2007 Christian Education Report

 

Co-Directors of Christian Education:                            Susan Drake                               (9/1992 – Present)

                                                                                           Lisa Luckritz                              (9/1992 – Present)

 

Catechists/Teachers:    Sheepfold Atrium                      Jill Olson                                    (9/2005 – 5/2007)

                                                                                           Lisa Luckritz                              (9/2006 – Present)

                                                                                           Rev. Bobbie Molony                 (9/2006 – Present)

                                       Vineyard Atrium                       Susan Drake                               (9/1995 – Present)            

                                                                                           Lisa Luckritz                              (9/1995 – Present)

                                       Prophets                                     Sandra Kelly                              (9/2005 – Present)

                                                                                           Rev. Bobbie Molony                 (9/2005 - Present)

                                                                                           Eric Wilson                                (9/2005 – Present)

                                       Seekers                                       Rob Lindstrand                         (9/2005 – Present)

                                       Journey to Adulthood               Kathy Lorden                             (9/2005 – 5/2007)

                                                                                           Chris Hill                                   (9/2005 – 5/2007)

                                       Youth Ministry                          Mariann Gabel                          (9/1998 – 12/2007)

 

                                       Catechists-in-Training:             Pam Sheetz, Jackie Williams

 

                          From January to May 2007, 30 – 35 children were active in the Christian Education program on                           a more-or-less constant basis. Classes met from 10:30 –11:30 am in the Church Annex,                               following the 9:15 am Children’s Eucharist. The Journey to Adulthood program, also known as                           J2A, did not last until Pentecost 2007. While both teachers were present to teach, student attendance was sporadic at best. Often there would be just one student or none. In February 2007, following an attempt to move J2A to Monday evenings in an attempt to increase student involvement, the program dwindled away. We had teachers, but no students.

 

In Fall 2007, due to fluctuating age ranges, the Prophets and Seekers were combined into one class. All children over 13 years of age are encouraged to participate in the Youth Ministry program. There is currently no formal religious training available for them due to a lack of teachers. The Youth Ministry program meets on the last Tuesday (or Wednesday) of the month, beginning at 7:00 pm. This has met with some success. Planned excursions to a corn maze, a hockey game, and an overnight camping trip were popular.  Arthur Tancl Jr. and Katie Graham hope to sponsor several youth in the diocesan-wide New Beginnings and Happening programs this winter and spring.  Mariann Gabel has resigned due to the distance involved as a result of her move to Yorkville.

 

September 2007 also saw a switch in class times for the 9-years and up age groups. Several parents felt their children were too old for the Children’s Eucharist and would benefit from attending the 10:30 am Eucharist. To facilitate this switch, the older children have class from 9:15 – 10:15 am and then proceed to join their families for the 10:30 am Eucharist.  As active participation in the Eucharist is part of the formation process during the 9:15 am service, the older children were asked to continue to serve as acolytes, ushers, choir members, altar guild, and/or lectors to name a few options.

 

The 3- to 8-year-old children continue to gather for 9:15 am Eucharist and then go to their classes.

 

After trying the new class schedule for 4 months, no increase in class participation for the 9 to 12 year old