Our Beliefs Influence Our Teaching

We believe that…
Jesus Christ is God Incarnate and the head of the Church.

Therefore we teach children…
To know, love and follow Christ:
Knowing Christ through the stories of God/Jesus;
Loving Christ by loving them as Christ loves us;
Following Christ by providing times and age-appropriate ways for them to serve.

We believe that…
God is known to us in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Therefore we teach children…
To know God by referring to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in our prayers and in our teaching.

We believe that…
God is Sovereign: the Creator of all things, independent of other powers or wills.

Therefore we teach children…
To recognize the gift of faith that God has given to them, knowing that we can only nurture what God has given them.
That God is still active in our world and that we respond to God through worship and prayer.

We believe that…
The Bible is the inspired Word of God.

Therefore we teach children…
To memorize foundational passages while emphasizing understanding more than rote memorization.
While reading stories from an age-appropriate Bible rather than a resource book.
By reinforcing the story with age-appropriate activities that encourage the children to retell the story in their own words.
To apply the story to their own lives through activities that reflect a contemporary setting which will connect the story with their life today.

We believe that…
Justification is by grace through faith; there is nothing we can do to earn God's love.  We were chosen by God before we chose God.

Therefore we teach children…
By demonstrating God's love to all the children especially those who are difficult to love.
By avoiding activities that imply that God keeps score and loves those children more who memorize more verses, have better attendance at Sunday School, etc.

We believe that…
We are elected by God; God chooses to be our God.  Being chosen is both a privilege and a responsibility.

Therefore we teach children…
Because we have a responsibility to share the Good News and to nurture faith in an atmosphere of love and acceptance.
That salvation is God's responsibility, not ours.  We are never to judge other children or adults but to love one another.
To take age-appropriate leadership roles in the classrooms, in congregational life, and in worship.

We believe that…
God calls us to service and stewardship.

Therefore we teach children…
To focus on serving Christ individually
Because we realize that a commitment to teach comes from a sense of God's call to us
By providing activities that promote learning through doing
By teaching, even at the youngest age, that we are responsible for God's creation and we do not waste food or other materials even in play.
To share their time, talents, and treasures.
To begin to identify their gifts from God and use them in age-appropriate ways.
By giving opportunities for children to practice discipleship within and outside of the church community.

We believe that…
We live in covenant community; God created us to be in relationship with God and others and that the Church is the example of a faith community where we know, love, and follow Christ.

Therefore we teach children…
By promoting an atmosphere in which children see the church as a place where they feel accepted, affirmed and loved and where they belong.
By knowing and using their names when we speak to them.
To show respect to each other.
By handling discipline situations with love and respect.
By using curriculum that is faithful to Scripture and to the Reformed tradition of the Presbyterian Church, USA and has been approved by Session.
By providing age-appropriate activities.
By using community-building games and activities that do not promote winning/losing.
By recognizing that it is more important to deal with their questions and concerns than to cover the lesson.

We believe in…
The Priesthood of all believers; the Holy Spirit speaks to each individual, regardless of age.

Therefore we teach children…
By offering a variety of activities in each class to nurture faith development realizing the variety of ways that children learn.
By encouraging their inquisitiveness and using open-ended questions as appropriate to age and learning abilities.  We are to help them think through their faith.
By creating an atmosphere where it is all right to ask questions, to grow, and to change.  We are a people of “faith seeking understanding”.
By not being alarmed when they express doubts about faith issues.  Our role is to be clarifiers of the faith rather than defenders of the faith.  Our role is to be faithful and to trust the Holy Spirit to nudge their thinking and strengthen their faith.
By recognizing that every member has a unique contribution to make to the lives of others.  We are to be advocates for the children.