The Sunday School Program of Stratford Presbyterian Church is devoted to helping its members develop a strong Biblical foundation of God’s truths, to instilling in them a love for learning God’s Word, and to putting their faith into practice in their everyday lives. The teaching staff is dedicated to preparing lessons, full of sound Biblical doctrine and principles. Members of the Adult Class study the Westminster Confession of Faith, the greatest of all creeds of the Christian Church. It is an accurate and concise statement of Christian doctrine. It has its foundation in the unchanging truth of Scripture. Also, the Adult class has studies on the persecuted church around the world. Emphasis is placed on the role of the church to reach out to persecuted Christians by encouraging them through letter writing, donations, and most importantly, with prayer.
The Pre-school curriculum’s theme this quarter is “God Keeps His Promises." Young children learn best by formulating ideas through concrete experiences. Therefore, each lesson consists of 5 important segments, which take the child from the familiar and ordinary to the Biblical truth from God’s Word. The children are taught how this truth applies to their everyday lives. The 5 steps of the lesson are: 1. an opening with an interactive learning game or a dramatic activity to introduce them to the lesson; 2. the Bible story is taught to the class through use of visual aids; 3. "discussion and memorization of the Scripture." Children memorize verses that teach them their need of salvation, that Jesus Christ is the Way of salvation and that Jesus is the Gift of salvation; 4. "sing, make and do" reinforces what the children have learned with joyful singing, action rhymes and creative crafts; 5. closing prayer time to thank God for all He has done.
The Middle Elementary class is studying and memorizing the Ten Commandments, along with the Shorter Catechism, to help them further understand what the Scriptures principally teach. They learn how the Ten Commandments are relevant in their lives today. Class time is spent with Bible lessons in which the student is actively engaged in searching the Scriptures to complete class assignments; and fun, interactive activities and games that reinforce the Biblical concepts. Classes are constructed so that students can openly express their thoughts and ideas, but they are always directed to examine these in the light and truth of the Scriptures. They are challenged to live and to grow as young Christians. We live in a society that has grown far away from God and His Word. All Christians must continue to strive to enrich their lives with strong Biblical teaching so that they can stand in these adverse times. The Sunday School program at Stratford Presbyterian Church is committed to doing just that.
