Education Commission 2004

This year at Emmanuel was filled with wonderful programs led by many devoted, talented and skilled individuals. Their efforts and talents have provided us with a plethora of offerings for parishioners of all ages. Without their dedication, Emmanuel would not be the welcoming and nourishing home that it is known for. Each committee chair wrote in detail about their programs. Their writings are a wonderful recap of the year's activities and description of the educational offerings. Unfortunately, space limitations prohibited publishing the complete description here. Thankfully, the internet doesn't have the same limitations! On the Church website each committee report is provided in its entirety. While the descriptions below are a very brief summary of their efforts, I encourage everyone to take a moment to read the true description and review of the year by each of the dedicated individuals who provide so much to us all.

David Woodruff, Commission Chair

CHRISTIAN FORMATION FOR ADULTS

Sunday Morning Offerings over the last year:

Parlor Class, Fall 2004

• Listening for God, volume 4, led by Anne Brightwell, Janice Rusk and Mike Hendrick (8 weeks):

• Men's Spirituality, led by Bob Precoda (4 weeks):

• A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven: A Look at the Poetry & Philosophy of Ecclesiastes, Mary Ann O'Neal-Ingle (3 weeks)

• God at 2000, Matthew Hicks (5 weeks).

Spring 2004

• Natural Spirituality: Recovering the Wisdom Tradition in Christianity, Heidi Simmonds (7 weeks);

• Poetry and Spirituality, Mary Ann O'Neal-Ingle and America Abbott (4 weeks)

Adult Forum, Spring 2004

• The Abrahamic Faith Traditions, Matthew Hicks (6 weeks);

• Getting Married in the Morning, Fr. Courtney (5 weeks);

• Facets of the Faith, Bruce Morrow (4 weeks).

Fall 2004

• Safeguarding God's Children, Rev. Deborah Silver (1 week)

• How to Follow Jesus without Embarrassing God, Fr. Courtney (6 weeks)

• God, the Devil and Harry Potter, Mo. Mandy and Horace Newcomb (3 weeks)

• A Labor of Love, Bob and Jerry Pope.

"Men of Emmanuel" (MOE) Bible Study:

Open to all men of Emmanuel. Meets after the 9:00AM Sunday service. The Gospel of Matthew was studied over the last year.

"Ladies in Fellowship at Emmanuel" (LIFE) Bible Study:

Open to all women at Emmanuel. Meets after the 9:00 AM Sunday service. The Gospel of Mathew was studied over the past year

Mid-week Offerings

The Monday Morning Bible Study: 11:00 am to 12:30 Mondays led by Mo. Mandy and others.

Committee Chair: Mo. Mandy

Sara Baker, Anne Brightwell, Gary Davis, Matthew Hicks, Michele Lease,

Mary Anne O'Neal-Ingle, Janice Rusk and Andy Simmonds.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH

Children's Christian Education at the 9:00am service:

Nursery: Available for infants to age 3.

Children's Chapel: 3-5 year-olds can attend Children's Chapel during the service.

Children's Liturgy: 1st graders through 4th graders.
Children from Chapel and Liturgy join their parents in church at the Peace.

Christian Education Hour immediately following the 9:00 AM service:

Nursery: Available for infants to age 3.

3-4 year olds: Group's Hands-On Bible Curriculum. This is an interactive curriculum that is based on the idea that children learn 10% by listening and 90% by doing. Weekly lessons build on each other so that children have several weeks to absorb the material

Kindergarten through the 5th grade: A new style of Sunday School based on the Workshop Rotation Model began this fall. Classes explore one Bible story for 3-4 weeks, rotating to a new workshop each Sunday. This experiential method utilizes the theory of multiple intelligences and includes the following workshops: The Artist's Bazaar, The Bedouin's Tent (drama & storytelling), The Garden of Eatin' (cooking), and The Magic Carpet (movies & music). The program, called Bethlehem Marketplace, has had an immediate positive response from the children as well as the parents. Quite a success! ! The Emmanuel youth group: Now in its 4th year, the Journey to Adulthood program has been expanded from three groups to four. A new group, Padawans,

has been added for 6th graders. All groups meet both in the morning during the Christian Education hour and in the evening during the EYC time. With this program, youth are confirmed at the end of their 9th or 10th grade year, after 4 years of spiritual formation. The groups are:

1. Padawans (6th grade) led by Paul Anderson, John Ballard, Vince Howard,

& Brett Shirley. (if you don't know what a Padawan is, ask a 6th grader!)

2. Rite-13 group (7th-8th grade), led by Gillian Ball, Philip Cofer, &

Deborah Gimson.

3. J2A group (9th-10th grade), led by Matt Humphrey, Jess Lawrence, & Katie Lawrence.

4. YAC group (Young Adults in Church) (1 lth-12th grade) led by Bryan Moore & Terri Tillman.

While the groups come together to eat, programming is separate and age appropriate. Kat Ballard coordinates the programs and is present weekly and rotates between the groups. Father Courtney and Mother Mandy are actively involved in the programs supplying guidance and help for special functions and retreats.

Other offerings for Children's Christian Education:

Children's Sermons: Every 2nd Sunday of the month at the 9 am service in the place of the traditional sermon.

Family Eucharist: In months that have 5 Sundays, one is a Family Eucharist held in the Children's Chapel. The service is for families with children in Children's Chapel and Children's Liturgy.

Vacation Bible School: The theme this year was Lava Lava Island. A great program was put on by Kat Ballard along with co-directors Sherry Tumipseed, Georgia Collier, Cindy Sullivan, & Hadley Smith. Georgia Collier will coordinate the program in 2005!

Christmas Pageant: The highlight of the Christmas season is the annual children's pageant hosted by the children and their parents as well as many other volunteers. This is a must see performance for the most joyous season 'of the year Christmas Outreach: Emmanuel is changing its focus this year to support needy communities surrounding Turner Field. Christmas Stockings will be pre-pared for Emmaus House, an Episcopal Urban Mission of the Diocese of Atlanta. Cathy Cofer & Kat Ballard are overseeing Emmanuel's effort. Parents of Youth: The Parents of Youth group (POY) is a support group for parents of pre-teens and teenagers. The group uses a small group discussion for-mat and is planning a weekend program for the first half of 2005. The group meets monthly and is led by a rotation of facilitators. POY covers topics and issues facing youth and parents.

NATURAL SPIRITUALITY

Offered on Sunday and Tuesday mornings and led by Agnes Parker, Joyce Hudson, and Heidi Simmonds. The Dream Group deepens awareness of God's activity in one's life through the sharing and examination of dreams.

The Natural Spirituality Program has two parts: an introductory Study group and an ongoing Journey Group. The Study Group is offered once a year in the fall at the adult Christian Education hour. The Journey Group is made up of those graduates of the study group who wish to put theory into practice. Currently two Journey groups meet on Tuesday morning and Sunday after church.

Highlights of the year included a weekend conference at Camp Mikell in February with ninety attendees from 10 states. At the Haden Summer Dream Conference at Kanuga, Joyce Hudson was honored as the keynote speaker in addition to leading discussion groups with Agnes Parker. Joyce was also added to the staff of Bob Haden's (an Episcopal priest) Dream Leader Training Program.

The fifth and sixth editions of The Rose were also published this year. The Rose is an internationally known newsletter/magazine with a circulation of 2900 and a mailing list of 1600. It is published and distributed free and entirely subsidized by donations.

Committee Chair: Agnes Parker

SPIRITUAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY

The spiritual autobiography group will begin meeting again in early 2005 at 7:00 to 8:30 pm on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The group explores how God shapes and molds us in the midst of the events of our lives.

This group allows members to enrich their spiritual lives through writing and sharing of personal stories. Due to the nature of the program, all stories remain confidential. The first program starts with six sessions and will follow an outline set down by Dan Wakefield in his book The Story of Your Life. Those who wish may continue for as long as they like. The group is ecumenical and welcomes both men and women.

Committee Chair: America Abbott



	Education Commission
This year at Emmanuel was filled with wonderful programs led by many devoted, talented and skilled individuals. Their efforts and talents have provided us with a plethora of offerings for parishioners of all ages. Without their dedication, Emmanuel would not be the welcoming and nourishing home that it is known for. Each committee chair wrote in detail about their programs. Their writings are a wonderful recap of the year's activities and description of the educational offerings. Unfortunately, space limitations prohibited publishing the complete description here. Thankfully, the internet doesn't have the same limitations! On the Church website each committee report is provided in its entirety. While the descriptions below are a very brief summary of their efforts, I encourage everyone to take a moment to read the true description and review of the year by each of the dedicated individuals who provide so much to us all. David Woodruff, Commission Chair CHRISTIAN FORMATION FOR ADULTS Sunday Morning Offerings over the last year: Parlor Class, Fall 2004 • Listening for God, volume 4, led by Anne Brightwell, Janice Rusk and Mike Hendrick (8 weeks): • Men's Spirituality, led by Bob Precoda (4 weeks): • A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven: A Look at the Poetry & Philosophy of Ecclesiastes, Mary Ann O'Neal-Ingle (3 weeks) • God at 2000, Matthew Hicks (5 weeks). Spring 2004 • Natural Spirituality: Recovering the Wisdom Tradition in Christianity, Heidi Simmonds (7 weeks); • Poetry and Spirituality, Mary Ann O'Neal-Ingle and America Abbott (4 weeks) Adult Forum, Spring 2004 • The Abrahamic Faith Traditions, Matthew Hicks (6 weeks); • Getting Married in the Morning, Fr. Courtney (5 weeks); • Facets of the Faith, Bruce Morrow (4 weeks). Fall 2004 • Safeguarding God's Children, Rev. Deborah Silver (1 week) • How to Follow Jesus without Embarrassing God, Fr. Courtney (6 weeks) • God, the Devil and Harry Potter, Mo. Mandy and Horace Newcomb (3 weeks) • A Labor of Love, Bob and Jerry Pope. "Men of Emmanuel" (MOE) Bible Study: Open to all men of Emmanuel. Meets after the 9:00AM Sunday service. The Gospel of Matthew was studied over the last year. "Ladies in Fellowship at Emmanuel" (LIFE) Bible Study: Open to all women at Emmanuel. Meets after the 9:00 AM Sunday service. The Gospel of Mathew was studied over the past year Mid-week Offerings The Monday Morning Bible Study: 11:00 am to 12:30 Mondays led by Mo. Mandy and others. Committee Chair: Mo. Mandy Sara Baker, Anne Brightwell, Gary Davis, Matthew Hicks, Michele Lease, Mary Anne O'Neal-Ingle, Janice Rusk and Andy Simmonds. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH Children's Christian Education at the 9:00am service: Nursery: Available for infants to age 3. Children's Chapel: 3-5 year-olds can attend Children's Chapel during the service. Children's Liturgy: 1st graders through 4th graders. Children from Chapel and Liturgy join their parents in church at the Peace. Christian Education Hour immediately following the 9:00 AM service: Nursery: Available for infants to age 3. 3-4 year olds: Group's Hands-On Bible Curriculum. This is an interactive curriculum that is based on the idea that children learn 10% by listening and 90% by doing. Weekly lessons build on each other so that children have several weeks to absorb the material Kindergarten through the 5th grade: A new style of Sunday School based on the Workshop Rotation Model began this fall. Classes explore one Bible story for 3-4 weeks, rotating to a new workshop each Sunday. This experiential method utilizes the theory of multiple intelligences and includes the following workshops: The Artist's Bazaar, The Bedouin's Tent (drama & storytelling), The Garden of Eatin' (cooking), and The Magic Carpet (movies & music). The program, called Bethlehem Marketplace, has had an immediate positive response from the children as well as the parents. Quite a success! ! The Emmanuel youth group: Now in its 4th year, the Journey to Adulthood program has been expanded from three groups to four. A new group, Padawans, has been added for 6th graders. All groups meet both in the morning during the Christian Education hour and in the evening during the EYC time. With this program, youth are confirmed at the end of their 9th or 10th grade year, after 4 years of spiritual formation. The groups are: 1. Padawans (6th grade) led by Paul Anderson, John Ballard, Vince Howard, & Brett Shirley. (if you don't know what a Padawan is, ask a 6th grader!) 2. Rite-13 group (7th-8th grade), led by Gillian Ball, Philip Cofer, & Deborah Gimson. 3. J2A group (9th-10th grade), led by Matt Humphrey, Jess Lawrence, & Katie Lawrence. 4. YAC group (Young Adults in Church) (1 lth-12th grade) led by Bryan Moore & Terri Tillman. While the groups come together to eat, programming is separate and age appropriate. Kat Ballard coordinates the programs and is present weekly and rotates between the groups. Father Courtney and Mother Mandy are actively involved in the programs supplying guidance and help for special functions and retreats. Other offerings for Children's Christian Education: Children's Sermons: Every 2nd Sunday of the month at the 9 am service in the place of the traditional sermon. Family Eucharist: In months that have 5 Sundays, one is a Family Eucharist held in the Children's Chapel. The service is for families with children in Children's Chapel and Children's Liturgy. Vacation Bible School: The theme this year was Lava Lava Island. A great program was put on by Kat Ballard along with co-directors Sherry Tumipseed, Georgia Collier, Cindy Sullivan, & Hadley Smith. Georgia Collier will coordinate the program in 2005! Christmas Pageant: The highlight of the Christmas season is the annual children's pageant hosted by the children and their parents as well as many other volunteers. This is a must see performance for the most joyous season 'of the year Christmas Outreach: Emmanuel is changing its focus this year to support needy communities surrounding Turner Field. Christmas Stockings will be pre-pared for Emmaus House, an Episcopal Urban Mission of the Diocese of Atlanta. Cathy Cofer & Kat Ballard are overseeing Emmanuel's effort. Parents of Youth: The Parents of Youth group (POY) is a support group for parents of pre-teens and teenagers. The group uses a small group discussion for-mat and is planning a weekend program for the first half of 2005. The group meets monthly and is led by a rotation of facilitators. POY covers topics and issues facing youth and parents. NATURAL SPIRITUALITY Offered on Sunday and Tuesday mornings and led by Agnes Parker, Joyce Hudson, and Heidi Simmonds. The Dream Group deepens awareness of God's activity in one's life through the sharing and examination of dreams. The Natural Spirituality Program has two parts: an introductory Study group and an ongoing Journey Group. The Study Group is offered once a year in the fall at the adult Christian Education hour. The Journey Group is made up of those graduates of the study group who wish to put theory into practice. Currently two Journey groups meet on Tuesday morning and Sunday after church. Highlights of the year included a weekend conference at Camp Mikell in February with ninety attendees from 10 states. At the Haden Summer Dream Conference at Kanuga, Joyce Hudson was honored as the keynote speaker in addition to leading discussion groups with Agnes Parker. Joyce was also added to the staff of Bob Haden's (an Episcopal priest) Dream Leader Training Program. The fifth and sixth editions of The Rose were also published this year. The Rose is an internationally known newsletter/magazine with a circulation of 2900 and a mailing list of 1600. It is published and distributed free and entirely subsidized by donations. Committee Chair: Agnes Parker SPIRITUAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY The spiritual autobiography group will begin meeting again in early 2005 at 7:00 to 8:30 pm on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The group explores how God shapes and molds us in the midst of the events of our lives. This group allows members to enrich their spiritual lives through writing and sharing of personal stories. Due to the nature of the program, all stories remain confidential. The first program starts with six sessions and will follow an outline set down by Dan Wakefield in his book The Story of Your Life. Those who wish may continue for as long as they like. The group is ecumenical and welcomes both men and women. Committee Chair: America Abbott