Christian Ed
The mission of Christian Education at Lincoln Park Church is to:
- Change lives by inviting and encouraging all ages of LP members to participate in a life-long journey of learning the essentials of the Scriptures and the Christian faith.
- Challenge members to connect their faith to their daily lives
Involve members in sharing God's love by serving Him through outreach and mission ministries in the larger church and world communities and
Provide safe, quality, Christian relationships and environments for all the church's teaching/educational ministries.
Sunday and midweek Christian Education classes and other special educational and fellowship events seek to nurture the spiritual growth of all children, youth and adults in Lincoln Park's church family. Enthusiastic, caring leaders would love to see you and family in attendance.
LP's Sunday morning learning schedule includes a Live B.I.G. mini-lesson, scripturally-based activity for 3 year olds through 3rd graders following the Children's Message at the 9:30 Contemporary Service. The children return to join parents upon completion of the activity; upper elementary aged children are encouraged to remain in worship with their families throughout this service. This mini-session uses Group's KidsOwn worship curriculum resources. Also from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. an Adult Lectionary Bible Study Class uses Cokesbury's KEEPING HOLY TIME to focus discussion on the Scriptures upon which all Sunday morning worship is based; this group is led in lively, often humorous probing by Norm and Nancy Dettra and meets in the Church Library.
Sunday morning Church School for ages 3 through 6th grades uses Group's Faith Weaver materials at 11:00 a.m. Beginners (ages 3, 4, 5) meet in Room 101; Middlers (Grades 1, 2, 3) meet in Room 104; Juniors (Grades 4, 5, 6) meet in Room 102. Junior High and Senior High Youth (grades 7-12) meet in Room 103 and use "Reel to Real" curriculum to explore the Christian connections in the media/film/faith worlds. An Adult Option is also offered at this 11:00 a.m. time period; the book, EVERYDAY MATTERS: INTERSECTIONS OF LIFE & FAITH, is used to stimulate discussion and serach for application of the Christian message to our daily lives---a Fall 2004 series led by Earl Hope in the Church Library. At 12:00 p.m. there is a Noon Fellowship in the Wagner Room for anyone who is interested.
The Christian Education Committee and Children's Ministry Teams encourage Christian fellowship, spiritual growth and service by offering periodic intergenerational and family gatherings, Vacation Church School, Alpha, overnights, Kids Clubs and varied summer/seasonal outings and programs. Service opportunities and outreach projects challenge church school children, youth and adults to witness to their faith beyond and outside the church walls; these possibilities have included the local Soup Kitchen ministry in Reading, Souper Bowl collections, Berks Women in Crisis Children's Shelter, the Salvation Army's Family Center, Recycling Saturdays, medical mission trips and supper at the Reading Emergency Shelter. Please call the church office or check the Special Events page of this site for listings and information on current events and service opportunities. In 2004, October's outreach invites all to contribute non-perishable food items for the Food Pantry at Reading's Central Park UMC; November's emphasis will be to invite all to bring items to pack gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child. In December, Angel Tree requests will insure gifts for needy families in the Berks County area. In January, children will send gifts for Barbara Wenger, LP member, to share with children on her mission trip to Honduras.
Leadership, teaching and involvement opportunities to support these learning and serving initiatives are many and varied. Resources and workshops for training are offered and readily available locally and nationally. Leaders and teachers are also encouraged to use the services of the Parish Resource Center in nearby Lancaster; the PRC houses a wide range of print and visual materials promoting creativity.
Professionally supervised infant/toddler (up to age 3) care is offered at worship, all Christian Education programs and churchwide events as requested and needed to encourage participation by LP's young adult families. A paid, trained Nursery Attendant, with volunteers assisting, provides loving arms of care to share God's love with our youngest members, giving credence to the words of Henrietta Mears, "First I learn to love my teacher, then I learn to love my teacher's God."
Small Group opportunities for study, growth and fellowship include:
AGAPE CIRCLE is open to all women of the church and provides a unique opportunity for Christian growth and fellowship among its members. Monthly meetings are held for discussion, book reviews, devotions, prayer, and service projects. For information, call Elaine Meckes, 610-670-2015.
A CONTEMPORARY BIBLE STUDY series is being offered for 6 weeks beginning November 9th, 7-8 p.m. in the Church Library. For more information on this study of I Corinthians, please call Jim and Lisa Gallagher, 610-775-7904.
SARAH CIRCLE is a faith-based support group for moms of infants and young children and meets Wednesday, 9:30-11:00 a.m. in the Church Nursery area. Different weekly activities for moms and children are plannned by participants. For more information, contact Rebecca Chelius, 610-775-4651.
BOOK CLUB meets the 4th Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Dettra home in LP; a wide variety of literature and writings stimulate discussion. Please call Connie Pawlikowski (610-678-3600) for directions and to secure information on the books currently being reviewed.
PAIRS AND SPARES is a monthly evening fellowship group, open to anyone in the church. This group is presently looking to re-organize and is seeking new and additional leadership. For details and to assist, please contact Elaine Meckes, 610-670-2015.
MONDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY meets, strangely enough, on Monday mornings at 10:30 a.m. in the Church Library. This group, led by Hildamay Bartron (610-370-2821), has no age or gender restrictions; their studies encourage serious wrestling with the Bible, its stories and truths, and its connections with their lives and the world scene.
UM MEN meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast and a program, often at the church with rotation of breakfast-making duties. The group of approximately 25 invites men of all ages to join them in fellowship, study, recreation and service. They'll keep you posted on upcoming events in the News-Linc connection site. Contact person is Mark Bisignaro, 610-670-5610.
ALPHA, an informal query into the meaning of life and the Christian faith, along with additional small group study options are being offering on Sunday evenings in Fall 2004. For information, please contact Co-Coordinators, Sandi Rosencrans (610-376-2176) or Jerry Pawlikowski (610-678-3600). A Youth Alpha and Kids Club are offered concurrently---something for the whole Christian family, 5-7:30 p.m., Sundays through November 28, 2004.
SACRED CIRCLE, a small prayer-support group, meets the second Tuesday of each month, at 7 p.m. in Room 103. Individual and group concerns are placed before the Lord in an attitude and atmosphere of quiet reflection, sharing and prayer. With questions or for details about this prayer ministry, please call Loreen Miller, 610-777-8185.
A JR FELLOWSHIP GROUP for grades 4, 5 & 6 meets monthly with Tracy Goldsborough serving as Adult Advisor (610-777-6991). Children and parents plan various fun, fellowship and service events.
UMYF (United Methodist Youth Fellowship) is presently meeting monthly for fun and fellowship. Details about events are listed on the Youth Connection to this Site and in the News-Linc site.