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
Except
for the Extended session for our combined 10:00 worship service,
children's classes are suspended for the summer. Vacation Bible School
is scheduled for 2-6 August. See below for more information.Nursery & Toddler Extended Session
During our Sunday School hour and 11:00 am (10am during the summer months) 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 - 2010
Vacation Bible School will be August 2 - 6, 2010. The theme for this year is Galactic Blast: A Cosmic Adventure Praising God! Children from age 3 through 5th graders are invited to become cadets and board the starship Galactic Praise to learn about our awesome universe - and our awesome God - in a whole new way. The Bible stories reveal the wonderful, magnificent, powerful and living presence of God. Through our trusty puppet, Galileo the Gorilla, we will learn "green" tips each day that help us become more aware of how to take care of the planet that God has given us.
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
Youth
classes will resume in the fall.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.
The Christian Education Committee asks that you consider teaching our children and youth next fall. If you feel called to be a part of our teaching ministries, please speak with Laura Brown or Olivia Patton. Teachers are fun! Get with the fun crowd! Our young people need you!
Adult Education - Summer 2010
The summer quarter began on 6 June. 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 - Westfel
Deb Klein is leading a discussion of the beatitudes using the text The Beatitudes for Today by James C. Howell.
Adult Education - Fall 2010
The fall quarter began on 19 June. 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 - Westfel
This group will be taking a wide sweep at Luke's account of the Gospel story. The text to be used will be Luke - Interpretation Bible Studies by Thomas W. Walker. Deb Klein will be leading the class. - ASK Class - Room 113
The ASK (Ask, Seek, Knock) class likes to delve deeply into Christian history, theology, and Biblical scholarship. This fall the class will read Karen Armstrong's The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions. The "transformation" Armstrong refers to is humankind's discovery and development of its spirituality, as that occurred in different cultures throughout the world. More specifically, the book traces the history of religions, beginning with "The Axial Peoples (c. 1600 to 900 BCE)," up through 220 B.C.E. It includes early Judaism -- the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, etc. -- but obviously does not come up far enough to touch on Christianity. Armstrong takes a very global view, looking at the development of religions in Asia, the early Greek states, the Assyrian and then Babylonian Empires, etc. Like most books by this highly respected -- and highly readable -- scholar, The Great Transformation has received rave reviews. - Young Adult Class - The Parlor
Barry and Poo Mines lead this group. More information about fall quarter plans may be found in the September newsletter. - Theology Class - Room 203
This class, convened by Lad Sessions, is engaged in a long-term reading and discussion of Systematic Theology, Volume 2 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. In this volume, the second of his three-volume reinterpretation of Christian theology, Paul Tillich comes to grips with the central idea of his system -- the doctrine of the Christ. -
A Revealing Look at Jesus and Ways He Has Been Depicted on Film
This class will explore the life of Jesus using The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey. Through discussion and movie clips depicting Jesus and his life and times, the class will be challenged to think about Jesus as the Bible presents him – brilliant, creative, challenging, fearless, compassionate, unpredictable and ultimately satisfying. Yancey examines three fundamental questions: who Jesus was, why he came, and what he left behind. This is a probe into the real Jesus beyond the stereotypes. Neely Young will lead this class. - Lectio Divina
We will continue with a Sunday lectio divina group. This class reflects on a passage of Scripture each week by reading from several different Bible translations, and then meditating and prayerfully listening to discover the meaning of the text.
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 Christian spirituality, the Christian responsibility for the environment and the different faces of Christianity in a changing world.
The next Festival of Faith will be held in 2012. More information will be posted here as plans are developed.
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.
You don’t have to wait until September to find out what books to read for the coming school year. Get a head start with The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom, and Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent. Dates haven’t been set yet, but these books will be discussed in September and November. The search is on for an additional book. Happy reading! If you have any suggestions for books or questions about the class, please be in touch with Deb Klein.
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.