WoRM

Welcome to WoRM! The name WoRM stands for WOrkshop Rotational Model and it is MSPC’s version of the old Sunday School style of children’s education. WoRM uses a VBS-type format whereby we have one topic taught for 6 weeks in a rotating fashion. The classes are typically divided by grade starting with preschool and continuing on through 6th although we have divided the groups on occasion in other ways such as by gender. We try very hard to make our topics important but our classes FUN. Because the classes rotate each week, every grade will get an opportunity to participate in every class. For example: week 1 might have the 1st grade doing Art while the 4th grade is in Music, week 2 will have the 1st grade doing Music while the 4th grade has Art. The WoRM kids usually meet at 9:30 and are dismissed at 10:45 every Sunday. In the interest of making things exciting for the kids, we sometimes change the days or times but don’t worry – we also give the parents plenty of notice!

So what are we teaching these little disciples? We have had topics cover the 23rd Psalm, Jesus Feeds the 5 Thousand, Fruit of the Spirit, and the like. MSPC has encouraged this program to touch on a variety of different aspects of Christianity. In the course of a child’s WoRM education, they will learn about Miracles, Bible Times and Life, People in the Bible, Parables, Books of the Bible and the like. We want their religious education to be well-rounded and memorable. We have found that the “old” Sunday School way of teaching the kids wasn’t working – they learned how to speak “churchese” and didn’t truly understand much of what was taught – or remember it, either! The way the WoRM is taught makes sure that each child will be “hit” from several different angles so that we can be sure the message we are teaching will stick – for a lifetime. Here is an example of our most recent rotation, the Fruit of the Spirit. The point of this topic is to make sure the children know where it is in the Bible (Galatians) and what the Fruits are (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and long suffering) as well as teaching them how to apply it to their own lives.

The Fruit of the Spirit Rotation will kick off with a group field trip – apple picking! We will then have a large group project where we will use the apples in a variety of delicious recipes to eat and to share.

The next Sunday will be the start of the classes. Our Director of Ministry, Mr. Wayne Lanese, will be teaching a class in Archery. This has been a hobby of his for quite some time and we felt that it was a perfect way for the kids to demonstrate self-control. Of course, safety is of tantamount importance to us and we are blessed with a wonderful facility and grounds to make sure this activity is done with that in mind.

In our Drama room, the kids will be using the AV equipment to make a TV commercial for JOY. They will be responsible for writing the scripts, directing and acting as well as backdrops and costumes. They love to see themselves “on air” when we show their productions to the congregation.

To show them a way to remind themselves to be gentle, we are making stepping stones for a new pathway here at the church. The kids will decorate their concrete stones with seashells, rocks, marbles as well as their handprints. It is important for kids of all ages to remember that hands can hurt as well as heal!

One of the missions of WoRM is to make sure the kids take their faith with them into the world and not leave it at the church’s doorstep. We encourage them to look up to athletes and celebrities with strong faith as well as listen to Christian music and watch appropriate TV shows. We will have a class in which our kids will view Beauty and the Beast and discuss with their teacher and each other the examples of the Fruit that they find. This is a good exercise to repeat at home, too.

To end this rotation, we will be having a group project with our church’s preschool where ALL the kids will join together to make time capsules! These will be stacked together to make a pyramid entitled the Building Blocks of Faith.

Of course, these are just a few examples. In the past, we have gone fishing, baked bread, made costumes, had puppet shows, went camping, learned secret codes and symbols, played lots and lots of games and SO much more. The kids have come away from each 6 week session with a thorough knowledge of the topic and how it applies to their lives – plus, they had fun!

The kids receive their own newsletter before the rotation starts called The Chronicles and it gives them the lesson plan as well as the class schedule. It also contains jokes, trivia and other kid-related news. They will receive the follow-up newsletter at the end of the rotation to discuss the upcoming field trip or activity and to review.

Our teachers are church members who have been specially chosen for the class they will teach. The teacher’s commitment is only for 6 weeks so they are always “fresh” and excited! Each teacher is given a teenage assistant or two and each grade is given a teen “shepherd” to make sure the flock gets where they need to be.

As you can see, MSPC truly values your child and we take our commitment to their religious education seriously. The Great Commission to “go and make disciples” includes the youngest members of our church, too. We look forward to meeting you and your family – please contact us for any information you might need.

                                      God Bless,

                                       Shannon Hagelauer