 |
|
|
Sunday School Superintendent Karen Kasulis (1947-2003)
Christian Education
St. John's offers many opportunities to enrich your and your children's understanding and experience of the Christian faith. The education and faith formation opportunities provide introductory material for those new to the Episcopal Church as well as further opportunities for those wishing to delve deep into the mysteries of the Church. Classes are primarily led by lay people. Regular opportunities include:- Sunday school for children, youth, and adults
- Very Young Couples Group
- Women's Bible Study
- Wild Men of God
- Education for Ministry
- Confirmation Classes
- Cursillo
Sunday School
Sunday School for all ages is held each Sunday morning from 9:30 to 10:15 am.A toddler-focused curriculum is used with our two- and three-year-old children.
Godly Play, a hands-on Montessori-based curriculum, is used for our four year olds (pre-K age), kindergarteners, and first graders. St. John's started Godly Play about eight years ago; it is a wonderful approach to children's faith formation. In 2004-05 our Godly Play teachers are helping bring Godly Play attributes, activities, or stories to our other children's classes and, on occasion, to the parish as a whole with all-ages activities in the parish hall. More about Godly Play
All Things New, the successor to the Episcopal Children's Curriculum, is used with our 2nd through 5th graders. It incorporates Bible stories and the Prayer Book for the children's Christian and Episcopal faith formation. More about All Things New.
Our own catechemunal challenge for the youth (sixth grade and up) was introduced in the fall of 2003, with the goal of forming young Episcopalian Christian adults through their six-year catechemunal challenge. This is more than sufficient preparation for confirmation. Youth who choose not to fully participate in the challenge may take a confirmation class to prepare for confirmation.
For full details of the challenge, see Pam Wilson or Fr. Helt. We are incorporating some elements of the Journey to Adulthood program as resources. We had used "J2A," "the Journey program" as our primary youth formation program for many years. About the Journey program.
More about Sunday school in 2004-05.
Adult Sunday School Classes
Classes on various topics are offered by parishioners, the rector, and others from the community. In 2004-05, there are three types of classes -- personal spirituality, a book study, and a Bible study -- and each class is nine weeks long. They take place from 9:30 to 10:15 am on Sundays, in various classrooms in the education wing and in the Commons (near the kitchen).--> For more information, contact the church office, (405)321-3020.Very Young Couples Group
Young couples in their 20's or early 30's - married or about to be married - will find the Very Young Couples Group is for them.Contact the church office, (405)321-3020, for more information.
Women's Bible Study
On Friday mornings this women's Bible study takes place in parishioner's homes from 9:00 to 10:00 am. The group usually has anywhere from six to ten members in attendance, and is a lively group!Contact the church office, (405)321-3020, for more information.
Wild Men of God
All men are welcome to join us every other Tuesday morning at 6:30 am for an hour to cover issues men face in today's world. This group has taken a "book review" format and each meeting consists of prayer and discussion of the chapter in the book we are reading at the time. We have read David F. Wells' book "Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision," "Healing of America" by Marianne Williams, and C. S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity." We usually have anywhere from six to 12 men on any alternate Tuesday morning. Much good discussion happens and if you drive by you will see many of our members arriving early and parked in the parking lot finishing or catching up or reviewing their reading for the day.For more information, contact the church office, (405)321-3020.
Education for Ministry
The phrase "the more questions I ask, the more questions I have," describes EFM. Education for Ministry is a world-wide program created in 1975, and is administered by the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Everyone is called to ministry, not just "clergy types". EFM prepares lay people for Christian Ministry.St. John's has offered EFM since the fall of 1987 and is one of the few churches to have such a long "continuous" history of EFM. The four-year program covers the Old Testament, the New Testament, Church History, and Theology studies. Students commit to one year at a time. At St. John's we meet on Tuesday evenings, September through May. Questions often pursued by students are "What does it mean to live within the body of Christ?" or "What is the relationship between God and God's people?" or "What am I called to do?" EFM is a safe environment to discuss and develop a deeper understanding of your faith based on your personal path, using culture and tradition as points of reference.
Some of St. John's EFM graduates
Interested? Contact Susan Pinkerton for more information, through the church office, (405)321-3020.
Confirmation Classes
Twice a year a confirmation class is held for those adults who are interested in becoming confirmed members or in refreshing their knowledge and understanding of what it means to be a Christian and an Episcopalian.Once a year a confirmation class is held for youth of sixth grade age and older who are preparing for confirmation in the Episcopal church and choose not to participate in the catechemunal challenge. For more information contact the church office, (405)321-3020.
Cursillo
Sometimes study and spiritual renewal is accomplished with those from other Episcopal churches as well as St. John's. Such is Cursillo. A Cursillo weekend is an opportunity to focus on the fundamentals of being Christian with an emphasis on the practical aspects of changing environments with the Good News of Jesus Christ. The weekends are run by lay people and conducted at the diocesan camp/conference center in rural eastern Oklahoma, St. Crispin's, in the main lodge. Clergy participate and are available for consultation.What is it about Cursillo that makes it such an appealing event? While each Cursillo is unique, and perceived in many different ways, some impressions persist. Many are spiritually refreshed. Some are spiritually challenged. Some have received calls to a specific area of servanthood. But, consider this remark that was made following a recent Oklahoma Cursillo. The words don't say it all... but they say enough: "I should have done this years ago."
For more information or to get an application form, contact Kim Warram or call the church office, (450)321-3020. You can also visit the National Cursillo Web site.