Every Sunday, at every age level, Living the Good News includes a common focus drawn from the lectionary’s* readings for the day.  Because all age levels explore at least one common Bible reading each week, family members can discuss their discoveries together at home.  Together parents and children can all reach an even richer understanding of what God wants us to understand.  (The Good News Leader’s Guide)

            In addition to learning Bible stories, constructing beautiful works of art, or watching scripture-based movies in the movie room, the younger classes sometimes go to a pint-size chapel in the Arnold House that is just their size.  

            There they might talk about the color being used on the altar during the current church season.  To help them remember why different colors are used during different seasons during the year, they can select a different colored hanging to put on the altar, and learn what the new color represents.  The class will then sing some of their favorite songs.  At the end of class one of the children says the closing prayer just like in the “Big Church.”

Highlights and special components of the Sunday school program for Pre-K thru 6^th grade:

·        Lectionary based curriculum

·        Chapel – includes rows of chairs in a pew style form, small altar, lectern or pulpit, altar hangings and a cross the children can carry in to the chapel.

·        Chapel time – a quick lesson on the season of the church year, songs corresponding to the lesson and a prayer read by one of the children.

·        Lessons on the readings and Gospel for the current Sunday

·        Crafts for each lesson

·        Colorfully decorated rooms and Bible story carpets

·        Movie room filled with real movie theatre chairs

·        Full library of movies

·        Special lessons – Children walk the Stations of the Cross during Lent (Palm Sunday) and a lesson on the Altar, Vestments and the Sacraments

·        Huge Easter egg hunt each year (over a thousand eggs)

·        Christmas pageant – The Birth of Jesus Comes Alive

            The Lectionary is a table of appointed scripture readings for the eucharist and for the daily office. 

            The eucharist is a church service celebrated on Sundays and some times on other days of the week.  For example the eucharist on Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper.  The daily office is daily prayer time that can be done individually in private or with others.