Children
Nursery
You can feel comfortable that your infants and toddlers (newborn through
age 2) are in a safe and loving environment. Our excellent caregivers play
with your children and as they get a little older may incorporate learning songs
and hearing stories.
Preschool (ages 3 and 4) Sunday School
What an imaginative group of children! Each week the children hear,
see, and interact with God’s stories in the Bible that illustrate to them God 's
love. The children engage with the story through storytelling, drama,
games, art, sharing, and play. We utilize The Beginner's Bible as
our basis for our classes. Our imaginative and creative teachers develop
their own lessons from the Bible that the children share with their families.
Kindergarten and 1st Grade Sunday School
Imagination and independence…at this age the children have wonderful
imaginations and are exploring their boundaries! Each week the children
hear, see, and interact with God’s stories in the Bible showing them God's love
and how they can make a difference in the world. The children engage with
the story or characters over a three to four week period through storytelling, drama, games, art,
cooking, science, sharing, and play. We utilize the
PowerXpress curriculum
from Cokesbury.
2nd and 3rd Grade Sunday School
Imagination, independence, and caring for the world…at this age the children
continue to build on who they are and are beginning to care about the world
around them. Utilizing a teaching method called
Godly Play, each week the
children hear, see, and interact with God’s stories in the Bible. Stories
are told using 3-D elements that engage their minds and hearts. Asking “I
wonder…” questions, children ask themselves what God is saying to them and how
do they live as a community of faith. They then respond to what God is
doing with them through their own creativity. Periodically they perform a
service project for others in need.
4th and 5th Grade Sunday School
Imagination, independence, caring for the world, and exploring their faith…at
this age the children build on their Godly Play experiences and explore what it
means to be a faith community and practice the disciplines of worship and
meditation on Scripture. They spend more time with the stories, going
deeper in exploration, and even journaling. Utilizing a teaching method called Godly Play, each
week the children hear, see, and interact with God’s stories in the Bible.
Stories are told using 3-D elements that engage their minds and hearts.
Asking “I wonder…” questions, children ask themselves what God is saying to them
and how do they live as a community of faith. They then respond to what
God is doing with them through their own creativity.
Youth
Middle School (grades 6-8) Sunday School
What in the world is happening to my child? This age group is in major
transition…not quite a kid…not quite a teenager. Who am I? Why am I
here? How do I relate to others? These are just some of the
questions middle schoolers begin to ask themselves, either consciously or
unconsciously. In this interactive class, they not only explore the Bible
stories, but also discuss life issues…sometimes issues they are facing today.
Senior High (grades 9-12) Sunday School
Life takes a turn into strong independence and uncharted waters. Who
am I? Why am I here? How do I relate to others? What does the
future hold? Why do I feel stressed? How do I deal with violence?
Does God really matter? Is this a safe place I can share my thoughts in?
These are just some of the questions teenagers are asking themselves, either
consciously or unconsciously. Life issues are the main focus of
discussion…life with each other…life with God…life.
Confirmation (grades 7 and above)
You are invited to take another step on your journey of faith by
participating in the Confirmation Class which runs from September to May.
It is a time to continue to learn about and explore issues of faith and belief
as well as time to make new friends and learn much more about the Church.
The Confirmation Program concludes on Pentecost Sunday, when class members make
their own profession of faith in Jesus Christ and become professing members of
Faith United Methodist Church. We will not be having our confirmation
class for the 2009-2010 school year. It will resume in the fall of 2010.
Building Community – with each other and the world
Youth have opportunities throughout the year to get to know
each other better through fun events like lasertag, bowling, movies,
food, and more. They also have opportunities to serve the world
through shelter meals, Christmas Tree project/toys for children, and more.
Come to UMYF (United
Methodist Youth Fellowship) on the 1st and 3rd Sunday evenings from 6-8pm.
On the 1st Sunday, we'll have an evening of social and fellowship activities.
On the 3rd Sunday, we'll either participate in a service project or a study (or
both!). It's a great time to hang out with other youth and grow in our
faith. By the way...we'll even feed you dinner! Check out our youth
page for the current calendar.
For over 30 years, we have gone on an Annual Mission
Trip (aka the “Work Trip”) in the summer. For the past several years
we have gone through Group Work Camps Foundation both domestically and
internationally. Depending upon the kind of trip we are going on, they are
either just senior high trips or all youth trips. The decision about the trips
are made in September of each year.
In the summer of 2007 we added an opportunity for our
upcoming fall middle school class to spend some time together in fun and service
(our Middle School Camp). Usually held the week after Montgomery
County Public Schools ends their year, we spend ½ the day serving the community
and ½ the day having fun together.
Safe
Sanctuaries Policy
Faith is a Safe Sanctuaries Church - Effective August 15,
2008 Faith Church implemented a policy to protect children, youth, and their
families from abuse from volunteers and paid staff who work with children and
youth. In addition, the policy was established to mitigate the risks where
abuse can occur. The Church has a sacred duty to keep our children and
youth safe from harm. Faith Church utilized the Baltimore-Washington
Conference recommended book, Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Child
Abuse in the Church by Joy Thornburg Melton, as our guide, along with
requirements form the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
Click here to read
the policy. Click below for the documents in the appendix:
office@faithworkshere.com
Christian Education
For All Ages