SUNDAY SCHOOL
St. Barnabas Sunday School is available to children ages 3 years through Grade 8 beginning at 9:45 am when children gather for snack and social time.
Sunday School began with registration and our first lesson on Sunday, September 11, 2011 and continues through the end of the school year in early June.
Our time is precious and short as children will be joining families following or during "the Peace". One week is not dependent on another so please feel free to participate whenever you are in attendance throughout the year at St. Barnabas.
Classes are divided into 5 classrooms located downstairs. Classroom divisions are (3 and 4 year olds), (Kindergarten and Grade 1), (Grades 2 and 3), (Grades 4, 5, and 6), and (Grades 7 and 8).
Ages 3 through Grade 3 follow the Godly Play Christian Education curriculum using stories which follow the lectionary whenever possible. Wooden figures are used to tell the stories followed by wondering time and art response time.
Grades 4/5/6 and Grade 7/8 use a lectionary-based curriculum as their guide and work on a community based project.
Please feel free to join one of our classes to see what we are all about. We have a dedicated team of teachers (15 at the time of this publishing) involved in this important ministry. If you have any questions please contact the church office 302- 994-6607 or Cathy Lopez-Cooling 302-239-9572. 9/14/2011
Why teach Sunday school?
Mano Fernando, who teaches the 5th/6th grade class, says she decided to teach after praying about it. She says, “I have experienced God’s grace, especially the last few years, and feel that I need to share His love for us with the children.” Richard Gordon, who teaches the Jr. High class, explains it this way: “Our young people need to develop the ability to think flexibly and ethically about the world around them. As Sunday School teachers, we can help them discover that Jesus’ basic teaching is as relevant today as it was 1,980 years ago, particularly if it influences how we interact with people every day. ‘Love God and love your neighbor;’ how can our kids go wrong with that as the starting place for their developing ethical toolkit?”
There are opportunities to offer behind-the-scenes support to the program as well. Assistance is needed in keeping the storage area organized, providing spiritual support to teachers, substitute teaching, helping to prepare the Godly Play stories each month, and organizing the children’s church service materials in the back of the sanctuary.
If you are interested in helping, contact Cathy Lopez-Cooling at 239-9572, or speak with a current Sunday School teacher. 1/25/2010
Youth and Children
At St. Barnabas, we believe that the youth are our future. We offer many activities for children and youth.
ACOLYTES
Acolytes help lead the worship at the 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist. Acolytes serve in teams of three or four and range from fifth grade through high school. Each fall, there is training for new acolytes and refresher training for current or previous acolytes.
CHOIRS
The Chancel Choir (teens and adults) uses a variety of musical styles to enhance the worship experience of St. Barnabas’. Rehearsals are every Thursday night, except in the summer. Come sing with us!
The Renaissance Quire (teens and adults) concentrates on the wonderful polyphonic choral works of the Renaissance, and enjoys other traditions as well. The Quire typically sings on the 4th Sunday of every month and rehearses on the previous Thursday. If you share a love of beautiful a cap pel la works, come and sing with us!
The Cherub and Seraphim Choirs children and youth ages 3 through 17 are welcome to sing in either the Cherub (ages 4-8) or the Seraphim Choir (age 9-17). No singing experience is necessary. No audition is required. We sing the first Sunday of each month and the children’s Christmas Eve Service. We practice on Sundays immediately after the 10:00 a.m. service. All that is required is a love of singing and a desire to make a joyful noise for Jesus.
The Christmas Pageant is performed on the Fourth Sunday of Advent and a Children's Musical is performed each year in May.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GROUP
TEENS (13 & UP)
YOUTH WORK CAMP
Youth Ministry Leaders
Sarah and John Mester are youth ministers at St. Barnabas Church. Sarah, a member of St. Barnabas for twenty years, once served as an acolyte and was confirmed at St. Barnabas. Sarah and John met at the University of Delaware. They married at St. Barnabas on July 21, 2006. John is a middle school science teacher and works at a local bike shop part time. Sarah is an elementary special education teacher. John and Sarah enjoy living an active lifestyle. They mountain bike regularly and enjoy rock climbing, hiking, and sailing. This past November they welcomed a son, Andrew, to their family. 8/10/2010
