Samples of Gather 'Round curriculum are posted online.

Free sample sessions of teacher and student materials from Gather 'Round: Hearing and Sharing God's Good News are now posted at www.gatherround.org. Gather 'Round is a curriculum for children, youth, and parents in the Church of the Brethren, Mennonite Church Canada, and Mennonite Church USA.

The website also includes a price list, Bible outlines, and other basic information. Customers without internet access may call 800-245-7894 for assistance. Sample kits will be available for purchase in February, and congregational use will begin in the fall.

In addition to quarterly teacher and student books, Gather 'Round will offer quarterly classroom packs that include such items as teaching pictures and posters. One resource, for example, is a memory verse poster with photographs of children depicting American Sign Language words to represent the memory text, Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

A key emphasis is strengthening the connection between home and church. One way Gather 'Round works at this is through the quarterly "Talkabout," an item to use at the family dinner table. Talkabout will help families extend the Sunday school experience through short scripture readings, prayers, and ideas for service and learning.

A major training event will be held Feb. 10-12, 2006, at Gilmary Retreat Center near Pittsburgh, Pa. Each Church of the Brethren district and Mennonite area conference has been invited to send representatives. Those trained in February will facilitate training in their own regions.

Gather 'Round offers materials for seven levels: "Preschool," ages 3-4 with tips for 2s; "Primary," grades K-2; "Middler," grades 3-5; "Junior Youth," grades 6-8; "Youth," grades 9-12; "Multiage," grades K-6 with tips for older students; "Parent/Caregiver," designed for adult classes or individual study.

Gather 'Round is a joint project of Brethren Press and Mennonite Publishing Network. It follows Jubilee: God's Good News, used in Mennonite and Brethren congregations since 1994.

Source: 01/04/2006 Newsline
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