Sunday School

The writer of the gospel according to John says, “The Word became flesh and lived among us.” Join us in the Parish Hall at 9:30 on Sundays this fall to explore what it means that God became human and lived our life, breathed our air, laughed with friends, cried when his friend died, and knows what it is like to be us. Athanasius of Alexandria’s writing, On the Incarnation (written around 320 AD), will help us with our discussion and will guide us as we discover more fully why God became human. The link to purchase the book from Amazon is below.

Have you ever set out to read the Bible from cover to cover but gotten stuck somewhere in Leviticus? You are not alone! Reading the Bible all the way through can be daunting, and yet there is much to be gained from seeing the story of salvation as a narrative whole. Starting Sept. 13 at 9:30 AM in the library, the Pathfinders Sunday school class will explore how all the pieces fit together, and also how God still speaks to us through Holy Scripture. Copies of the book we will use, The Path: A Journey Through the Bible, are available online or at the church.

The Rev. Tom Fanning and Becky Herren will host a Newcomers’ Class in the Covington Room on the first floor of the education building during Sunday School between 9:30 am and 10:15 am. The class will study the book The Gifts of God Gifts of God for the People of God: Exploring Worship in the Episcopal Church, by Furman Buchanan. This class is a great way for someone who is feeling a sense of belonging in the Episcopal Church to dig deeper into what is actually going on during our worship and beyond. If you are new to the Episcopal Church, we hope to see you in the Newcomers’ Class.

Our youth curriculum this fall will be the High School Talksheets series by David Rogers. Each Talksheet provides a springboard for discussion. The weekly lesson opens with group questions and offers various Bible verses or stories to assist in leading the discussion.  No homework is ever required for this class!  Students have enough on their plates, and we want this to be a space for learning without pressure.

Depending upon the numbers and size of the class, we are hoping to have a group opening and then break off into a Junior High and Senior High discussion area.  Davis and Martha Frye and Boudreaux Dulske will be leading these breakout groups and adjusting the topics for more age-appropriate inclusion. We try to always have donuts and a very relaxed atmosphere in the Youth wing!

At Chapel of the Cross, we use the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a beautiful and intentional curriculum that provides religious education and spiritual formation for children ages 3 through 6th grade. Catechesis is rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori. Children gather in atriums, divided by age, on the ground floor of the Education Building and work with prepared materials to learn about God and strengthen their spiritual relationships, all facilitated by highly-trained Catechists (a.k.a. teachers).  Our Catechesis atriums are joyful places filled with activity, singing, discussion, and prayer, and we invite interested parents to stop by any time. Sunday School begins at 9:30 am.