Christian Education

"Keep these words I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Westminster Presbyterian Church offers an exceptional program of Christian education, designed not only to inform but transform the lives of our members and guests. Whether you join us for a class on Sunday morning or attend a mid-week Bible study, we have an experienced and compassionate nursery staff to care for your little ones.

SUNDAY MORNING OPPORTUNITIES

On Sunday mornings we have a graded Sunday school that begins at 9:15 a.m. and is led by a creative, energetic and loving staff of volunteer educators, many of whom have been moms and dads themselves, as well as full-time educators in local school systems.

Middle and High School students also meet on Sunday mornings at the same time. Those who lead these classes are not only familiar with issues our youth face today. They also know how to respond to those issues with theologically sound principles our young people can apply in their daily lives.

We have both an older and a younger adult class that faithfully dedicate themselves to the exploration of one of the books of the Bible or a specific theme (i.e. wisdom, suffering, joy, peace) on Sunday mornings, too.

Occasionally, we will offer either a men’s or a women’s (and sometimes both), couples, singles, parenting and/or senior Bible study to compliment these Sunday morning studies. And our pastor offers a five-week course called BASIC TRAINING twice a year for those who desire an introduction to scripture or an opportunity to brush up on their Bible skills and knowledge.

When our children, aged three to six, are dismissed from the Children’s Message, during worship on Sunday morning, they are welcome to return to their seats with mom and dad, or other members of their family. But if they want, they can also join one of our educators for Children’s Church in the Christian Education Building. While in Children’s Church they will hear other stories from the Bible read to them, participate in an activity related to that story or stories, and enjoy a snack until their parents or adult guardians are dismissed from worship.

CHILDREN’S LIBRARY AND ACOLYTE TRAINING

Don’t forget to spend some time browsing through our Children’s library in the Educational Building. There is a great selection of Christian literature for children (and their moms and dads) on these colorful shelves delving into all kinds of topics, from heaven and angels, to dinosaurs and shepherds.

We round out our children’s ministry with Acolyte Training. Here is an opportunity for those in second through fifth grade to learn about and actually participate in worship leadership on Sunday mornings. These young boys and girls light and extinguish the candles on the communion table at the beginning and end of our worship service, and they assist in the collection of our offering and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Many have also grown up and become Ruling Elders.

MID-WEEK LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Wednesday and Thursday evenings have traditionally provided an educational “bridge” for our adults from Sunday to Sunday. On these evenings we offer classes that are more issue oriented or thematic, though an occasional study of one of the books of the Bible has received high acclaim.

Our youth also meet on Wednesday evenings, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., to explore a wide range of topics related to their Christian faith. But they also have an opportunity to get together for study, outreach, fellowship and lots of fun and games every Sunday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. Needless to say we keep our youth engaged and thinking, building relationships and responding to the issues that are important to them today.

SPECIAL LEARNING EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Without a doubt, Vacation Bible School is the highlight of our Christian Education year. Historically, this highly-anticipated and widely-talked about event has been held a couple of weeks after the public and private schools dismiss their kids for the summer. In the past our facility has been transformed into an Island Paradise, an African rainforest, and an Australian outback. Volunteer educators, artists, actors and outdoor enthusiasts come and help us introduce kids to some of the foundational stories and principles of scripture. And most of the kids enrolled leave here wishing VBS could go on forever!

Fall Festival, held the final Saturday in October each year, is also a special event hosted by the Christian Education Committee. Families gather to enjoy games, activities and food in a rewarding Christian environment that offers an alternative to Halloween. This event is carefully planned and involves all of the members and guests of our church, not just our children and youth. It is a wonderful way to enjoy the cooler weather and have fun with Christian friends and family.

ADULT LIBRARY AND RESOURCE CENTER

Finally, don’t miss out on the extensive selection of books in our adult library. We have recently updated our average publication date by offering over a hundred recently published titles reflecting contemporary thought and theology. You are welcome to stop by, sit and read for a while, or check out a selection and take it home to read at your leisure. Got a question you have never been able to answer? You are likely to find several books in our library that will provide much needed food for thought.

Youth Fellowship is for sixth through twelfth grade students. This group meets at 4:00 p.m. on Sundays for fellowship and supper. The newly renovated Youth Hut is the gathering place for a variety of activities. This year the youth are playing games and relating them to Christian life. Throughout the year, the youth also have different mission projects such as Feed My Sheep and the Humane Society. Wednesday nights, following the delicious Wednesday night supper held at 6:00 p.m., the youth meet to have a Bible study or work on drama ministry.

Westminster Wanderers is an enrichment program for children in first through sixth grade. This group meets once a month to experience Christian fellowship while enjoying adventures. Past activities have including exploring Stennis Space Center, a fire station, a bank vault, and a splash pad. They have also fished at a lake and picked fresh vegetables.

WPC Drama Ministry presents two performances a year - The Christmas Pageant and the Vacation Bible School skit. Actors include children, teens and adults who come together to share God's Word through drama. Set design and construction, props, costumes and other production tasks give non-actors an opportunity to actively participate in the Drama Ministry without having to speak before an audience.

We invite you to direct your questions regarding our Christian Education program to:

Garnie Dubuisson and RoAnna Chenault

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