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Christian Education
CEWeb
 Welcome
to the Christian Education page of the American Baptist Churches of
Wisconsin Website!
This online
resource will serve as a forum to share ideas, get information and
the like.
Please share the Web address for
this site with Christian Education workers in your church. I would
also invite you to offer
suggestions of things which would make the site useful to
you.
Back to School
September 2006
I have been watching the children and young people
from our neighborhood heading back to school with new clothes and
a backpack filled with school supplies. Most of them are smiling and
looking excited about what lies ahead. My niece started school for
the first time this year with great excitement. She got on the bus
with a huge smile on her face and hasn't stopped talking about all
the things she is doing. After all of these years of being out of
school, early in August I still get the urge to buy a new outfit and
school supplies. Unless something has happened to make us dread school,
learning is exciting to people of all ages. There are so many things
we don't know and the world is filled with things that call for exploration
of one kind or another.
This is also the time most of our churches are gearing
up for Sunday School and other educational programs in the church.
It is my hope that there is some excitement equal to that of the children
I have observed as we look forward to this important event. Let me
suggest a few things we might do to encourage a little excitement.
-
Set up the church and the room in such a way
that it says, "You are welcome here. We are glad you are back!"
For example, put up some new things on the walls; put the tables
and chairs in a welcoming arrangement; make sure the new curriculum
materials are out (and the old ones put away!). Have someone at
the door to welcome people. We think of this for church, but we
do not always think of it for Sunday School. Especially if classes
have changed locations, it helps people feel comfortable with a
new situation.
-
Make sure there is something new to learn!
Do lessons build on what has been learned before rather than repeating
the same things? Are we attempting to seek answers to the questions
people are really asking? We always are interested in learning what
we need or want to know!
-
In Christian education, learning is for formation,
not just for information. So learning should lead to appropriate
life action. As often as possible, we should "practice"
this action, not just talk about it. That means we may have some
mission and service activities as a part of what we do. These can
sometimes be action/reflection, that is, the action comes first
and the looking at what it means and why we do it comes after the
action. It can also be done by studying first and determining the
appropriate action and then doing it. Variety is always important.
Our local newspaper ran an article a few days before
school started. They asked both students and parents what they looked
forward to most about school starting. There were, of course, a variety
of responses, but by far the most common response related to seeing
and spending time with friends. Learning at all ages is best done
in learning communities. The church is already experienced at forming
communities, so we should be encouraged to hear how important it is
to learners. Even if we do not have all the latest equipment available
to us or the perfect rooms for classes, we have the makings of good
learning communities. I would suggest that we try to emphasize that.
What things can we do to encourage peer groups and learning communities
as we study together?
-
Remember that we learn from one another. We
know adults do that, but children do that too. Encourage the sharing
of ideas across regular age groupings. This is a great way to include
new people. If you have someone new to the faith, partnering them
with a peer who has been journeying in faith for a longer time is
a good learning tool.
-
Learning is better when it is collaborative rather
than competitive. Sharing ideas, helping the one who needs help,
working on group projects to find answers or information improves
learning for everyone. There is an old saying about the teacher
learning more than the students. There is a lot of truth in that
and it would seem to suggest that everyone should be the teacher
part of the time!
-
Friendships are part of the fellowship task of
the church. Working and playing together encourages those friendships.
Planning some activities just for fun is a good thing. We plan our
all church picnic for the fall just as Sunday School begins. People
of all ages are encouraged to come and get involved in the games,
conversations and good food. Winter picnics are also fun! Or how
about a talent night or a game night or you fill in the blank? These
activities will be enjoyable but they will also encourage good learning
communities.
I trust that you will have a good year of learning
in your church and that there is excitement around the whole learning
experience. It is an important task and it is fun!
Maxine Ashley
Staff Associate in Christian Education
Christian.Education@abcofwi.org
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