​Back to school is upon us, which means it's time to get back into the Sunday school groove! At Laurel UMC we offer Sunday school for children in Preschool through 8th grade. Pre-2nd Grade are in a classroom with Libby Erb and Leann Keller in the "Preschool room," while grades 3rd-8th are with Becca Stewart in what we have affectionately dubbed "Leroy's room." 

About Sunday School @ LUMC

• First day- September 8, 9-10am
• You'll find us at the end of the upstairs Sunday school hall
• Bring a Bible if you have it, and take a trip to Ms. Becca's Bible Basket
• Bring a friend and explore our Treasure Chest
• Snacks & Juice! 

Don't miss our annual Blessing of the Backpacks on September 8 during the 10:15am worship service. Students, teachers, staff...bring your school bags as we bless them and you for this upcoming year! 

Thank you for sharing your children with us; we're looking forward to another wonderful year! 

We've wrapped up another school year, which means VBS is very much on the brain! We're working to get volunteers in place, and we have a starter list of needed supplies below. 

On that note, if you're interested in helping out at Vacation Bible School, please reach out to Becca! 

• When: Monday, July 22-Thursday, July 25 @ 6-8pm
• • Registration will be live starting June 1
• Who: Preschool-5th Grade (Youth in grades 6 and up are eligible to volunteer)
• Where: Laurel UMC
• What: Camp Firelight is the theme, we're going on A Summer Camp Adventure with God! 

GATHER...
DECORATIONS: Be on the lookout for camping items that we could use to create our stage & registration area! This could include: Christmas trees, tree stumps, lanterns, a small boat, camping chairs, outdoor light strings, camp stove

CRAFT SUPPLIES: Small coffee tins (with lids) and/or mason jars, paper towel/toilet paper tubes, glow sticks (the thick tubes), card stock (all colors), tempera paint (reds, yellows, oranges, browns), neon paints, craft glue   

FOOD: We'll have the sign-up sheet available starting in June this year. Meanwhile, some staples that we could start gathering early are...Juice Boxes, Small bottles of water, cups, dessert-size paper plates, napkins. Items always on the list for your consideration: Watermelon, Strawberries, Grapes, Graham Crackers, Cookies, Brownies, Go-Gurts, Veggies & Ranch, Popsicles
We provide snacks and a drink to all kids and volunteers each evening. Last year, we had an average of 45 people in our building each day. Of course, we always hope to grow! 

Thank you for supporting our efforts! VBS couldn't happen without the love, support, time, and prayer that this church puts into it! We so appreciate you.     

We've made it through another super speedy summer, regular school has started, and it's time to tuck Sunday school into the equation! 

Here's what you need to know about our first day of Sunday school for the 2023-'24 school year: 

• When: Sunday, September 10, 9-10am
• Who: Preschool-8th Grade
• Online Registration
  

But also...

• Back-to-School Breakfast: If your kiddo is up to being dropped off at 8:30am on this first day, we'll be sharing breakfast together before class! (Down in the Fellowship Hall)
• Blessing of the Backpacks: Kids, Teachers, and School Staff are invited to bring their backpacks and school bags for our annual blessing of the backpacks during the 10:15am service

As always, bring your Bible, if you have one, and you can take a trip to the Bible Basket! Bring a friend and you can peruse Ms. Becca's Treasure Chest! 

As of right now, we're looking at a single room class, but plan to operate with small group options as needed. 

Thank you for sharing your kiddos with us; we're looking forward to a wonderful year! 

Dear Families,
I can’t believe that we are already in the midst of back-to-school season! The summer flew by for us! Just as we were thrilled to be back in-person for VBS (in the park this year!), we are so excited for – what we’re hoping will be – a normal Sunday school year for 2021-’22!

I’m hoping to move away from the single Sunday school classroom experience that dominated last year and move back to a regular classroom environment. I’m anticipating grade-leveling to a greater degree than what we’re used to (Littles: Pre-2nd, Middles: 3rd-5th, and Bigs: 6th-8th). If we need to, we’ll combo package the Middles and Bigs, we’ll see where our numbers take us!

Important Dates:

• First day of Sunday school- September 12, 9-10am
• Blessing of the Backpacks- September 12, during the 10:15 Worship Service
  • Ice Cream Float Social to celebrate back-to-school, immediately following church
• Bible Sunday- September 26th (during the 10:15am Worship Service) 3rd Graders to receive their Bibles!
• Halloween Costume Contest- October 31

Notables:

• Chapel Time- Each Sunday, we’ll gather in the Sanctuary from 9-9:15am before dispersing to our classrooms.
• Bibles- Bring them if you have them!
• Bring a friend! (And take a trip to Ms. Becca’s treasure chest!)
• Please stay home if you’re not feeling well

​Thank you for sharing your kiddos with us, we so look forward to seeing them and getting back to our normal Sunday school groove!

Please return your registration form to the church (offering plate/church office) or to Sunday school.

Be well,

Becca

Good morning! Welcome to Laurel UMC's first virtual Sunday school class in the New Year! We decided to try something new for what is (hopefully) our final month of virtual-only Sunday schooling. Please check out the slideshow below! 

​Happy New Year! 

Dear ones, 

As you may or may not have heard, our Bishop made the call today asking churches in our conference to suspend in-person services and gatherings through January 2021. (You can see Pastor Dolly's note and the Bishop's letter, here). While our weekly Sunday school attendance hasn't necessarily been robust (understandably so), this is still a hard thing to once again experience in our Sunday school world. However, I'm determined that we'll find a more interactive experience than what we attempted in the spring. 

Here are my thoughts: 

• Recordings-
  • I will record a lesson each week (probably not starting until November 29, but I'll let you know if I get things figured out for this Sunday). 
  • Advent- I will also post a separate Advent video for us to do together each week. (Please let me know if you'd like an Advent wreath, we've still got a handful hanging around)
• But how best to engage...
  • If you could comment below and let me know which you would prefer for our virtual Sunday school interactions, I would greatly appreciate it: 
    • A Private Facebook group
    • A password protected page on our kid's website
  • In the back of my brain, I'm pondering the possibility of a take-and-make craft in December. Just know this is brewing, to be continued...
• The Christmas Program
  • Last Sunday I finally found a Christmas program that would work in the face of social distancing and the world we're living in that would also accommodate our smaller numbers, and now this... 
  • However, I am DETERMINED that we will find a way to get this done. The program is not like we're used to - it's simple, no memorization - it's meant to have 6 characters (Mary, Joseph, Innkeeper's Wife, Angel, Shepherd, and Wise Man) give their first-person accounts of their perspectives on the birth of Jesus and those stories would tie in with a congregational hymn. The hymns part is tricky, for sure, but like I said - determined. ;) 
  • Please let me know if I can pull your children into the mix and we'll iron out the details of how that will work as we go.   
  • The Christmas program was originally scheduled for December 20, so we've got time! 

Well, I think that's it for now. Please let me know how best we can engage with you during this time. Though my heart is heavy, this won't last forever and imagine how joyous it will be when we can fully be together again. 

Be well, 

Becc

If all of our ducks manage to get in a row (sanitization stations in each classroom, adequate supplies in order to avoid cross-contamination...), we are still a go for September 13 as our first day of Sunday school for the 2020-'21 school year! Ahead of our first day, we wanted to make sure that we had everyone looped in regarding how things will roll this year. 

Upon arrival, your child will check in with Ms. Becca (we'll sign them in similarly to how things have been operating for Worship services). 

• Completed Registration Forms are required (one time only)

For ages 5+ masks will be required, they will hand sanitize then head to the sanctuary for socially distanced Chapel Time (the first Sunday, after that, after they check in with Ms. Becca, they'll head straight to class)

• Every Sunday after the first Sunday, we will close our mornings in the Sanctuary - much like we do for VBS

We will be sanitizing our classrooms and supplies regularly. 

Please be sure to keep your kiddo at home should they be experiencing any symptoms or aren't feeling well, in general. 

We are SO excited to be back together in person! We know things will look different this year, but we won't take for granted this time we have together. 

​See you soon! 

Dear Families,

I hope this letter finds you all doing well! We have certainly missed our kiddos and are excited to share that we will be returning to in-person Sunday school for the 2020-’21 school year! Our first day of Sunday school is looking to be September 13 (we’ll be in touch should anything cause us to push that date back). We know that, for some of you, meeting in person is not an option, so we’re trying to game plan for that as well. On this year’s registration forms there will be a section about your preferences, but know that we’re here to be flexible in this strange year of 2020.

Following are a few housekeeping items that we’ll need you to be aware of prior to our first day:

1. Following the Governor’s mandate and recommendations of local health officials, we’ll be requiring masks for everyone ages 5 and older.
2. Upon arrival, we’ll be signing each of the kids in, just like we do for church service
3. We’ll be staying on top of hand sanitizing and utilizing social distancing, therefore…
4. We’ll be moving “Chapel” Time into the sanctuary so we can give ourselves more space before moving into our classrooms.
5. Depending on class sizes, we might find ourselves utilizing the fellowship hall for certain classes, so that we can maintain social distancing.
6. If your kiddo is feeling at all sick, please keep them home.

Notables:

1. First day of Sunday school: September 13, 9-10am
2. Meet in the sanctuary for Chapel Time from 9-9:15am
3. Bring your Bible, if you’ve got it!
4. Don’t forget your mask!
5. As you arrive, be sure to hand sanitize!
6. Stay home if you’re not feeling well

​Please return your registration form to the church office ASAP (or reach out via email to [email protected]). 

​You can also register online! 
 
Be well,
Becca