Christian Education Minutes from August 9, 2006

Present: Stella Rous, Lissy Hallum, Anne Scott, Jean Ann Lansche, Pastor Kimberly Willis
Absent: Cindy Wilson, Nick Strobel, Lisa Strobel, Barbara Dethlefson, Caroline Close, Hank Webb
 
Anne presented the prospective Sunday School students list for this fall.  Because their are so few students we are proposing to eliminate a class and combine larger age groups.  The hired personnel in the Nursery have been doing a fine job of teaching the little ones a lesson each week so Anne will ask them to continue if Lilly Johnson no longer is interested in teaching.
Four year olds will join the Kindergarten and First Grade.
Grades 2 through 5th will be joined and 6th grade will join with the jr. high. 
Sr. High will have a team of teachers with Stella teaching the first 6 week session. There will be a vacant room in the Education Building in which they could meet.  Phil Maxwell may be asked if he would be able to teach the Have/Have Not series since he is in charge of missions.
  Jean Ann and Sherry Setser will teach either the Four year, Kindergarten, and First or the 2nd through 5 th grade class.  Marion Henderson has not yet decided whether or not she will return.  Kathy and Corky Blain have asked not to teach this year.  Anne will ask and see if Lisa Strobel is willing to continue to work with the jr. high.  There will be an announcement in the Outlook for volunteers.
 
Nick Strobel will be teaching "Discovering the Historical Jesus" and Pastor Kimberly will teach a class on World Faiths that will last approximately 5 weeks.  It will intertwine with the September 30th Interfaith Bakersfield march and class.
 
We revisited the topic of what classes parents might like to have offered.  How I answer my child's questions about the world today (terrorism, commercial Christmas, etc.) was discussed.  Anne will ask Jane Hanley if she would be interested in teaching a class on this sometime this year.  We might also be able to use outside people from other churches.
 
Vacation Church School will be August 14th though the 18th.  Everything is in place.  The teachers will be responsible for their play time.  There has been no word from Trinity though Anne has called.  Anne will be donating 2 recycling bins for the church to use.  It has been recommended that drivers for the field trip to the Planetarium fill out a card with their license number and insurance carrier.  Wesley will provide secondary insurance in case of an accident.  The mission project will be to collect backpacks and school supplies for the Homeless Shelter.  Anne has purchased 10 backpacks at this time to be filled. 
 
Youth Group is still meeting on the every other week schedule.  This is leading to some confusion as to when there are meetings.  Education Committee again feels as this is a major concern.  Pastor Kimberly does not feel that it is her role to be involved every week and that members of the church must step up and help.   It has been discussed that the month could be divided with different leaders so that the youth can meet weekly.  Hank Webb will be contacted for his input when he returns.  It is tentatively suggested that Hank with  Pastor Kimberly assisting will continue with the traditional 2nd and 4th Sunday meetings while the 1st Sunday will be devoted to missions (such as helping at the Homeless Shelter) and the 3rd Sunday will be a Social/Discussion evening where perhaps a movie (with no higher than pg-13 rating) will be shown and then discussed.   David Hanley, Lissy Hallum, Jerry Ludeke, Nick Strobel, and Caroline Close will be contacted to see if this is something they would be interested in helping with.  It was also mentioned that our youth would sometimes like to join with other youth groups.  In October there will be a 5th Sunday and Pastor Kimberly suggested that a "Trunk or Treat" would be a possibility as an outreach to the neighborhood children.
 
Pastor Kimberly has not yet scheduled a Confirmation Class but is thinking of maybe doing it during Lent.  It will probably be a 6 week class.  It was discussed that it could take place during  the Sunday School hour. 
 
Next meeting will be September 3rd.  Jean Ann will contact Cindy and Nick to see if the meeting could be moved up to 3:30 p.m. and adjourn by 5:00.

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