Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Methodist Sunday school now on "rotation" basis

A revolutionary new way of teaching Sunday school is set to begin at First United Methodist Church in Prescott Sunday, October 6.

The new approach is called Rotation Sunday school.

"Rotation is a more experiential way of teaching kids in grades K-6 the Christian faith through Sunday school," said Jim Lenderman, pastor of First United Methodist Church. "Rotation Sunday school is different because the children learn the major stories of the Bible through hands-on interaction rather than the more traditional, lecture style. They learn 12-13 biblical stories, in much greater depth, each year rather than the traditional 52. Though the children cover fewer stories each year, their understanding of what they learn is much greater."

The rotation in Rotation Sunday school refers to the different "workshop" classrooms the children rotate through each month.

Bro. Lenderman said, "We have totally transformed our children's Sunday school rooms. When kids come to our Rotation Sunday school they will be transported to a different time and place."

Those times and places include:

*Amazon Jungle - The foyer has been transformed into a dense jungle complete with trees, animals, jungle hut, individual backpacks, and an ancient city ruin. Realistic jungle sounds will fill the air as the children begin their adventure here each Sunday. From here they will go to one of four rooms.

*Storytelling Tent Room - Here the children will be transported back 3,500 years to Old Testament times. This room is complete with a large Bedouin tent, flowing waterfall, and a Holy Land landscape mural that surrounds the kids on all four sides plus the ceiling. This is where the stories of the Bible will be discussed by actual Bible characters in full costume.

*1st Century Carpenter's Workshop - Here the children will be transported back 2,000 years to the time of Jesus Christ. This room is complete with carpenter's benches and stools, "mud" walls, thatched roof and stone floor. This will be where the children will hand-make crafts specifically drawn from the biblical story they are studying.

*1950's Movie Theater - Here the children will be transported back to a classic 1950's movie theater. This room is complete with big screen movie projection, theater seating, and a theater popcorn popper that will make fresh movie popcorn each Sunday morning. This will be where the children will watch a video of the biblical story they are studying and pause periodically to discuss what is going on in the movie.

*Today's TV Studio - Here the children will enter the world of a present day television studio. This room is complete with video camera, sound and light system, TV news anchor desk, weather station, and interview on the street. This is where the children will put the biblical story in their own words as they report and act out the scripture. Other options for this room are a game show or puppet theater.

"Everyone in the area is invited to join us for a Rotation Open House Tuesday, October 1st, from 6:30-8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church," said Bro. Lenderman. "You have to experience it to believe it. There is nothing like it anywhere around here."

First United Methodist Church encourages anyone who does not currently have a church home to be their guest at Sunday school (9:30 a.m.) and worship (10:50 a.m.) at FUMC and for worship at Crosspoint each Wednesday at 7 p.m.

For more information about Rotation Sunday school or one of their worship services, please contact them at 887-2441.