How do people learn best? From their peers? From
elders? From energetic youth? YES! Research has shown that humans
learn more when surrounded by all types of people.
"The wider range
of competencies in a mixed-age group, the greater opportunities for
participants to develop relationships and friendships with others and
for the promotion of higher cognitive function." (Katz 1998)
With
this in mind, Darby Puglielli assisted St. Dunstan's Church in
replacing their Sunday school model with an innovative approach through
Growing In Faith Together®.
Sunday morning during the program
year between the two worship services (8:30am until 10:00am), all ages
gather together to eat, socialize/fellowship, read and discuss the
Bible story for the day, and react to it through drama or art.
A
hot, nutritious, homemade breakfast is served after the 7:30 service.
At 9am, formal formation time begins. That includes prayer, music,
reading from the Bible, drama, art, discussion, and other projects.
GIFT®
is run by a team. Some members help with breakfast: set-up, clean-up,
hosting, providing the food. Other team members facilitate the
formation time, while others are in charge of the response time (art,
drama, discussion, etc.).
GIFT® has also been used as a formation program following Grace's main service, where the main purpose was to bring together the English speaking congregants with the Spanish speaking congregants.
GIFT® was also used as a weekday, evening, Lenten program for four Episcopal churches in the same town.
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