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CARING SUNDAYS AT OPRC CHILDREN'S "SPIRIT HOUR" On Sunday, January 17, the children of Spirit Hour are pictured with Christian Education Director, Jill Brown, as they packed hats, gloves, mittens and scarves to be donated to a shelter in Paterson. Earlier, they had listened to a story, One Caring Kid - A Booklet About You and What Your Kindness Can Do, and each child received the booklet. The children then listened to the song Let There Be Peace on Earth. After a short discussion, they made bird pudding and used donated Holiday cards to construct bird feeders. "Caring Sundays" will continue to be aimed at instilling a spirit of caring and doing things for others. Children from surrounding communities (pre-school through 8th grade) are welcome to participate in Spirit Hour” by attending 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship Service. At 10:15, the children gather around Pastor Tom Marsden for a brief lesson, and then move to activities at the OPRC Education Building. Child care for infants is provided each Sunday. Our church is at 660 East Glen Avenue at Route 17, next to the Schoolhouse Museum and opposite Valleau Cemetery. |
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You may leave your infant or toddler with assurance. Personal pagers are available so that you may attend the church worship service with the confidence that you will be apprised of your child's comfort level at any time during the service.
At Old Paramus, children attending Sunday School begin the morning by attending the 10 A.M. worship service in the sanctuary. Each Sunday, Rev. Marsden meets with the children and involves them in a discussion designed especially for them. As Tom Marsden has often said, "This can be a challenge to come up with a spiritually appropriate subject that is meaningful to the young people." (But he always manages to.) The youngsters then depart to the Education Building to attend their respective classes.
Infants and toddlers attend Jesus and Me. This is a safe and trusting environment of child care that provides developmental play. Routine and familiarity build trust - the first building block of faith. Creative play challenges growing abilities and motor skills. The children are exposed to music as well as toys that represent aspects of faith such as sheep, fish, building blocks, Noah's ark, animal puppets, books and puzzles.
Children, 3-6 years old, attend a program called Children & Worship. Their program includes a Bible story followed by a choice of an activity, which can be reading, drawing, painting, or completing a craft or puzzle. Music, snack and prayer are included in the session's activities
Children aged 7 - 13 are grouped by grade and follow a curriculum called Seasons of the Spirit. This curriculum was a collaborative effort and represents congregations from many parts of the world. It is based on the lectionary and focuses on the church year. The lectionary and the seasons of the year help connect our past, present, and future as God's people. The ministry of community, prayer and worship, proclamation, and compassionate service are woven into a holistic approach to faith formation, and faithful living. Children are provided a multi-sensory learning experience, which is the manner in which we feel children learn best. You can learn more about Seasons of the Spirit by accessing the website www.spiritseasons.com.
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