We Extend a Welcome To You at
Lexington Presbyterian Church
120 S. Main Street
Lexington, VA 24450
William M. Klein, Pastor
Phone: 540-463-3873 Fax: 540-463-1885
Lexington Presbyterian - Christian Education
The Christian Education Committee hopes everyone will find an appealing option to learn more about Christ and what His love means to us. We offer classes during the Sunday School hour each Sunday, 9:45 - 10:45, and at other times during the week. It is a way to become more familiar with each other, and to grow together as a community of faith. As we plan throughout the year, we strive to address the needs and interests of the congregation by offering a variety of classes that enrich your relationship with Jesus and enable you to live faithful lives. If you have ideas for classes, please pass them on to Olivia or the Christian Education Committee.
The Children's and Youth Subcommittees provide guidelines for our associated Sunday School programs. We ask that all parents and teachers read through these guidelines at the beginning of our Sunday School year. Teachers have a copy of our Child Protection Policy and each one signs a statement that he or she has read it. Parents receive a Health and Emergency form to complete for each of their children. These will be kept on file for the year in the child's classroom and will provide access to much needed information if any emergency arises.
The Christian Education Committee thanks all of our teachers for their efforts teaching our children, youth and adults about our faith.
We thank parents for supporting their children's attendance and for their own participation in our educational programs.
Class Offerings
Children's Sunday School
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Youth Sunday School
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Adult Sunday School | Adult Midweek
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Children's Classes
Nursery & Toddler Extended Session
During our Sunday School hour and 11:00 am worship service, our nursery offers loving care for infants and children who are one or two years of age. Caregivers read age-appropriate Bible stories to the older children from the Hands-On Bible curriculum. The nursery caregiver is Hilary Bergmann; the toddler caregiver is Janice Updike. Murray Hall, room 144.
Preschool Class
This class is for children of ages three and four. The teachers are Mary Beth Baker, Amy DeHart and Gretchen Sukow. They use a curriculum called Rock Solid: Building a Heart of Faith, which helps the children come to know the Bible and to apply it to their everyday lives. The children learn Bible stories through a variety of teaching activities, including art and music. Murray Hall, room 146.
Kindergarten and First Grade Class
This class also uses the Rock Solid curriculum to teach Bible stories and Christian songs with an emphasis on how faith matters in our everyday lives. The children do crafts and play games that encourage them to remember the Bible stories and live according to Jesus' teachings. This class is taught by Josh Elrod, Karla Murdock, Heidi Sherman and Andy Jay, and Ann Spice. Murray Hall, room 154.
Second and Third Grade Class
Taught by Tom Jones, Mark and Moni Keeley, and Bob Moreschi, these children also use the Rock Solid curriculum. As their reading and comprehension skills develop, they use the Bible more. The class incorporates other activities, such as drama, art, games and music. Murray Hall, room 232.
Fourth and Fifth Grade Class
This class, taught by Patsy Aligood, Betsy Lee, Margie Page, and JoAnne and Eddie Willis, delves deeper into reading the Bible and looking more closely at its relevance in our lives. As in other classes, the teachers incorporate a number of teaching methods as the class studies its lessons from the Rock Solid curriculum. Murray Hall, room 228.
Vacation Bible School - 2009
Vacation Bible School will be August 3 - 7, 2009. Mark your calendars so you can be sure that your children don't miss out on this exciting week of Christian learning, exploration and fun. This year's theme, "Camp E.D.G.E.: Experience and Discover God Everywhere," uses a camping and challenge course motif. The children will start off at Base Camp (Assembly) each day, and then trek to various activity centers such as music, recreation, science, crafts and snacks. The Bible Storytelling Center (Extreme Bible Trek) provides the Scripture and Bible story that will be the theme each day. The children will learn an E.D.G.E. Pledge each day. Each pledge is a statement of faith followed by an active response of faith, such as: "God is with me." "I will stay close to God."
Children from age three (potty-trained) through fifth graders are welcome. Youth who are rising sixth graders and older are encouraged to come and help us for the week.
We are also looking for adult leaders who love children and want to work with them, who have a desire to share God's promises and to bring God's love alive in a child's world, who have patience and who will make a commitment to working together to create a blessed environment for our children.
Youth Classes
Curriculum
Both the Senior High and Middle School Sunday School Classes will use the curriculum Claim the Life by Cokesbury, which focuses on providing a faith-forming experience. This comprehensive youth curriculum's lessons revolve around a single key word or phrase from Scripture. There are video vignettes for many of the lessons which provide for further discussion.
Sunday School helps us learn more about God; it also provides a safe place to be yourself and reflect on God's movement in your life. Please join your peers and experience this time of Sabbath.
Confirmation Class
This class for eighth grade and above is for those young people preparing to join the church.
Middle School Class
For sixth through eighth graders, this class is taught by Laura & Boyd Brown, Debbie & Frank Friedman, Andy Johnson & Cynthia Penne, and Randy & Tammy Shomo. This term's theme is "Word," and the students will primarily be working with the Old Testament. Some of their weekly topics will be Sabbath, Honor, Deliverance, Shepherd, Heart and Justice. Murray Hall, room 202.
High School Class
Our ninth through twelfth graders will be led this year by Joe Irby, Jane Horton and Theresa & Kirk Luder. Their lessons this semester explore the theme of "Story" with topics on Sin, Grace, Family, Manna, Holiness, Oppression and Compassion. Murray Hall, room 214.
Adult Sunday School Classes
These classes are not the only way you can learn. You can be a teacher to our children or youth and, through this ministry, honor your baptismal vows and emulate Jesus the Rabbi. The relationships developed with teachers remain with young people into their adult years. Nurturing the faith of our younger members is of primary importance to the church. Please help our Christian Education program by stepping up and offering some of your time either as a teacher or as a substitute.
Adult Education Winter Quarter
The winter quarter begins on 13 December. We invite everyone who has an interest to attend one of the following offerings. Visitors and new participants are welcome in all classes at any time:
- Koinonia Class
This fellowship begins a new study in the winter quarter. In An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith, Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopal priest, professor of Religion, and author writes about faith practices - things we do in the world for the sake of God's beauty, justice and love. Taylor particularly directs the reader to practices that frame everyday human experience. The twelve chapters explore the potentially sacred meaning of simple daily activities and conditions, like walking, paying attention, saying no to work one Sabbath each week. Taylor sees the holy in everything and everywhere, not just in church, but walking down a moonlit path or talking with the cashier at the grocery store. Reviews have called this book "the most completely beautiful book in religion" and described it as "gentle, humbly crafted, lyrical and deeply wise." The class will explore Taylor's book and ways in which they can deepen their own faith practices. - ASK Class - Room 113
The ASK class likes to delve deeply into Christian history, theology, and Biblical scholarship. On January 17, the ASK Class will initiate a new look at Paul, the former Pharisee - often called Jesus' most faithful disciple - with the reading of The First Paul. This recent re-examination of Paul's role in early Christian theology is the joint work of Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, two first-class Christian scholars and bestselling authors. Those interested in participating in this exciting inquiry are invited to join us. We anticipate taking about two months to work our way through the book. Please contact Ann Massie at massiea@wlu.edu to register your interest so that we can be sure of having enough books to go around. - Young Adult Class - The Parlor
The Young Adult class, a group that focuses on fellowship, continues sessions on marriage using The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman. Chapman identifies five different ways in which couples express their love, and how misunderstandings and confusion may arise when the giver and receiver express love differently. The book guides couples to understand their partner's love language, which Chapman enumerates as Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. Barry and Poo Mines will lead this group. - Theology Class - Room 203
This class, convened by Lad Sessions, starts a long-term reading and discussion of Systematic Theology, Volume I by Paul Tillich. An Amazon.com editorial review considers his three-volume work "one of the most profound statements of the Christian message ever composed and the summation and definitive presentation of the theology of the most influential and creative American theologian of the twentieth century." The first volume presents Tillich's "correlation of man's deepest questions with theological answers." The focus is on the concepts of Being and Reason and humanity's quest for revelation.
Explore Class
This class meets for three sessions to do just what the name implies, explore. We spend time considering what it means to be Christian, what it means to be a Presbyterian Christian, and finally what it means to be a member of the Lexington Presbyterian Church. This class is truly an occasion to explore. When the classes are concluded the hope is that you will choose to join this church...but that is not a foregone conclusion.
Anyone interested in knowing more about our theological background is encouraged to explore together. For more information about when the class will be scheduled, please check the events page or contact the church office.
Festival of Faith
Every other year the Adult Education Subcommittee hosts a weekend Festival of Faith with a special theme and speaker and invites the entire community to attend. Past programs have included topics such as the Christian responsibility for the environment and the different faces of Christianity in a changing world.
The 2010 Festival of Faith will be Sunday, February 21 and Monday, February 22. Dr. Bernard Bangley has graciously accepted our invitation to be our guest preacher and speaker. The theme will be "Knowing the Unknowable: Deepening Our Private Devotional Life." Dr. Bangley will draw upon treasured classics of Christian spirituality, as he leads us to seek an honest, healthy strengthening of our personal relationship with God. He will place particular focus on Introduction to the Devout Life by Francis de Sales and The Cloud of Unknowing, and share insights from the growing list of classic books he has gently modernized for contemporary Christians.
Dr. Bangley will speak on Sunday morning at each service and during the Sunday School hour. Sunday evening will include a covered dish supper along with a presentation. The Monday evening session will conclude this time of instruction and exploration. We invite everyone to one or all of the sessions.
Adult Midweek Groups
Lectio Divina
This contemplative study of a Lectionary Bible selection for the week meets on Tuesday mornings between 10am and 11am. We invite you to experience this time of listening, meditation and discussion with us.
Find more information about Lectio Divina at Lexington Presbyterian.
Listening for God - A Book Discussion Group
Have you ever read a book, fiction or non-fiction, and wished to discuss it with your friends? Have you ever read a book and heard themes of faith resonating, even if it wasn't a "Christian" book? For the past five years the Listening for God class has met to discuss and wrestle with themes of faith in short stories written by contemporary American writers.
Listening for God meets to discuss longer works of fiction or non-fiction. There are two different time slots, one in the afternoon, another in the evening, to include more people in the discussion.
A copy of each book will be in our church library, and most likely in the public and university libraries. They can also be purchased locally at Books & Co. or the Bookery.
The sessions for 2009 will include the following books:
October Meeting: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- Wednesday, October 21, 7:30-8:30 pm, at the Manse, 6 White Street
- Thursday, October 22, 3:30-4:30 pm, Room 113
January Meeting: Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
- Wednesday, January 20, 7:30-8:30 pm, at the Manse
- Thursday, January 28, 3:30-4:30 pm, Room 113
March Meeting: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
- Wednesday, March 17, 7:30-8:30 pm, at the Manse
- Thursday, March 25, 3:30-4:30 pm, Room 113
Men's Saturday Fellowship
The Men's Fellowship class meets the second Saturday of each month at 7:30 am for breakfast followed by study and discussion of a selected book. If you are a man seeking fellowship with others, check for more information under Presbyterian Men.