• Perhaps it’s the Baby Moses boat races.
  • Or that Sunday the children decorated their own John the Baptist styrofoam wig heads.
  • It could be the music we sing, everything from Pete Seeger, Billy Bragg and Bruce Springsteen to the Indigo Girls, Steve Earle, Dan Zanes, and even Green Day.
  • It might be our performance of “Nacho Jacob,” safe to say the first theatrical production in history to combine Jacob with Morley Safer and Jack Black, complete with luchador wrestling masks. As the joke goes, Judson Sunday School is “nacho” typical Sunday School.

 

Our families are diverse: Some parents are single, some coupled. Some couples are in same gender relationships and identify as gay; others are in different gender relationships and identify as straight. Some parents have strong church backgrounds while some have no church experience whatsoever. Some of our families are multi-racial, and some not.

What we have in common is the desire for our kids to receive a progressive church education. At Judson Sunday School, the emphasis is on the truth within a Bible story rather than the truth of a Bible story, and our lessons stress the great themes found within religion, such as love, justice, peace and forgiveness.

Childcare: Our classes meet during the church worship hour, yet we are vigilant in providing opportunities for our children to participate in the worship service. We also provide childcare for congregational meetings and many other special events.

Judson Sunday School: a bit weird, wonderful, insightful, delightful, safe, but mostly, a lot of fun!

When the muse calls him, Judson's Sunday School director Andy Frantz ("The Grand Poobah!) provides insights, mild rants, celebrations of the absurd, critical raves, modern philosophies and much more.

Read This Week at Judson's Sunday School below and feel free to send your comments, questions, jokes to the Poobah himself!

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“God and ‘Downton Abbey’”

Jesus once said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” Apparently, Jesus ain’t got nuthin’ on Downton Abbey. Have you seen that place? It’s huge! Therefore, in a craven attempt to glom onto the latest pop cultural craze sweeping the nation – or at least the 7,392 people who still watch PBS – and yet remain true to our religious roots, I am proud to announce that beginning this week, Judson Sunday School will embark upon a new six-week study course entitled, “God and ‘Downton Abbey.’” Each week our preschool and elementary Sunday School classes will pursue a critical appraisal of the new hit TV series, searching for the hidden theological jewels embedded within every episode. The six-week curriculum includes the following courses:

“Bruised For Our Iniquities” - Christology and Mr. Bates. A comparative study of the life of Mr. John Bates, Lord Grantham’s valet, with the nature, person and deeds of Jesus Christ. If time allows, we will also analyze parallels between Mary Magdalene and Anna, head housemaid of Downton Abbey (and love of Mr. Bates). For extra credit, students will be asked to memorize the Broadway hit song from Jesus Christ Superstar, “I Don’t Know How To Love Him.”

Portensions of the Resurrection. This lesson probes the season one demise of Turkish diplomat, Kemal Pamuk, who died whilst in the throes of “damaging Lady Mary’s goods.” Appraising the historical Kemal, we will ask ourselves, is death the final chapter for Mr. Pamuk, or could the fervent desires of his followers, much like the fervent desires of Jesus’ disciples, portend a resurrection, perhaps later in season two?

The Beatitudes of the Dowager Countess of Grantham. The teachings of great religious figures often have a profound effect on the lives of ordinary people. This is certainly true with the Dowager Countess, Lady Grantham. This course seeks to better understand her many quips. (“Blessed are the meek,” this ain’t.) What in the world could she be talking about? Among the witticisms we will scrutinize:

“No one wants to kiss a girl in black.”

“What is a weekend?”

“One can’t go to pieces at the death of every foreigner. We’d all be in a constant state of collapse whenever we opened the newspaper.”

Cora: “Things are different in America.”
Lady Grantham: “I know. They live in wigwams.”

Lady Grantham: “You are quite wonderful the way you see room for improvement wherever you look. I never knew such reforming zeal.”
Mrs. Crawley: “I take that as a compliment.”
Lady Grantham: “I must have said it wrong.”

Honor students will be asked to watch films such as A Room with a View, Gosford Park, Sister Act (one and two), Ladies in Lavender, the Harry Potter series, and Gnomeo and Juliet, then write a 5,000 word essay on the quotable Maggie Smith.

Mr. Carson’s Old Time Religion. As the website for “Downton Abbey” says of its butler, Mr. Carson, he is “endlessly nostalgic for the way things were.” Is there a place for fundamentalism in the 21st century? Does this place include Barbara Streisand?

Pacifism and World War I: A Historical Debate. This lesson looks at the life of Matthew Crawley, Lord Grantham’s third cousin, once removed, and heir to Downton Abbey, whose approach to fighting the terrible Hun seems to consist of little more than parading around and around the trenches while wearing his military uniform. (Not to be confused with Lord Grantham, who parades around Downton Abbey while wearing his military uniform.) Will Matthew Crawley’s philosophy of non-violence bring about an end to the war? Students will be asked to divorce themselves from all historical reality while attempting to answer this question.

The Devil In Miss O’Brien. Anyone familiar with President Barack Obama’s predecessor knows there are evil-doers in this world, and for proof, one need look no further than this ladies maid. Some of the questions this course will attempt to answer: What is the nature of evil? If you stand too close to Miss O’Brien, will it get on you? Are certain evil acts beyond redemption? Like what she did to Cora, Countess of Grantham, with that bar of soap. Honestly, how can O’Brien still be employed? And finally, of Mrs. Hughes, Downton Abbey’s head housekeeper, Miss O’Brien once said, “If she’s got a boyfriend, I’m a giraffe.” Could Miss O’Brien indeed actually be a giraffe and might that serve as some explanation for her evil disposition?

Now for those of you asking yourselves, where do Judson’s youth fit into all this, don’t worry. For them we will continue with their Zombie curriculum by offering a one week seminar entitled, “The Pasty Complexion of Thomas, First Footman – Evidence of a Zombie at Downton Abbey?” Then, beginning in February, Judson youth will begin a new course of study entitled, ”Jesus and the ‘Jersey Shore.’” First lesson: “Is That The Holy Spirit In The Situation, Or Is He Just Happy To See Snooki?”

So I do hope your children will join us for “God and ‘Downton Abbey’” beginning this Sunday, January 15th. Hey, wait a minute. Is this Sunday Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday? Oh, crap!

Um . . . never mind.

I am happy to announce that this Sunday, January 15th, Judson Sunday School will celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We do hope your children will join us.

Andy Frantz
Grand Poobah

 

 

 

 
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