Sunday School
The focus of our Christian Education at Metropolitan is Godly Play. Godly Play is an interpretation of a Montessori religious education that imparts many of the well-known stories of the Bible in a contemplative way. In a Godly Play classroom, children are provided an opportunity to listen to these stories, wonder about their meaning, and then interpret these stories through art, reflection, and movement. According to one of the founders of Godly Play, the lessons of Godly Play are an imaginative approach to working with children that supports, challenges, nourishes, and guides their spiritual quest.
Because the Godly Play classroom is designed to be a sacred space with a strict format, parent participation is not generally encouraged. However, parents are always welcome to observe the classroom during the study hour. Additionally, questions about the program may be directed to your child’s teacher or the director of children’s ministries.
Throughout the school year, various special events on Sunday morning amplify the children’s learning. These include a Children’s Arts Showcase, in which the children share some of their art work as reflected in their Godly Play classrooms, service work, the Children’s Celebration service at the culmination of the academic school year, and more.
Currently, Metropolitan has five Sunday School classes, each of which explore a different segment of the Godly Play curriculum.
- Little Wonders - Three and Four Year Olds
- Godly Players - Pre-K and Kindergarteners
- Joyful Spirits - 1st and 2nd Graders
- Bible Explorers - 3rd and 4th Graders
- Young Disciples - 5th and 6th Graders
Enroll your child today!
Little Wonders
Three and Four Year Olds.
This class uses the Young Children and Worship curriculum, a simplified telling of the Godly Play stories for the very youngest classmates.
This class meets in Room 101.
The story schedule is found here.
Godly Players
Pre-K and Kindergarteners
This class uses the Young Children and Worship curriculum, a simplified telling of the Godly Play stories for the very youngest classmates.
This class meets in Room 200.
The story schedule is found here.
Joyful Spirits
1st and 2nd Graders
This class is a traditional Godly Play classroom that uses vols. 2, 3, and 4 of the Complete Guide to Godly Play. The class generally explores Old Testament stories in the fall and New Testament stories in the Spring.
This class meets in Room 202.
The story schedule is found here.
Bible Explorers
3rd and 4th graders
This class spends the year fully exploring stories of the ministry of Jesus, using the Following Jesus curriculum.
The story schedule is found here.
Young Disciples
5th and 6th* graders
This class returns to the Old Testament to delve more deeply into the stories of Noah, Moses, Jacob, Abraham, Ruth, and the prophets. In addition, the students in this classroom regularly lead service projects such as making a meal for Metro House, leading a worship service at Grand Oaks senior care facility at Sibley Hospital, and other efforts that the children develop.
This class meets in room 203.
The story schedule is found here.
*Special note about 6th graders. Many students entering 6th grade are also entering middle school, and thus, feel more comfortable in Metropolitan’s youth program. Some students, however, wish to remain with the children’s ministry and transition to the youth program at the end of the 6th grade. We encourage each family to explore the options and we support whatever placement decision each family makes.
A typical Sunday morning at Metropolitan…
Sunday morning for families typically begins with the 9 a.m. worship service, which features a children’s sermon that is tied to the morning’s sermon theme and/or sermon series currently underway. After the children’s sermon, youngsters are encouraged to participate in one of the two children’s choirs that rehearse during the remainder of the 9 a.m. service. Choir rehearsal ends at 10 a.m., at which point, children transition to their Sunday school classes. The study hour begins at 10:10 a.m. and concludes at 11 a.m. Parents must be on time to pick up their child from Sunday school. For their safety, children are not allowed to roam the hallways looking for their parents at the conclusion of Sunday school.
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