For the past few years, the Church School at Holy Apostles has used the Episcopal Church Curriculum (ECC) as its primary curriculum for Preschool through Middle School classes. This curriculum, developed and field tested at the Center for the Ministry of Teaching at the Virginia Theological Seminary, is one of the few Sunday School curricula developed by Episcopalians. At every level there are four foundations: Old Testament, New Testament, Sacraments, and Church. The curriculum follows the narrative of the Biblical story in a three-year cycle, simultaneously highlighting Episcopal customs and practices.
In 1997, we added a very successful new feature of the Church School program - the Godly Play approach, which is offered on "fifth Sundays" and certain other occasions. This program, written by The Rev. Jerome Berryman, uses beautifully crafted manipulatives and a particular way of telling a Biblical or liturgical story to help the hearers make the story their own. Art responses and "wonder" questions are a part of each lesson. In 1999, Holy Apostles established a specific teaching space or "atrium" where materials can be displayed and pulled out for the lessons. This classroom is designed to be enjoyed by children even when adults are meeting in our Parish Hall.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
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