious God, we thank you for your presence. Journey with us and open us to your will. Amen
Wisdom From The Bible - Rooting
At the meeting table, read aloud 2 Timothy 1:3-7 and talk a little about how this passage speaks to your community about the task of curriculum selection. Invite the group to share other Bible stories that speak to the focus of your discernment.
Gathering Information – Listening
At this point, the group will take a few minutes to walk through several classrooms, observing materials and spaces available and imagining activities and people that might fill these spaces. As you return to the table, ask them to share observations and invite t hem to name some of the needs they hope the curriculum might help address.
Share a little about your church, the numbers in Sunday School and how the classes are currently divided. End by reading the church’s mission statement or Christian Education mission statement or both.
Next distribute copies of each of the curriculum at a glance that you are considering looking at and samples of the curriciculum. Samples can be obtained from either province offices. Give the group 15 to 20 minutes to review this information making any initial notes they want to share with the group in the next stage.
Proposing Ideas – Exploring
This is the brainstorming stage where each person shares their observations of what they saw in the review. Invite them to comment on how various resources might serve your needs. There is no need to reach agreement at this point but give enough time before moving on so everyone’s ideas are out in the open.
Fine Tuning – Improving
Name areas that will be particularly well served and areas where you still have concerns. Brainstorm ways to address those needs until each is fully developed.
Distribute copies of the survey. Although the survey will not find a perfect resource for you, it may help participants to focus in on features and approaches the group has identified as important for your congregation’s program. Allow 10 minutes for participants to complete the survey and compare results. Remember this is not the decision making stage yet.
Moving Toward a Decision – Weighing
Consider the merits of the various curriculum options. Talk a little about consensus and what it means. Talk a little about consolation where you can embrace the decision and support it and desolation where you feel uncomfortable or at odds with the decision or with parts of it and you do not feel you can support it.
Ask the participants to write the name or names of each curriculum option you are considering on a separate piece of paper. Invite them to take a 5-10 minute walk through the church building, praying as they go, weighing the option and recalling the people and ministries that occupy this building. Encourage them to ask the question “how will it be for the children?’ and to invite God’s guidance in their discernment. When all have returned to the table, invite them to gather and share their experience of the prayer walk. Where did they feel consolation or desolation? Invite them to share their observations. Receive each with thanks and make sure everyone has a chance to share. You may need to go back to one of the other stages. Only proceed forward if there is consensus. Remember there can be reservation with consensus but everyone must be willing to support the decision.
Living With The Choice – Resting
Name what is the group’s discernment. Ask participants to sit quietly and consider this and invite any clarification that is needed at the end. This step invites participants to spend time in prayer with a decision – to live with it, noticing where they feel comfortable and uncomfortable. Find a comfortable time frame for this stage – it might be five minutes or it might be several days. Check back in to confirm their comfort.
Closing Prayer
Gracious God, we thank you that your Spirit has been our companion along the journey of our discernment. We offer
you the fruits of our discernment, asking you to bless it, and us. Continue to guide our thoughts and hopes for this congregation, that in all things, your will may be done. We ask this in Jesus name.
Amen.
CURRICULUM SURVEY
This survey attempts to summarize features and approaches important to Christian Education programs. Respond to the following questions by marking the answer that best fits your educational ministry needs. After answering all the questions, total your responses for each letter at the bottom of the survey. The results may help to focus your energy on one or two choices that could suit your congregation’s needs.
Click here to download and complete the Curriculum Survey.
COME JOIN THE CIRCLE
Option to purchase story-telling puppet.
Planning guide addresses special needs children.
Publisher: Logos
Age Levels: Preschool through Grade 6
Resources: General Planning Guide; Self-contained units for four to six weeks
Biblical Version: New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Music: Units come with print music; reproducible lyrics and CD
Faith-Life Application: Encourages learners to live their faith in community while
raising an awareness of the wider world
Scope and Sequence: 24 units from the Old and New Testament
Format: Rotational
Summer: Option to use standard program
Price: Each unit $99; Planning Guide $14.95
General Comments: Each unit contains an intergenerational event program to bring together the entire congregation for one Sunday to experience the story.
Web Site: www.logosproductions.com
FAITH WEAVERS
Every class studies the same text every week. Classes emphasize experiential learning. Resources for connecting home and church available on the website. Pastor resources connecting worship (including children’s messages) and education available on the website.
Publisher: Group Publishing
Age Levels: Infants/Toddlers/Twos; Ages 3-4; Ages 5-6; Grades 1-2: Grades 3-4; Grades 5-6; Middle School/Jr. High; Senior High; Adult
Resources: Preschool through Junior High has Teacher’s Pack, which includes Teacher’s Guide and Student Book; Senior High and Adult have Reproducible Leader’s Guides.
Biblical Version: New International Version Bible
Music: Included in the teacher packs
Faith-Life Application: Weaves faith into everyday life.
Scope and Sequence: Three year scope and sequence – Old Testament Summer and Fall; New Testament Winter and Spring.
Format: Age specific classrooms
Summer: Yes – year round material
Price (If purchased through the Southern Province Resource Center): Infants/Toddlers/Twos Leaders Guide: $13.60; Teacher Pack (includes leader guide) $32; Preschool – Grades 5-6: Student book: $3.60; Teacher Pack $28; Middle School/Junior High: Leader’s Guide 8.00; Student Book $4.00; Senior High and Adult: $16.00
Web Site: www.faithweaver.com
GATHER ‘ROUND
Strong church-home connection. Excellent at addressing a variety of learning styles. All classes study the same Biblical text the same week.
Publisher: Church of the Brethren and Mennonite
Age Levels: Preschool through Parent/Caregiver
Resources: Preschool (3 and 4 year olds with tips for 2’s) through grade 8 has leader’s guide, student book and classroom pack; Senior High Youth available online; Parent/Caregiver Student/Leader Guide; Parent/Caregiver Classroom Pack; “Talk About”, quarterly at home piece; Gather ‘Round Handbook for Leaders and Teachers; Multi-age K-6 with tips for older students
Biblical Version: Primarily New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Music: CD; Seasons Songbook
Faith-Life Application: Gather ‘Round explores what it means to follow Jesus at home, in Christian community and in the world.
Scope and Sequence: Four year quarterly cycle with the fall focusing on the Old Testament and the Spring focusing on the New Testament. Follows Church Year.
Format: Age-group Classroom
Summer: Yes – Multi-age for primary through Junior High; Pre-school, Parent/Caregiver and Senior High continue with age-group classroom format.
Price (If ordered through the Southern Province Resource Center) Leader guide: $6.75; Student Books $5.90; Classroom packs: $16.95 Senior High Youth online: $39.95 per quarter; Parent/Caregiver Book: $7.60; Talk About: $5.00 per quarter; Leader’s and Teacher’s Handbook: $7.60
Web Site: www.gatherround.org
LIVE B. I. G.
Very creative material – using up-to-date technology through the DVD, which brings energy and new experiences to the classroom. Variety of options for the teacher to choose from for each class. Each classroom would need to have a DVD player/TV. Each class studies the same Biblical Text each week.
Publisher: Cokesbury
Age Levels: Age 3-4; K-Grade 1; Grade 2-3; Grade 4-5; Grade 6-7; Multi-age 3-13
Resources: Annual DVD kit – year supply for each age level; quarterly leader’s guide for each age level; quarterly student piece for each age level; multiple free resources on the website
Biblical Version: Primarily New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Music: Optional CD; Seasons Songbook
Faith-Life Application: Equips students through inviting stories to build a foundation for Christian living that leads them to experience and mirror God in their every day lives.
Scope and Sequence: 4-year cycle follows church year
Format: Age-range classrooms
Summer: Yes – same as other quarters
Price (If purchased through the Southern Province Resource Center): DVD kits per year (one leader’s guide included): $150; Leader’s Guide $11 each (reproducible); Student book: $4 per student per quarter; Optional decorating Pak $30
Web Site: www.ilivebig.com
POWER EXPRESS
Designed for adults to travel to each station with the students helping students understand the story.
Publisher: Cokesbury
Age Levels: Pre-school through Grade 6
Resources: Directors Manual; Self-contained units for six to eight weeks
Biblical Version: New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Music: Printed music; transparencies; CD
Faith-Life Application: Lessons offer different ways for children to translate Bible
lessons into their daily lives.
Scope and Sequence: 86 self-contained units from the Old and New Testament
Format: Rotational
Summer: Option to use standard program
Price (If purchased through the Southern Province Resource Center):
Each unit $88; Planning Guide $9.60
Web Site: www.powerXpress.com
SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT
Material is reproducible; has a devotional companion that conveys the Biblical story of each season through art and writings reflecting many cultures; also has a Congregational Life piece that integrates worship, Christian education and mission, i.e. pastor sermon helps, children’s messages, service projects, etc.
Publisher: Logos
Age Levels: Ages 3-5; Ages 6-8; Ages 9-11; Ages 12-14; Ages 15-18; Adult; Multi-age, 5-12
Resources: Each age level has leader’s guide and reproducible learner’s sheets
Biblical Version: Primarily New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Music: Optional CD; Seasons Songbook
Faith-Life Application: Some focus on outward expression through home setting and daily life.
Scope and Sequence: Four quarterly resources in a three-year cycle – following the Revised Common Lectionary
Format: Lectionary
Summer: Yes – year round material
Price: 9 months $145, summer supplement $48 (all per age group); Congregational Life, 9 months $190; Music CD $20 per year; Songbook 10.95 per year
Web Site: www.spiritseasons.com
SENIOR HIGH SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS SUGGESTIONS
- We Believe – Presbyterian Church USA – Senior High Book
- Faith Lens -- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) web site: www.elca.org/faithlens/ -- A weekly Bible study/discussion for youth, linking a current news story and scripture text. (Lectionary based)
- Faith Weaver – Senior High Book published quarterly, reproducible
- Season of the Spirit – Senior High Book, Lectionary Based, reproducible
- In The Beginning, Diving Into Living Water, I Am Not Ashamed – books by Laurie Polich
- Other books with leaders helps and dvd’s in the Resource Center
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS CURRICULUM SUGGESTIONS
- We Believe – Published by Presbyterian Church USA quarterly
- The Thoughtful Christian – Download from web site: www.thethoughtfulchristian.com
- Living the Good News – Lectionary based; check web site for more information: www.livingthegoodnews.com
- Seasons of the Spirit – Lectionary based; Logos Publishing
- The Present Word – Based on the cooperative Uniform Lesson Series
- Many books with leaders helps in the Moravian Resource Center
Although we are suggesting using one of these six options, we will be glad to work with you in ordering most any curriculum option on the market. It does benefit our Resource Center in the Southern Province for orders to come through us. We are able to sell the curriculum to you at a discounted price and also able to make some profits which we in turn use to keep our Center up to date with the latest resources for loan out purposes so that you may preview things that are current. This service is provided for any church in the Northern and Southern Province. We are also able to order many books from most any publisher at a discounted rate so please let us provide this service for you.
Orders can be placed through the Moravian Board of Christian Education, 500 South Church Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, 336-722-8126, fax 336-722-1893, email at bhayes@mcsp.org
In the Spring of each year, we will provide an order blank and instructions for placing a standing order for the Sunday School year that begins in September. It will be essential that you get this order back to us as soon as possible, especially since we are going to a new method where we will not automatically stock any curriculum except The Present Word. We are striving to keep turn around time at a minimum but this will depend on your getting orders to us in a timely fashion.
One of the other reasons for ordering through our Center is that we are a smaller distribution house and available to answer questions and ship out in a fast manner.
