Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC)

Rock Spring offers a wide range of educational opportunities for children, youth and adults seeking a closer relationship with God.

Sunday School for Children and Youth

Welcome back!  The Board of Christian Education hopes you had a great summer, and that you are ready to come back to another year of encountering God’s still-speaking word.

This year, there will be some special opportunities and offerings for our Pre-K to 5^th Grade youth.

From last year’s feedback groups, we’ve heard the strong desire for more music in the lives of our children and youth.  Starting in September, we will enjoy Children’s Fellowship Hour from – 9:30 – 10:45.

For those families attending 9:00 worship, children will leave at the normal time, following the “For the Child in All of Us.”  For those families coming to share in the 9:30 New Offerings, the Leaders will be waiting for you at 9:20.

For those children who sing in out “Choristers” program, we’ll have a special time for a “Break” at 9:55, so you can join Mrs. K-N in rehearsal.  For more information on the Children’s Music and Fellowship Hour, contact Taryn Roman.

For our youngest ones, professional Child Care will be available in our Infant and Toddler Nurseries from the beginning of the 9:00 service to the end of our Fellowship Hour following the 11:00 service.

When you drop off your child with our excellent caregivers, you will receive a small vibrate-only “Parent Pager.” Parents, if you are needed by our carevgivers, we’ll “buzz” you to come down tto the Nursery. We hope that the pagers will allow our families with younger children the freedom to share deeper in the life of the congregation.

At 11:00, we offer classes for Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten-1^st Grades, 2^nd-3^rd Grades, and 4^th-5^th Grades.

Our Sunday School uses the Seasons of the Spirit curriculum.  For more information on the scope and sequence, the foundations, and the specifics of the curriculum, please visit www.spiritseasons.com

Later in the program year, there will be a “test” of new curriculum and methods for Sunday School.  Keep an eye on the RSN for more information.

Our Middle High and Senior High classes meet during the 11:00 hour. The goal is to provide a more age-relevant encounter with the Bible and faith, and provide an experiential time for our youth to examine their faith.

Our Whole Lives: Sexuality and Our Faith

Beginning this Fall our congregation will be implementing Our Whole Lives: Sexuality and Our Faith. To provide complete information on this program, please visit the OWL mini-site by clicking here.

Confirmation

A person is incorporated into the body of the church through Baptism. When an infant or a very young child is baptized, the promises are made by one or more parents or sponsors. As a child approaches adolescence, the local church offers an opportunity to give public assent to the baptismal promises. Conformation celebrates this occasion of affirmation of baptism in the life of the individual and the life of the local church.

For 9th and 10th grade students, Confirmation classes are offered as a course of study and exploration. The curriculum based on the foundations, history, and order of the United Church of Christ, and includes interfaith studies and service components. The class meets in regular sessions from September to May, culminating in a service of worship and celebration on the Sunday proceeding Memorial Day weekend.. For more information about Confirmation at Rock Spring UCC, please contact Rev. Hank Fairman hank@rockspringucc.org.

Your Help is Always Needed and Appreciated!

Important People Needed for an Important Job! The Board of Christian Education needs your help as educators and mentors for our children and youth. Come be a Sunday School teacher! This is your opportunity to get to know the awesome young people of Rock Spring and help them get started on their faith journeys. Share your creativity and knowledge with our youngsters! Contact Kathy Michael to get involved.

Adult Education Opportunities

Lectionary Bible Study

Held each Tuesday in the Saegmuller Room from 10-11:30 am.

This group reads and explores the lectionary texts for the coming Sunday. The Sunday preacher leads lively conversation and open-minded exploration of the texts. Coffee, tea and sustenance are readily available. Drop in every week or once in a while to deepen your understanding and appreciation of the Bible.

Sunday Adult Education Class

Meets upstairs in the 6th Grade classroom Sundays, 10:00 -11:00 a.m.

This long-running class usually draws 10 to 20 participants, serves coffee, and looks forward to welcoming new participants.

From October through December the class will watch and discuss David Eckel of Boston University’s explanation of the basics of Buddhism: its origins, schools, and practices. During the first half of 2008, the class expects to address the new Religions in the Axial Age (800 to 200 bce), and the History of the Bible.

Questions? Contact Dwight Rodgers, 703-534-8879.