Cross of Life welcomes you and your family to participate in the many opportunities for learning offered throughout the year.  If you would like more information on any of these programs, please contact Jo Ann Tomm, Director of Christian Education.  Jo Ann can be reached at 262-785-9420, fax 262-785-9190, or joann@crossoflife.org.

“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” -Matthew 7:7-8

Opportunities for Life Long Learning

 Sunday School

There are several options for families to choose from for Sunday School.  A full-time Director of Christian Education and an Education Committee oversee the Preschool through Grade 6 program.

Saturday Evening	4:00-5:00 5:00 - 6:00 Worship Hour	Grades 4-5-6 Preschool, Kindergarten, Grades 1-2-3
Sunday Morning	8:15- 9:15 Worship Hour	Preschool, Kindergarten, Grades 1-2-3
	9:30-10:30	Grades 4-5-6 Confirmation: Grades 7 & 8 Senior High Adult Forum and Bible Study & childcare
	10:45-11:45 Worship Hour	Preschool, Kindergarten, Grades 1-2-3

The Sunday School curriculum is Lectionary-based (the lesson follows the weekly Gospel) and involves interactive learning.  The Sunday School staff is made up of teams of parent volunteers who rotate the teaching responsibility.  They gather regularly throughout the school year for enrichment and planning. 

About Other Education Programs:

“Welcome to Sunday School” Night for Preschoolers

Being in Sunday School for the very first time can be a little scary.  Three-year-old students in PreSchool 1 and their parents are invited to a special “Get-To-Know-You Night” before the Sunday School year begins in September.  It is a fun night of story time, meeting the teachers, going into church and getting comfortable with the whole Sunday School routine.  The evening wraps up with a big dish of ice cream!

Bible Presentation for Second Graders

Each year Cross of Life presents a Bible to the students in Grade 2 and older students new to Cross of Life.  Before Sunday School begins a special Bible Basics evening is held for all 2^nd Graders and parents.   This night gives students the opportunity to learn some neat stuff about the Bible and play some Bible games. The evening wraps up with a big dish of ice cream, too! Bibles are presented to the parents and students during worship in late September.

Young Youth Events

Throughout the school year the Education Committee plans fellowship events for students in Grades 1-6.  Fieldtrips are scheduled in the Fall followed by Winter Lock-Ins (an overnight event of activities, crafts, snacks and movies and sleep!).

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Cross of Life offers a three-week class for Third Graders (and older students new to Cross of Life) and their parents to prepare for the Sacrament of Holy Communion. The class is filled with hands-on active learning experiences in a blend of large group and small group settings.  This class is traditionally held on three evenings in the spring of the school year with First Communion celebrated in late May.  In addition to this class, acolyte training is offered for students interested in assisting during worship as an acolyte.

The dates for this year's First Communion classes are Thursdays April 30, May 7, and May 14 2009 from 6:30-7:45.

First Communion will be celebrated in worship the weekend of May 16-17, 2009

Vacation Bible School

Each summer, Cross of Life offers a week of Vacation Bible School for four year olds through students completing Grade 5.  It is an afternoon program held in late June.  The students are grouped in crews of five, each with a junior or senior high crew leader.  Each afternoon is spent traveling to different activity sites, indoors and outdoors.  The children experience Bible stories, games, activities, singing and crafts all centered on a fun theme.  Registration for VBS begins in early May.

Lent School

Cross of Life observes a special tradition during Lent. Each Wednesday evening families gather for a Soup Supper followed by worship and Lent School.  Young learners, ages 3 through Grade 2, are invited to join a special class designed just for them.  The students spend time each week getting to know Jesus in a creative, interactive way.  The class wraps up with the sadness of Jesus’ death and the joy and celebration of his resurrection. 

Sign up for Lent School is ongoing before and during Lent.

Table Prayers

Thank you for the world so sweet.

Thank you for the food we eat.

Thank you for the birds that sing.

Thank you, God, for everything.  Amen.

God is great, God is good,

And we thank you for our food.

By your hand we are fed.

Thank you God for daily bread. Amen.

Come Lord Jesus be our guest

And let your gifts to us be blessed. Amen.

Bless us, O Lord and these your gifts

which we are about to receive.

From your bounty,

through Christ our Lord. Amen

Confirmation

Confirmation is a two-year program, traditionally for students in Grades 7 & 8.  Classes meet on Wednesday evenings during the school year from 6:00-7:30 p.m.  The year is divided into trimesters. Year One focuses on the Bible, walking students through the Old and New Testaments. The Year Two experience focuses on church history, worship, values and prayer. A unique quality of Cross of Life’s confirmation program is its small group/large group format.  Each week, students have a blend of large group learning time with a lead teacher and small group breakout times led by parents. 

 
Expectations of the Confirmation program include: regular classroom and worship attendance and service hours. The 7^th & 8^th Grade Sunday School classes are written to coordinate with the Wednesday evening curriculum.  Faith development also happens outside the classroom. The summer following Year One, students are encouraged to attend a week of confirmation camp at Lutherdale Bible Camp near Elkhorn.  Following Year Two, students are encouraged to participate in the East Coast Road Trip, a camping and adventure experience in Wisconsin State Parks.

 
The confirmation class celebrates their Affirmation of Baptism in mid-September following Year Two programming.

Adult Education Opportunities

Each Sunday morning, adults regularly have two opportunities to choose from during the 9:45 Education Hour.  An adult forum focuses on a variety of short-term topics. It is casual and discussion-oriented.  Adults are encouraged to drop in anytime.  Also offered is an in-depth Bible Study that meets throughout the school year. It is pastor-led and designed for people who desire an ongoing class that takes a closer look at scripture.  In addition, Cross of Life’s ministry includes additional small groups for adults that meet throughout the month.

Cross of Life welcomes you and your family to participate in the many opportunities for learning offered throughout the year. If you would like more information on any of these programs, please contact Jo Ann Tomm, Director of Christian Education.   Cross of Life Lutheran Church 20700 W. North Avenue Brookfield, WI 53045-4030   Phone: 262-785-9420 FAX:262-785-9190 joann@crossoflife.org

All Christian Education programming is made possible through the support of parent volunteers.

 
All classes and organized events are advertised in the weekend worship bulletin, The Lifeline (the church newsletter), the church website (www.crossoflife.org), special mailings and bulletin board notices.

Wait! Watch!  Get ready!

The season of Advent and our countdown to Christmas has begun.  Now is a wonderful time to fill your waiting with some new family traditions or dust off some that you haven’t pulled out for years.  Start with an Advent wreath and four candles. The color is blue - four blue candles (one for each week of Advent) and perhaps a blue mat under your wreath. A new candle is lit each week of the season – this weekend you light ONE.  Plan to light your candle each time you sit down to dinner. Today read Luke 1:26-34. Even Mary is waiting for Christmas! Say a simple prayer… Thank you God for keeping your promise of sending Jesus. Prepare our hearts as we wait for Christmas. Amen