The students, ages 28 to 72, are part of a Community Options program sponsored by Tri-County Human Services. Each Friday, the group enjoys a bag lunch at the church, then has an hour for the study. Instructor Ruth Yeager, and two assistants use the United Methodist Curriculum, Bridges, designed for persons with mental retardation. It follows the same three-year lesson cycle as the United Methodist children's material. All students are involved to the extent they are able.
Sessions begin with the lesson presented visually, using paper cut outs to tell the story.
A second telling is done in sign language. Students become involved in the third telling by bringing the paper figures to the front of the class, acting out the narrative. It all revolves around a memory verse and serves as a reinforcement of that verse when seen at home. The lesson is also tied to a craft project such as cutting out and coloring palm leaves for a lesson dealing with the events of Palm Sunday. In past lessons, they have created a collage, made greeting cards and even planted seeds while studying the Creation unit.