We tend to remember what we experience more than what we simply read, see or hear. That's why we've adopted the Workshop Rotation Model, which we call God's Garden. This innovative approach in Christian education allows children (and their teachers) to experience the stories of the bible through hands-on participation. God's Garden Gazette

Bible Stories
Sunday Morning
Worship Plans for Grades 1 - 5

Bible Stories
Over the course of five-week workshop rotations, each age group moves through different learning environments where they engage with one Bible story in five unique ways. Courage is the theme for this year. We’ll spend 4-5 weeks on each of these stories in 2006-2007:

• David
• Ruth and Naomi
• Mary and Joseph and the Birth of Jesus (Advent-Christmas)
• The Disciples
• Daniel
• Easter from Mary’s Point of View
• The Apostle Paul

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These stories are enacted in these workshops: 1) Storytelling, Cooking and Hospitality; 2) Drama, Puppets and Newsroom; 3) Art and Science; 4) Cinema; Technology/Computer; and 5) Music. You'd be surprised at the enthusiasm of the children Sunday morning when they arrive at the Temple to see what workshop their class will attend today. Come and join them and see what all the excitement is about.

Sunday Morning
Children in grades K-5 meet at 9:30 am each Sunday on the second floor of the Education Building. All ages gather in The Temple, Room 210, for music and fellowship before departing for their particular workshops.

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Worship Plans for Grades 1-5

D  1st - 2nd Graders will be picked up from Heaton Hall foyer after Sunday School by their parents and sit with them for the first 20 or so minutes of worship. At a signaled time after the reading of scripture, they will leave the worship services and go to an activity time in the Cornwell Center. They will not return to worship. Parents pick up in the Gym after worship.

D The 3rd and 4th Graders will be picked up from Heaton Hall after Sunday School by their parents and sit with them for the first 20 or so minutes of worship. At a signaled time after the reading of the scripture, they will go to the Chapel and receive a Children’s sermon, then return to worship as a group before the offertory and sit together until the end of worship.

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D There will be nine (9) set Sundays per year when 1st - 4th Graders will be in worship the whole time with their families:

B  October 1, 2006 - World Communion Sunday
B  November 12, 2006 - Stewardship Sunday
B  December 17, 2006 - Lessons and Carols
B  December 24, 2006 - Christmas Eve
B  December 31, 2006 - New Year’s eve (with communion)
B  February 25, 2007 - First Sunday of Lent (with communion)
B  April 1, 2007 - Palm/Passion Sunday
B  April 8, 2007- Easter Sunday
B  May 20, 2007 - Youth Sunday

These Sundays are chosen because of their importance in the Christian Year. It is a way of teaching our children the Christian story through these high liturgical days and important community days.

D 5th Graders will continue their pattern of coming to all worship services.

D If there are any special worship services planned during the year that are especially designed for our children, we will publicize them so children may attend.

On EVERY Sunday, parents are welcome to choose to keep their children with them in the worship service.

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Please contact Sharon Doar, Minister to Elementary Children and Families, for more information about God's Garden, 704-334-7232, ext. 18, or sdoar@mpbconline.org.