A NECESSARY CHANGE
So why are we shaking things up so much in Church School? Can’t we just continue doing what we have always done for our children?
We live in a world that is ever changing. People who focus on generational studies have now defined the youngest generation in our midst as the iGeneration. The name comes from the types of mobile technologies that are shaping their lives, plus the fact that these technologies are highly individualized in the way they are used. Children and adolescents in this generation are defined by their technology and media use, their love of electronic communication, and their need to multitask.
Generational changes are nothing new. They have been happening for, well, generations! The world and society have learned how to adapt to those changes to stay relevant and connected with each new generation.
Regretfully, the church (not just First Presbyterian Church!) has not always been as open to change. What always worked will continue to work—right? In the midst of so much change, isn’t it helpful to have a place like the church where you know what to expect? Besides, doesn’t the Bible tell us Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow? So why would we make any changes?
Perhaps a classic response to that question is the story of the Kodak Company. The once highly successful manufacturer of film and cameras seemed untouchable. As photographic technology changed, they opted to stay the course and continue doing what they did so well. Then digital photography exploded and, unbelievably, Kodak ended in bankruptcy— not because what they did in their heyday was bad or wrong. It wasn’t. But they failed to adapt as the world around them changed.
The church is no different. While God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ are unchangeable, the ways in which we lead people to know and experience God’s love must continually change. Otherwise, we end up worshipping an idol—the church as it always has been—instead of the living God.
DIG is one way we are seeking to continue to be faithful to Christ’s call to share the good news of the Gospel with others. Jesus and the message of Christ’s love and forgiveness to a broken and hurting world are needed more than ever. The good news hasn’t changed, but the world around us has. Christ’s call to share the good news hasn’t changed, but we must continually be open to the Spirit’s stirring in our midst to change how we lead others to know and claim the good news.
DIG HIGHLIGHTS • It’s more like Vacation Bible School than traditional Church School
• Parents drop off all children in all grades at one location and pick up children at the same location
• Between communal drop-off and pickup, children visit a specific station with peers their age
• Each station teaches a Bible story at the center of a series in a different way; e.g., through art, drama, music, or mission projects
• Adult leaders each prepare a single lesson per series. Each week they present the lesson to a different group of children
• Adult leaders need only commit to one six-week series at a time rather than an entire year of classes, as in traditional Church School
service. Tey might sing a song they learned, present a dramatic scripture reading, share artwork or do something else that will help connect DIG with the worshipping congregation’s exploration of the same theme.
But DIG is about more than just our kindergartners through fifth graders. It is about all of us! Typically, on the last Sunday of each series, parents of the DIG Crew will gather at the Parent Café to hear more about what their children have been up to at DIG, learn what will be happening in the next series, and explore ways to continue faith formation conversations at home.
DIG has also been designed to move all members and friends of our congregation more deeply into the Equipping model of discipleship and ministry. Tis model seeks to connect each person in identifying their God- given gifts and using them to serve God and bless the world.
DIG can only happen with leadership from all of you! Already this summer, people gifted in painting, sewing, and creating have been transforming boring classrooms into inviting, themed stations. For several months now, members of a whole team of people have been using their gifts to envision and give birth to DIG. People with gifts and passion for art, music, mission, and drama will be needed throughout the year to lead one of the stations in each series.
Because of the way DIG is structured, a leader needs to create only one lesson, which is repeated with different groups of children each of the weeks in the series. Leaders need to commit to only six Sundays rather than a 36-Sunday commitment, as is needed in traditional Church School. If this sounds like a lot of work, it is! It’s also a tremendous opportunity for the entire church to practice our faith by using gifts to instill greater awareness of God in our youngest congregants.
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