Education Ministries

     Christian education is an important ministry at Beymer. The Christian life is one that is learned, and so must be taught. Because Christian discipleship is a life-long learning process, we offer education programs for every age and level of spiritual maturity.
     The Bible is the primary resource for Christian education, and is at the heart of all education programs at Beymer. We also use curriculum from a variety of sources in helping us to understand God's word and how to live it out in our daily lives in our families, work and school environments, and our larger community and world.

 

Sunday School

Children's classes
    Classes for children are available for ages 3 through 5th grade and grouped by age and development stage.

    3 & 4 year olds - as a part of our nursery ministry, younger children enjoy a time of story reading and activities that engage them in the story.

    K-3rd Grades - Kindergarteners and early elementary children. The class is taught by a team: Jan Wyatt and Mel Teague, Sandy Brown, and Rob & Cynthia Gibson

    4th & 5th Grades - Older Elementary Children. The class is taught by Bill Clark.

 

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Youth Classes

    6th-8th Grades - Middle School Class meets upstairs in Stradley Hall and is led by Steve and Jeanette Baker.

    9th-12th Grades - High School Class meets in the UMYF "Basement," and is led by Jane Cowper.

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Adult Classes

     Beymer offers a variety of adult classes with different forms of learning and resources.

     Wesley Fellowship Class - meets in the Chapel, and uses the International Bible Study program. Led by Neil McCutchan, the class uses a variety of teachers in the class. Begun in 1931 as a young adult class taking the Wesley Bible Study Series, the class continues today with some of the original members. The class celebrates birthdays and anniversaries monthly at a fellowship dinner the third Thursday of each month in the Fellowship Hall.

     Oxford/Friendship Class - This Sunday School Class was formed in 2007 by combining the Oxford & Friendship Classes because of dwindling numbers in the Oxford Class. The original Oxford Class was formed in 1921 as the Men’s Bible Study until 1982 when they issued a special invitation to ladies to join them for Bible Study each Sunday. The original Friendship Class was formed as the Koinonia Class in 1967. Since then, it has been renamed the Young Adult Class before being renamed the Friendship Class. The 2008 Oxford Friendship Class currently has 5 teachers who deliver a wide variety of teaching styles. The Class provides coffee, is informal, friendly & welcoming with open discussion. Single & married adults attend the Class which normally uses the Adult Bibles Studies for its lessons.  The Class meets in the northwest classroom in the Fellowship Hall building. Those interested in more details of the Oxford & Friendship Classes’ early history are referred to the book “History of Beymer Memorial United Methodist Church 1906-1981” by Lee Ila Copeland. The Friendship Class is called the Young Adult Class in this book.

Current teaching duties are shared by Jodie Whitney, Sharon bates, Nancy Hallfin, MaryJo Braddock, Sarah Harris and Harry Kerns. Sandra Cramer serves as the Secretary/Treasurer.

      Boomers Class - Meets upstairs in Stradley Hall. Mr. Allen Wyatt leads the class in discussion format of current topics. This is a mixed class of young to middle age adults, married and singles. "Our diverse group of adults discusses the success and difficulty of Christian life in our society.  Ranging in age from twenty something to sixty something, married, single, raising kids or empty nest; the common ground is found in the foundation of Beymer Methodist Church.  In the summer of 2007 some of the “senior” members of the congregation put on a breakfast and invited some “younger” members. They asked, “What can a traditional church like Beymer Methodist do for you?”  This is how Beymer Boomers formed.  Our discussions began with the family issues, but not all have a family. Then we began discussions on raising children, but not all of us have children, or they have left the nest. Pastor Meredith pointed us in the right direction by suggesting discussions on modern issues.  How does someone live as a Christian in the era of TV, Computers, and Cell phones? What methods can we use to bring ourselves closer to Christ, our Church, and our families? Our Sunday School attracts adults in all stages in life, and there is a collective wisdom that comes from our discussion. Please join the conversation, for just one session or for the next dozen.
You will enjoy it!"

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Beymer BASH

  This is Beymer's mid-week  program of fellowship and education for every family and every member of every family. Dinner begins at 5:30 pm and classes begin at 6:00 or 6:15 pm.
    Reservations are needed for dinner. Go to the Beymer Bash page for the schedule of classes and registration information and dinner reservations.

Vacation Bible School

    Vacation Bible School at Beymer is a huge event every summer. Led by a team of volunteers in the dozens, we host more than 50 children for a time of fun, music, crafts, and Bible stories presented in creative and fun ways. Click here to go the VBS page and see the dates and registration information. 

Kid's Club

     Kid's Club is the newest ministry at Beymer. Especially for 4th and 5th graders, Kid's Club meets the third Sunday afternoon each month from 3:00 - 4:30 pm for a time of fun, fellowship, study and service. Watch this page for more information.

 

 

Related resources

• Many excellent education resources are available through the United Methodist Publishing House, better known as Cokesbury. Go to www.cokesbury.com to find these materials.

 

• The General Board of Discipleship provides resources from the United Methodist Church for education and disciple training. Click the logo to go there.

 

Coming in the Spring of 2010

Disciple Bible Studies: Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study

Disciple I - Becoming Disciples

Disciple II - Into the Word, Into the World

Disciple III - Remember Who You Are

Disciple IV - The Tree of Life