office@faithworkshere.com

      Faith Works!

Faith offers weekday and Sunday Christian Education classes. Below is a sampling of our classes.

• Sunday Classes    Nursery - Elementary     Middle High       Senior High       Adults

• Youth Opportunities beyond Sunday Morning

Faith is a Safe Sanctuaries Church - Effective August 15, 2008 Faith Church implemented a policy to protect children, youth, and their families from abuse from volunteers and paid staff who work with children and youth.  In addition, the policy was established to mitigate the risks where abuse can occur.  The Church has a sacred duty to keep our children and youth safe from harm.  Faith Church utilized the Baltimore-Washington Conference recommended book, Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in the Church by Joy Thornburg Melton, as our guide, along with requirements form the Baltimore-Washington Conference.  Click here to read the policy.  Click below for the documents in the appendix:

• Sexual Misconduct Questionnaire (SMQ) - Required by the Conference

• Permission to Obtain Background Check through Lexis Nexis - For Regular Workers

• Covenant for Youth Aides

• Statement of Compliance with Safe Sanctuaries Policy for groups who utilize Faith Church

• Completion of Safe Sanctuaries Training for Regular Workers

• Completion of Safe Sanctuaries Training for Occasional Workers

• Link to Maryland State Law - Code of Maryland Regulations, Department of Human Resources, Title 07, Subtitle 02, Chapter 07 / Child Protective Services-Investigation of Child Abuse and Neglect

Sunday Classes
Nursery
You can feel comfortable that your infants and toddlers (newborn through age 2) are in a safe and loving environment.  Our excellent caregivers play with your children and as they get a little older may incorporate learning songs and hearing stories.

Preschool (ages 3 and 4) Sunday School
What an imaginative group of children!  Each week the children hear, see, and interact with God’s stories in the Bible that illustrate to them God 's love.  The children engage with the story through storytelling, drama, games, art, sharing, and play.  We utilize The Beginner's Bible as our basis for our classes.  Our imaginative and creative teachers develop their own lessons from the Bible that the children share with their families.

Kindergarten and 1^st Grade Sunday School
Imagination and independence…at this age the children have wonderful imaginations and are exploring their boundaries!  Each week the children hear, see, and interact with God’s stories in the Bible showing them God's love and how they can make a difference in the world.  The children engage with the story or characters over a three to four week period through storytelling, drama, games, art, cooking, science, sharing, and play.  We utilize the PowerXpress curriculum from Cokesbury. 

2^nd and 3^rd Grade Sunday School
Imagination, independence, and caring for the world…at this age the children continue to build on who they are and are beginning to care about the world around them.  Utilizing a teaching method called Godly Play, each week the children hear, see, and interact with God’s stories in the Bible.  Stories are told using 3-D elements that engage their minds and hearts.  Asking “I wonder…” questions, children ask themselves what God is saying to them and how do they live as a community of faith.  They then respond to what God is doing with them through their own creativity.  Periodically they perform a service project for others in need. 

4^th and 5^th Grade Sunday School
Imagination, independence, caring for the world, and exploring their faith…at this age the children build on their Godly Play experiences and explore what it means to be a faith community and practice the disciplines of worship and meditation on Scripture.  They spend more time with the stories, going deeper in exploration, and even journaling.  Utilizing a teaching method called Godly Play, each week the children hear, see, and interact with God’s stories in the Bible.  Stories are told using 3-D elements that engage their minds and hearts.  Asking “I wonder…” questions, children ask themselves what God is saying to them and how do they live as a community of faith.  They then respond to what God is doing with them through their own creativity. 

Middle School (grades 6-8) Sunday School
What in the world is happening to my child?  This age group is in major transition…not quite a kid…not quite a teenager.  Who am I?  Why am I here?  How do I relate to others?  These are just some of the questions middle schoolers begin to ask themselves, either consciously or unconsciously.  In this interactive class, they not only explore the Bible stories, but also discuss life issues…sometimes issues they are facing today. 

Senior High (grades 9-12) Sunday School
Life takes a turn into strong independence and uncharted waters.  Who am I?  Why am I here?  How do I relate to others?  What does the future hold?  Why do I feel stressed?  How do I deal with violence?  Does God really matter?  Is this a safe place I can share my thoughts in?  These are just some of the questions teenagers are asking themselves, either consciously or unconsciously.  Life issues are the main focus of discussion…life with each other…life with God…life.

Adult Growth Opportunities

Our Adult Christian Education offers a variety of classes during the week and on Sunday mornings.    
Click here for our current Sunday morning classes.

Soul Food Table at Coffee Hour on Sundays (10:30am) Showcase Opportunities for Personal Study and Future Group Study - Check out the Table in the Fellowship Hall for a sampling of studies and books available for you to use in your personal spiritual growth.  You never know...you might also find others who are interested in the same thing and want to get together to discuss.

Brown Bag Book Club on Jesus for President by Shaine Claiborne and Chris Haw - Sundays at 12:00pm beginning September 14th and meeting every other week at the Church.  What should Christians do when allegiances to the state clash with personal faith?  How should Christians relate to presidents and kings, empire and government?  In Jesus for President, Shaine Claiborne and Chris Haw, co-founders of a monastic community in Philadelphia, take the reader on a provocative tour of the Bible's social and economic order, and provide a valuable political context for Christ's life.  Join Rev. Corey Sharpe as he leads this timely topic.  Bring your lunch.  The cost of the book is $12.

Disciple I: Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study begins in September 10th at the Church.  Disciple I is a great way to kick start your Bible knowledge, or if you are already "Bible literate", it will strengthen your knowledge.  In this 34-week class, you'll cover over 70% of the Bible and have the opportunity to share your experiences and insights and learn from others.  Join Greg Holden as he leads this class (childcare provided).  It will be the best thing you've ever done for your faith.

Book Study (with participant guide) on Facing Your Giants by Max Lucado on Sundays at 6:30pm beginning October 5th and meeting the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.  From the back cover..."You know your Goliath...you recognize his walk...the thunder of his voice.  He taunts you with bills you can't pay, people you can't please, habits you can't break, failures you can't forget, and a future you can't face.  But just like David, you can face your giant, even if you aren't the strongest, the smartest, the best equipped, or the holiest.  David.  You could read his story and wonder what God saw in him.  His life has little to offer the unstained, straight-A saint.  He fell as often as he stood, stumbled as often as he conquered.  But for those who know the sound of a Goliath, David gives this reminder...Focus on Giants, you stumble...Focus on God, your giants tumble.  If you're ready to face your giants, let his story inspire you."  The cost of the book and participant guide is $20.

Other groups that gather together for service, growth, or just plain fun that you may be interested in are the
United Methodist Women, Men’s Lunch Group, Men’s Prayer Breakfast, Merry Moments, Merry-go-Rounders, and Pacesetters. The Card Ministry, Made in Faith Needlework Ministry,

As new groups form, we will keep this site updated.  If you would like to start a group, please contact the Church.

Opportunities for Youth to Grow --not just on a Sunday morning

Confirmation (grades 7 and above)
You are invited to take another step on your journey of faith by participating in the Confirmation Class which runs from September to May.  It is a time to continue to learn about and explore issues of faith and belief as well as time to make new friends and learn much more about the Church.  The Confirmation Program concludes on Pentecost Sunday, when class members make their own profession of faith in Jesus Christ and become professing members of Faith United Methodist Church.  Click here for the 2008-2009 Schedule and the Basic Information and Expectations information sheet. 

Building Community – with each other and the world
Youth have opportunities throughout the year to get to know each other better through fun events like lasertag, bowling, movies, food, and more.  They also have opportunities to serve the world through shelter meals, Christmas Tree project/toys for children, and more. 

Beginning the fall of 2008, come to UMYF (United Methodist Youth Fellowship) on the 1st and 3rd Sunday evenings from 6-8pm.   On the 1st Sunday, we'll have an evening of social and fellowship activities.  On the 3rd Sunday, we'll either participate in a service project or a study (or both!).  It's a great time to hang out with other youth and grow in our faith.  By the way...we'll even feed you dinner!  Check out our youth page for the current calendar.

For over 30 years, we have gone on an Annual Mission Trip (aka the “Work Trip”) in the summer.  For the past several years we have gone through Group Work Camps Foundation both domestically and internationally.  Depending upon the kind of trip we are going on, they are either just senior high trips or all youth trips.  The decision about the trips are made in September of each year.

In the summer of 2007 we added an opportunity for our upcoming fall middle school class to spend some time together in fun and service (our Middle School Camp).  Usually held the week after Montgomery County Public Schools ends their year, we spend ½ the day serving the community and ½ the day having fun together.