WOW! Coordinator Judy Meserve plans a two-month celebration for NSUMC’s Education Ministry teams, because this ministry includes everything from Sunday School to adult Bible Studies. The January features are the Sunday School, Confirmation, and Vacation Bible School teams.
Sunday School
We celebrate Sunday School teachers Becky Sereno, Jen McClintock, and Deb Shrey who divide the scheduled lessons from September through June. The lessons they prepare must accommodate children ages 5 to 11 from kindergarten through fifth grade. Attendance varies greatly from week to week.
“We have a good curriculum that fits a group like ours with a range of ages and abilities, so that helps. And the kids are great to work with so it’s really enjoyable,” said Becky who is the Team Leader.
At least twice yearly, Becky plans a special program for the children to present to the congregation. A highlight of the recent Christmas program was an original song written by Becky about the birth and life of Jesus sung by the children to the tune of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Confirmation
Children graduate from Sunday School into the three-year Confirmation program. We celebrate first and second year confirmation teachers: Sue Briska, Kathy Bruno, Tricia Littlefield, Michelle Plitt, and Laura Trebilcock.
The children meet as a group in the first and second years. Fifteen classes are scheduled for each group, with each teacher responsible for five sessions. In the third year, confirmands meet individually with an adult mentor throughout the year until they are confirmed on Pentecost Sunday. This year there are no third year students, thus no mentors.
Through the classes and the mentoring program, the students continue to learn and discuss the fundamentals of our Christian faith as well as basic information about John Wesley and the Methodist denomination. They also participate in worship services as acolytes, ushers, and readers, and become involved in the life of the church in other ways.
The Confirmation program is looking for a Coordinator. The coordinator’s responsibilities include facilitating the three-year program, orienting and communicating with parents, and overseeing the meeting schedule for the first and second year groups. The coordinator may teach or mentor as he/she prefers.
Vacation Bible School
After a hiatus of several years, VBS returned to NSUMC in 2010 under the direction of Ginny Agrusa assisted by Alyssa Ruebsamen. The following year Alyssa directed the program.
Building upon the foundation that had been re-established, Judy Meserve became director in 2012 and has continued to the present. Judy recruited a team, which has worked together for three years. “We all have different talents and strengths,” said Judy, “and we complement each other well in creating an excellent program for the children.”
Each of these three programs presents an outstanding opportunity for working with our children. Anyone who is interested in teaching Sunday School, Confirmation, or Vacation Bible School, please contact the appropriate person.