First United Methodist Church of Torrance

Dear Friends,

In conversations with the Christian Education Ministry Team, we are in transition with regards to Sunday school. As you know, we have changed the Sunday school time to 9:15 where the children and youth go directly downstairs to Wesley Hall as there is no children’s moment at the 9:15 service.

The Education Team has also decided to change the format of Sunday school for persons of kindergarten age through 5th grade to Children’s Church. There are elements of worship structured into that hour. There is singing, praying, a lesson sharing, offering and sometimes a craft lesson. The format is similar to Vacation Bible School, but there is no separation of grade levels or age classes. Youth in 6th through 12th grades attend their own Sunday school class.

We also decided to offer this Children’s Church program on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sundays of the month beginning in March. The first Sunday of the month is Communion Sunday, so we are asking that all children and youth to attend the worship service in the sanctuary. If there is a 5th Sunday in the month, once again children and youth will be asked to stay with parents in the sanctuary as we have designated that Sunday to be Family Sunday.

All these decisions are resulting from a lack of response and a lack of volunteers to teach Sunday school. Moreover, several of the present staff are shifting their responsibilities to the 11:15 alternative worship service. If you are interested in being in ministry with our children and youth, please let us know. We are also in need of a Sunday School Superintendent as Wednesday S. is stepping out of that role to also focus on the 11:15 service. In order to sustain a viable education program and to build up our children’s ministry, we need persons who feel called and are passionate about this. Let us keep before us that part of our mission statement – “We are passing the faith to the next generation.” Please let us know, we need you!

— Pastor Bob