Greenwood Community Church, Presbyterian
Thursday, February 23, 2012

Christian Education

"...teaching them to observe all I have commanded you..."

We seek to bring men and women, boys and girls into a vital relationship with the Word of God.

(From "Our Mission", Part III; see GCCP home page for complete text)

 

[Sunday School]      [Children's Church]      [Adult Christian Ed]      

Ever since her 1942 origin as a community-wide area Sunday School, the Greenwood Community Church, Presbyterian has had a very strong, consistently well-attended, and ably-led Christian Education program for all ages from toddler through adult. Twenty-two volunteer teachers make up the Sunday School staff under the capable leadership of superintendent Wendy Petrucci and assistant superintendent Lisa David. Sunday Church School runs from 9:15 A.M. through 10:15 A.M., and does not meet during the summer months. Additionally, we offer a Children’s Church session during the 10:30 Service of Worship (9:30 in the summer months). An active and thriving youth fellowship is offered older youth of junior and senior high age.

 
 
In addition to providing well-rounded, age-appropriate, Bible-based and Christ-centered curriculum for all ages, the Sunday School helps support several mission and humanitarian programs.  Supported missions include the Providence Rescue MIssion, Heifer Project International, World Relief, the Mitten Tree, Thanksgiving Food Collection, and One Great Hour of Sharing. A Confirmation Class (approximate ages 14 and over), led by the pastor, is offered each year for those young people contemplating full membership in the congregation. Also, a week-long Vacation Bible School is offered each summer.
 
Our Adult Christian Education program offers various short-term electives (ranging from 3-8 weeks) throughout the academic year; although we have no official enrollment, approximately 20 to 30 adults regularly participate. Classes are led by the pastor, occasional guest lecturers and qualified members of the congregation.
The following excerpts are from the Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Confessions, The Second Helvetic Confession, 5.233; and the Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 38:
YOUTH TO BE INSTRUCTED IN GODLINESS. The Lord enjoined His ancient people to exercise the greatest care that young people, even from infancy, be properly instructed. Moreover, He expressly commanded in His law that they should teach them, and that the mysteries of the Sacraments should be explained. Now since it is well known from the writings of the Evangelists and apostles that God has no less concern for the youth of His new people, when He openly testifies and says: "Let the children come to me; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven" (Mark 10:14), the pastors of churches act most wisely when they early and carefully catechize the youth, laying the first grounds of faith, and faithfully teaching the rudiments of our religion by expounding the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the doctrine of the Sacraments, with other such principles and chief heads of our religion. Here let the Church show her faith and diligence in bringing the children to be catechized, desirous and glad to have her children well instructed

 

Q. 103. What does God require in the fourth commandment?
 
A. First, that the ministry of the gospel and Christian Education be maintained, and that I diligently attend church, especially on the Lord’s day, to hear the Word of God, to participate in the holy Sacraments, to call publicly upon the Lord, and to give Christian service to those in need. Second, that I cease from my evil works all the days of my life, allow the Lord to work in me through His Spirit, and thus begin in this life the eternal Sabbath.
 
 
 
"To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God." -- William Temple
 

  

 

 Helpful Links useful to Christian Education

PC(USA) Other Presbyterian Links

BibleGateway.com

Bible Study Fellowship

The Greenwood Community Church, Presbyterian, exercises no control over the content of the suggested links. The recommendation of these links implies no official endorsement by the congregation and/or Session of GCCP.