Sunday School Curriculum

“Becoming a Torchbearer”
Northbrae Church School Curriculum
Note to Teachers
This curriculum is (1) focused on story, (2) bible-based, and (3) inclusive of world religions. It follows as a base-outline the sequence of stories in the “Children’s Bible,” a DK (Dorling Kindersley) publication. Our approach is to share these as stories for their value as stories, and not as literal history. Our aim is to increase (1) the biblical literacy of our congregation, (2) an awareness of world religions as they relate to biblical stories, and (3) the ideas and values espoused by the religions of the world, including Christianity.
Dianne McNenny and Susan Brahan, who have taught Church School in the past, are willing resources. Carolyn West and Ron Sebring will suggest, from time to time, other stories from world religions that are thematically consistent. We will also suggest special dates in other religions that can be the basis for lesson development. We may also explore poetry, music, etc. that could go with various Sundays. While this format offers a measure of continuity, each teacher is free to do their own planning explore other resources, for example, “Life and Bible Times” which takes a biblical story and relates it to current situations.
Half of the year will be devoted to stories from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and half of the year will be devoted to stories from the New Testament.
         The first column shows each Sunday and anything that is especially happening on that Sunday (Forth of July, Thanksgiving, etc.)
         The second column suggests an overall theme for each Sunday. Please do NOT feel bound to this. Read the story in the Children’s        Bible, and perhaps in the scripture, and see if this theme resonates with you. Every theme is an “itch” or a “scratch.” Each theme implies a counterpoint. “Respect” invites a consideration of disrespect. “Kind Speech” invites a consideration of harsh words. Considering both may help brainstorm an approach and materials.
         The next six columns show the date and story for each Sunday. The middle pair is for 2008. Next to the last pair is for 2009. The last pair, 2010. By changing the dates in the date-columns, this curriculum will be recyclable.
         Notice that the more basic and familiar stories reoccur every year on a given Sunday. On other given Sundays, the story may vary year after year, but generally will follow the same character. When teaching, for continuity, feel free to introduce or review the stories for the following or previous years, to round out the character. This will foreshadow and reinforce learning.
Carolyn West and Ron Sebring will be assessing and expanding this curriculum. Dianne, Susan … Please feel free to share with us any feedback you have. Prayerfully, over time, our children and youth will have a familiarity with Bible stories and world religions, an appreciation for the values espoused by world religions, and a capacity for critical-thinking regarding their beliefs. Thank you for your participation, energy, and creativity with this program.
SUMMER THROUGH THANKSGIVING
Season of Spiritual Growth
(Becoming a Torchbearer)
Season of Pentecost or Kingdomtide
The season of Pentecost runs through the summer and into the fall, allowing plenty of time for slow, steady growth. During this time, we review the stories of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and universal themes that explore the range of virtues and vices of religious people the world over.

Becoming a Torchbearer #1
(Color Red)
Pentecost
(Birthday of the Church)
Theme:
Goodness
(Goodness of Creation, Goodness in all People)
May 11, 2008
Biblical Story:
Creation Story
Gen 1:1-2:4a
Children’s Bible:
p. 18
Possible Theme:
GOODNESS IN CREATION
May 31, 2009
Biblical Story:
Creation Story
Gen 1:1-2:4a
Children’s Bible:
p. 18
Possible Theme:
GOODNESS IN OUR CREATIVITY
May 23, 2010
Biblical Story:
Creation Story
Gen 1:1-2:4a
Children’s Bible:
p. 18
Possible Theme:
PEOPLE IN GOD’S LIKENESS
Becoming a Torchbearer #2
(Color Green)
Theme:
SELFISHNESS
(Me Centeredness)
May 18, 2008
Biblical Story:
Adam & Eve
Gen 2:4a-3
Children’s Bible:
p. 20
Possible Theme:
SELFISHNESS, ME-CENTEREDNESS
June 7, 2009
Biblical Story:
Adam & Eve
Gen 2:4a-3
Children’s Bible:
p. 20
Possible Theme:
SELFISHNESS, ME-CENTEREDNESS
May 30, 2010
Biblical Story:
Adam & Eve
Gen 2:4a-3
Children’s Bible:
p. 20
Possible Theme:
SELFISHNESS, ME-CENTEREDNESS
Becoming a Torchbearer #3
(May 21-May 28)
(Color Green)

Theme:
CARING FOR OTHERS
May 25, 2008
Biblical Story:
Cain and Abel
Gen 4
Children’s Bible:
p. 22
Possible Theme:
CARING FOR OTHERS
Not Observed this Year
Biblical Story:
Cain and Abel
Gen 4
Children’s Bible:
p. 22
Possible Theme:
CARING FOR OTHERS
xxx, 2010
Biblical Story:
Cain and Abel
Gen 4
Children’s Bible:
p. 22
Possible Theme:
CARING FOR OTHERS
Becoming a Torchbearer #4
(May 29-June 4)
(Color Green)

Theme:
GUIDANCE
June 1, 2008
Biblical Story:
Noah
Gen 6-7
Children’s Bible:
p. 24
Possible Theme:
GOD’S GUIDANCE
Not Observed this Year
Biblical Story:
Noah
Gen 7-9
Children’s Bible:
p. 26
Possible Theme:
GOD’S CARE
xxx, 2010
Biblical Story:
Noah
Gen 6-9
Children’s Bible:
p. 24-27
Possible Theme:
GOD’S PROMISE
Becoming a Torchbearer #5 (June 5-11)
(Color Green)

Theme:
KIND SPEECH
June 8, 2008
Biblical Story:
Tower of Babel
Gen 11
Children’s Bible:
p. 28
Possible Theme:
HARMFUL WORDS
Not Observed this Year
Biblical Story:
Tower of Babel
Gen 11
Children’s Bible:
p. 28
Possible Theme:
HARMFUL WORDS
June 6, 2010
Biblical Story:
Tower of Babel
Gen 11
Children’s Bible:
p. 28
Possible Theme:
HARMFUL WORDS
Becoming a Torchbearer #6
(June 12-18)
(Color Green)

Theme:
FAITH
(Trust in God, Confidence in Life)
June 15, 2008
Biblical Story:
Abraham’s Journey
Gen 11-13,15
Children’s Bible:
p. 32
Possible Theme:
JOURNEY OF FAITH
June 14, 2009
Biblical Story:
Abraham, Sarah and Hagar
Gen 16-18
Children’s Bible:
p. 34
Possible Theme:
THE DIFFICULTY OF TRUSTING
June 13, 2010
Biblical Story:
Abraham, Sodom & Gomorrah
Gen 18-19
Children’s Bible:
p. 37
Possible Theme:
FAITH LEADING TO RESCUE
Becoming a Torchbearer #7
(June 19-25)
(Color Green)

Theme:
KIND DEEDS
June 22, 2008
Biblical Story:
Isaac and Rebecca
Gen 24
Children’s Bible:
p. 44
Possible Theme:
KINDNESS
June 21, 2009
Biblical Story:
Isaac and Rebecca
Gen 24
Children’s Bible:
p. 44
Possible Theme:
KINDNESS
June 20, 2010
Biblical Story:
Isaac and Rebecca
Gen 24
Children’s Bible:
p. 44
Possible Theme:
KINDNESS
Becoming a Torchbearer #8
(June 26-July 2)
(Color Green)

Theme:
PERSISTENCE
June 29, 2008
Biblical Story:
Jacob
and Esau
Gen 25, 27
Children’s Bible:
p. 46
Possible Theme:
PERSISTENCE
June 28, 2009
Biblical Story:
Jacob’s
Ladder
Gen 28
Children’s Bible:
p. 49
Possible Theme:
PERSISTENCE
June 27, 2010
Biblical Story:
Jacob Wrestles Angel
Gen 32-33
Children’s Bible:
p. 54
Possible Theme:
PERSISTENCE
Becoming a Torchbearer #9
(July 3-9)
(Color Green)
(4^th of July, Independence Day)
Theme:
FORGIVENESS
July 6, 2008
Biblical Story:
Joseph’s
Dream
Gen 37
Children’s Bible:
p. 56
Possible Theme:
JOSEPH FORGIVES AMIDST ABUSE
July 5, 2009
Biblical Story:
Joseph’s Trials in Egypt
Gen 39-41
Children’s Bible:
p. 58-63
Possible Theme:
JOSEPH FORGIVES AMIDST TRAILS
July 4, 2010
Biblical Story:
Joseph Forgives
His Brothers
Gen 42
Children’s Bible:
p. 64
Possible Theme:
JOSEPH ALWAYS FORGIVES
Becoming a Torchbearer #10
(July 10-16)
(Color Green)

Theme:
SENSE OF HOLINESS
(Sense of sacredness, Awe, Sense of a Creating Force in Universe)
July 13, 2008
Biblical Story:
Moses in the Basket
Ex 1-2
Children’s Bible:
p. 68
Possible Theme:
GOD’S CARE
July 12, 2009
Biblical Story:
Moses at the Burning Bush
Ex 2-4
Children’s Bible:
p. 70
Possible Theme:
GOD’S NAME
July 11, 2010
Biblical Story:
Moses and Pharaoh
Ex 4-12
Children’s Bible:
p. 72-77
Possible Theme:
SACRED VS. SECULAR
Becoming a Torchbearer #11
(July 17-23)
(Color Green)

Theme:
SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG
July 20, 2008
Biblical Story:
Moses: Red Sea & Wilderness
Ex 13-17
Children’s Bible:
p. 78-81
Possible Theme:
NEED FOR A CODE
July 19, 2009
Biblical Story:
Moses: The Ten Commandments
Ex 19-20
Children’s Bible:
p. 82
Possible Theme:
MORALITY, ETHICS
July 18, 2010
Biblical Story:
Moses: The Ten Commandments
Ex 19-20
Children’s Bible:
p. 82
Possible Theme:
MORALITY, ETHICS
Becoming a Torchbearer #12
(July 24-30)
(Color Green)

Theme:
PROMISES
(Covenants)
(Being true to our promises to God and each other)
July 27, 2008
Biblical Story:
Moses and the Golden Calf
Ex 32
Children’s Bible:
p. 84
Possible Theme:
IDOLATRY
July 26, 2009
Biblical Story:
Balaam’s Donkey
Num 22-24
Children’s Bible:
p. 86
Possible Theme:
DEFIANCE
July 25, 2010
Biblical Story:
Moses, the Ark and Tabernacle
Ex 25-31
Children’s Bible:
p. 16-17
Possible Theme:
COVENANT
Becoming a Torchbearer #13
(July 31-Aug 6)
(Color Green)

Theme:
PRUDENCE (Cleverness, Carefully considering consequences)
August 3, 2008
Biblical Story:
Joshua and Rahab
Joshua 2
Children’s Bible:
p. 93
Possible Theme:
FORESIGHT
August 2, 2009
Biblical Story:
Joshua and Jericho
Joshua 3-6
Children’s Bible:
p. 94
Possible Theme:
STRATEGY
August 1 , 2010
Biblical Story:
Joshua and the City of Ai
Joshua 7-8
---
Possible Theme:
ADMITTING ONE’S MISTAKES
Becoming a Torchbearer #14
(Aug 7-13)
(Color Green)

Theme:
FRIENDSHIP
August 10, 2008
Biblical Story:
Gideon
Judges 6-7
Children’s Bible:
p. 96
Possible Theme:
GIDEON PICKS 300 SPECIAL FRIENDS
August 9, 2009
Biblical Story:
Ruth and Naomi
Ruth 1-4
Children’s Bible:
p. 106
Possible Theme:
FRIENDSHIP IS LOYALTY
August 8, 2010
Biblical Story:
Sampson and Delilah
Judges 16
Children’s Bible:
p. 102
Possible Theme:
SAMPSON PICKS A WRONG FRIEND
Becoming a Torchbearer #15
(Aug 14-20)
(Color Green)

Theme:
DREAMS and VISIONS
(Sense of a Calling)
August 17, 2008
Biblical Story:
Samuel’s Call
1 Sam 1-3
Children’s Bible:
p. 108
Possible Theme:
DREAMS, VISIONS, AND A CALLING
August 16, 2009
Biblical Story:
Samuel’s Call
1 Sam 1-3
Children’s Bible:
p. 108
Possible Theme:
DREAMS, VISIONS, AND A CALLING
August 15, 2010
Biblical Story:
Samuel’s Call
1 Sam 1-3
Children’s Bible:
p. 108
Possible Theme:
DREAMS, VISIONS, AND A CALLING
Becoming a Torchbearer #16
(Aug 21-27)
(Color Green)