We hope that you can find a place to connect with others and grow in your faith through Sunday School classes at St. James UMC.
Fall 2023 Sunday School Classes for All Ages
Adults
FAITH FOUNDATIONS, Room 306
The members of Faith Foundations enjoy topical studies that make the Scriptures relevant to life today. Our class is dynamic, accepting and open minded. It is discussion-based, allowing members these verses impact our lives, society, and the church.
Artie Rogers (jartierogers@gmail.com) leads the class.
GROWING TOGETHER, Room 307
Growing Together is geared toward parents of young children. Our group is flexible and topical. We choose studies that help us face the challenges of parenthood and faith development.
Spencer Letchworth (spencerletchworth@hotmail.com) leads the class.
LIFE ENRICHMENT, Room 304
This class explores the meaning of daily living under God’s direction. Yearly studies include in-depth studies of at least one book from the Bible, seasoned with books and small group studies. Our group is geared primarily toward middle-aged to senior men and women.
Mike Arny (arnymichael@gmail.com), Jerry Mills (jerrym218@gmail.com),
and Jim Hix (jimhix1@gmail.com) co-lead the class.
NEW DAWN, Parlor
New Dawn is a class of senior women who enjoy digging deeper into the Scripture passages preached on Sunday morning. We read the Scripture, look at the background and other relevant verses, and discuss how it might relate to those who lived it and how it might apply today.
It’s led by Irene Gerow (irenegerow@suddenlink.net).
SCREWTAPE LETTERS, Room 22
Jon Murray will lead a new adult Sunday School class through “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis. The class will begin September 17.
The book looks at Christian ideas of temptation, resisting temptation, and faith through the fictionalized account of a senior demon, Screwtape, writing letters to his nephew, Wormwood. Screwtape offers advice on how best to tempt a man toward the things of Satan and away from God. The book offers great opportunities for discussion.
More information to come; in the meantime, direct questions and interest to Pastor Laura at laura@stjconnect.org.
SEEKERS, Room 311
Seekers is a diversified class in age and life experience. We support good discussion and different points of view. We love to laugh and share. We welcome all.
Lora Joyner (lcjoyner90@gmail.com) leads the class with rotating teachers.
THE STORY, Room 21
The Story formed to provide a shorter class that accommodates choir members who want to attend a class, but have to leave by 10:30 am to sing in one of our worship services.
Pastor Joyce Day (joyce@stjconnect.org) leads the class.
Youth
Two Sunday School classes for youth happen each Sunday from 10 to 10:50 a.m., beginning September 18.
The Middle School Sunday School Class meets in Room 308.
The High School Sunday School Class meets in Room 309.
The Youth Game Room is Room 310.
Pastor Laura Goldenbaum-Yang (laura@stjconnect.org) leads these classes.
Children
Children’s Sunday School is an opportunity to grow in discipleship through education
and fellowship from 10:00-10:50 a.m. in the Children’s Wing.
We will have up to four classes, depending on the attendance needs: Pre-K, K-1, 2-3, 4-5.
Children’s Sunday School uses the Orange Curriculum which is separated into two parts:
FirstLook Preschool Curriculum, and 252 Kids K-5 Curriculum.
FirstLook is based on these basic principles:
helping children grow by understanding that God Made them, God Loves them, and that Jesus Wants To Be Their Friend Forever.
252 Kids is based on these basic principles:
helping children grow by understanding making wiser choices, building stronger relationships, and developing a deeper faith.
The first day of Sunday School for the fall is September 18.
All are welcome in Sunday School! Children are encouraged to bring friends to join in on the discipleship fun.
We are always looking for extra support and hands to teach Sunday School,
whether you can help once a month or want to help each Sunday,
whether you want to lead, be an extra hand, or prep the supplies—we have a place for you on our team.
Emleigh Appel (emleigh@stjconnect.org) leads these classes.
This class studies different books of the Bible—in depth, chapter by chapter—as members seek to discover what each passage means and how it can be applied.
Level: Intermediate, for men and women of all ages.
Current study: 1 John
Led by Aaron Sampson, with rotating teachers.
This class meets twice monthly– on the first and third Sundays of the month–via Zoom online at 9 a.m. on Sundays.
The focus of Faith Followers is to learn more about how to be a follower of Christ in our everyday lives and how to use the knowledge we gain from our class instruction and discussion to engage with others and be an example for each other and the community. Here are just a few topics studied over the last few years: Sermon on the Mount, Parenting in Today’s World, The War Room DVD study, The Shack DVD study, How to Be Thankful, How to be a Witness for Christ, The Book of Acts, Jesus and the Crucifixion and Resurrection, the Unafraid DVD study, and Spiritual Gifts.
Level: Beginning/Intermediate, mostly for parents of adolescents.
Current study:
Led by Cam Evans and Jeff Adams, with rotating teachers, the class meets at 10 a.m. in Room 23.
The members of Faith Foundations enjoy topical studies that make the Scriptures relevant to life today. The class is discussion-based, which allows members, who have diverse backgrounds, the opportunity to reflect and share their views. The emphasis is on how the verse speaks to you; and how these verses impact our lives, society, and the church. The class is dynamic, accepting and open-minded.
Level: Beginning/Intermediate, for men and women of all ages.
Current study: A book on the Gospel of Luke, New Hope, New Joy.
Led by Artie Rogers, via Zoom online at 9 a.m. on Sundays.
This group is flexible and topical. Members choose studies that help them face the challenges of parenthood and faith development.
Level: Beginning/Intermediate, for parents of young children.
Current Study: “Words of Life: Jesus and the Promise of the Ten Commandments Today,” by Adam Hamilton
Led by Spencer Letchworth with rotating teachers, in person in Room 22 at 10 a.m. on Sundays.
This class is willing to tackle the wisdom and experience of daily living under God’s direction. Their yearly studies include in-depth studies of at least one book from the Bible, seasoned with books and small group studies that serve as pathways for living the godly life that God desires for us.
Level: Intermediate, for middle-aged to senior men and women.
Current Study: Max Lucado’s study of the Book of Hebrews, Life Lessons from Hebrews.
Led by Mike Arny, Jerry Mills, and Jim Hix, in person in Room 310 and via Zoom online at 9:50 a.m. on Sundays.
The New Dawn class looks at the Scripture passages preached in the worship service on Sunday morning. They read the Scripture, look at background, other relevant verses, discuss how it might relate to those who lived it and how it might apply today.
Level: Intermediate, for senior women.
Led by Irene Gerow, this class meets in the Parlor.
Seekers is a diversified group in age and life experiences. We support good discussion and different points of view. We love to laugh and share. We welcome all.
Level: Intermediate, for middle-aged men and women.
Current study: When God’s Spirit Moves – The Life Changing Power of the Holy Spirit by Jim Cymbala
Led by Lora Joyner, with rotating teachers, the class meets in Room 311 at 10 a.m. on Sundays.
This class was created in part to provide a shorter class that would accommodate choir members who want to attend a class, but have to leave by 10:30 am to sing in one of our worship services.
Level: Beginning/ Intermediate
Current study: The Book of Job.
Led by Joyce Day, the class meets in Room 21 and via Zoom online at 10 a.m. on Sundays.
This group for women focuses upon issues of the heart through studies that will move you along on your journey with God. The class incorporates outside fellowship activities that help us grow in our friendships with each other as we grow in Christ!
Level: Beginning, for women of all ages and stages in life.
Current Study: Different class members lead a meditation at the beginning of each class on Sunday. Their current study is The Women of the Bible Speak by Shannon Breem.
This class meets via Zoom and in Room 306 at 10 a.m. on Sundays.
We are always looking to start new Sunday morning classes for adults at St. James. If you have an idea for a class and are interested in helping others grow in their faith journeys, contact the church office at 252-752-6154.
For more information about these and other discipleship opportunities for adults at St. James, contact Lynne Garrison at lynnegarrison@gmail.com or Chris Garcia at Chris@stjconnect.org or 252-752-6154.