Youth Education
Growing in faith is a vital part of our lives as Christians. The chance to learn about God, the Bible and our faithful responses to them helps shape who we are and how we live our lives. SPC believes that church is a place for big, tough questions and not-so-easy answers. We strive to make our educational opportunities safe places for all of God’s children to grow in, struggle with and develop their faith in the triune God – Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit – and to have some fun along the way.
Middle School Church School a.k.a. JOSHUA
McCahan Hall, room 226, 9 am to 10 am, Sundays September through May
6th through 8th graders
Our middle school class is the first opportunity young people have to learn about the Bible as a whole, not just as a collection of stories and other texts. We spend each year with one of the Testaments (alternating between Old and New), beginning at the beginning and working our way through to the end. Middle schoolers develop a fuller understanding of the people, types of literature and narratives of the Bible. They begin to consider our holy scripture’s complexity, depth and connection to their new lives as youth. This class uses the We Believe curriculum from the Presbyterian Church (USA) and is taught by a dedicated team of SPC members, who always bring a snack.
Confirmation Continued
Youth Room, 9 am to 10 am, 2nd Sunday of the Month
Confirmation Continued is a new class that will explore some of the stuff we missed in confirmation and some of the new questions you have. It's especially for 9th and 10th graders, but all HSers are welcome. Our leader, Matt Hartley, offers these words of welcome: " I was one of the "table leaders" for Confirmation last year and so John has asked if I would help launch a monthly high school study. The idea is to gather and talk about some of the important issues regarding our faith (in the Bible and in our lives) that Confirmation didn't cover. Hence the name, 'Confirmation Continued.' Anyone and everyone is welcome."
We'll be meeting once a month at 9:00 (usually the second Sunday but always check the calendar!)
Confirmation ClassMcCahan Hall, second floor, 9 am to 10 am, Sundays December through May
8th graders
Most of our young people were baptized as infants, before they could defend themselves. Others are new to the church and don’t know much about it, God or the Bible. Confirmation is the chance for both groups – and other 8th graders as well – to engage for themselves with the Christian faith that has been passed down to them from our spiritual foremothers and forefathers. They get to grapple with the big issues and topics – from who God is to what spiritual gifts they have to what it means to be in mission. The confirmation process prepares our 8th graders to claim their own faith by creating a statement of faith. There is no pressure to join the church, however, for those whose relationship with God is not at that point.
Highlights of the confirmation process include a fall overnight with Broad Street Ministry and a spring retreat to the Poconos to write their statements of faith. Confirmands select a Friend in Faith (an adult SPC member) to meet with throughout the year and accompany them on this journey. The Rev. John Weicher and a dedicated team of adult SPC members teach this group. In the fall, before confirmation starts, 8th graders are encouraged to join the middle school church school class. You may download the medical release form for our fall retreat; please complete and return the hard copy to John Weicher.
Dinner with Ashley
Church Office, 6:30 pm on the 2nd or 3rd and 4th Wednesday of the month
9th through 12th graders
Twice a month, our high schoolers spend an evening hanging out with each other over dinner and tackling the questions of life and faith no high schooler can avoid. The group meets in the church office once a month on a Wednesday night (check the Education Calendar for exact dates) and heads out to local eatery for a fine repast. A Dinner with Ashley usually runs one and a half to two hours, door to door. On the last Wednesday of the month, they meet at Swarthmore train station at 5:00 (for a 5:15 train) to join Ashley for Broad Street Ministry's No Barriers Dinner. Ashley Kuly is an SPC member and adult leader in SPC’s youth program (picture below).
