About Seedlings
Seedlings, Incorporated has been providing curriculum designed for the needs of small churches in the Episcopal tradition for 40 years.
Developed in the Episcopal tradition, the Seedlings Curriculum is an affordable Biblically-based curriculum that is specifically designed with the small church in mind. The Sunday School Curriculum is based on a four-year cycle, and offers units that are flexible, self-contained and usable in any order. Each unit is also easily adaptable for use in Vacation Bible Schools or other non-Sunday and seasonal settings. The Seedlings Curriculum provides an introduction to all major Bible stories and events, and strongly encourages teachers and their students to be creative in exploring the experiences, feelings, and attitudes of Biblical figures.
Each year’s materials include:
We also offer a range of materials that include first communion confirmation instruction, adult inquirer's class, and much more.
Each year’s materials include:
- Lesson plans for 36-40 sessions
- Introductory materials for the class coordinator
We also offer a range of materials that include first communion confirmation instruction, adult inquirer's class, and much more.
Features:
Designed to meet the needs of small churches
- broadly-graded curriculum created with the small church in mind --we've been used for as few as two children!--but adaptable for larger classes
- designed for children from preschool through sixth grade
Flexible
- used in over 2500 churches of all sizes since 1978 in a wide variety of settings in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia
- self-contained units may be used in any sequence for Sundays or Vacation Bible School
- encourages teachers to adapt for their own interests and talents as well as those of the children
- variety of activities with little or no expense
- can be adapted for use in intergenerational settings for Sundays or holidays
- most units apply across the full spectrum of Christian denominations and traditions
Biblically based
- four-year cycle gives an introduction to most major Bible stories and events
- activities selected to encourage children to experience the feelings and attitudes of Biblical figures
- moral and ethical perspective shaped by classic Biblical theology
From the Episcopal tradition
- originally developed and published thanks to grants from the Episcopal Church Foundation and the United Thank Offering
- one-third of unit materials teach on non-biblical subjects: the saints, sacraments, traditions and customs of the Church, its worship, prayer, and polity
The Seedlings Story:
Betty Fuller was a new deacon from New Hampshire in 1975 in her husband's rural Texas mission congregation. Charged with leading the church's Sunday School, Mrs. Fuller found herself with two 4-year olds and two 8-year olds and no other children. Despite the fact that many small churches have similar situations, she could find no Sunday School materials that had the flexibility, creativity, and affordability to meet the needs of small parishes.
Mrs. Fuller made up her own lesson plans, and over the years, others asked her if they might borrow them. The Seedlings Curriculum grew, helped along by grants and aid from all over the country and encouragement from rural church workers near and far. Seedlings became a Texas non-profit corporation in 1982, established as a special ministry to aid religious education in small churches.
Mrs. Fuller, who remains president of Seedlings, Inc., is a graduate of Sweet Briar College and Virginia Theological Seminary, and was ordained a priest in the Diocese of West Texas in 1993. Married to a priest, the Rev. Frank E. Fuller, who has co- authored several curricula for Seedlings, she is the mother of two grown children and grandmother of two. Since her retirement she serves as supply priest for small churches in South Texas.
Seedlings has expanded over the years to include materials for adults and young persons preparing for confirmation, as well as instructed liturgies for worshippers of all ages, a program for parish stewardship, and teaching materials for Spanish-speaking children.
Mrs. Fuller made up her own lesson plans, and over the years, others asked her if they might borrow them. The Seedlings Curriculum grew, helped along by grants and aid from all over the country and encouragement from rural church workers near and far. Seedlings became a Texas non-profit corporation in 1982, established as a special ministry to aid religious education in small churches.
Mrs. Fuller, who remains president of Seedlings, Inc., is a graduate of Sweet Briar College and Virginia Theological Seminary, and was ordained a priest in the Diocese of West Texas in 1993. Married to a priest, the Rev. Frank E. Fuller, who has co- authored several curricula for Seedlings, she is the mother of two grown children and grandmother of two. Since her retirement she serves as supply priest for small churches in South Texas.
Seedlings has expanded over the years to include materials for adults and young persons preparing for confirmation, as well as instructed liturgies for worshippers of all ages, a program for parish stewardship, and teaching materials for Spanish-speaking children.
