Time Traveler 2017 OCT 14

Discover Your Methodist DNA. Come see what the buzz is all about … your youth will enjoy an experience of Methodist History that will deepen their understanding and connect them with the larger faith community. Actors and musicians join us to help tell the important story of this cradle of American Methodism, and new features are added each year. For groups of more than 40 participants, please call the office at 215-925-7788.

2:PLEASE PRINT THIS PAGE FOR REFERENCE

Join us for a morning of exploration of our Methodist Heritage… perfect for Confirmation Classes, Young Adults, New Members, or just-plain-curious folk. You won’t want to miss this popular way to experience your denomination’s beginnings, and meet other Methodists that are carrying the faith into the future.

PARKING INFO

We start promptly at 2:00PM in the Sanctuary, allow time for parking, etc. There is very limited free parking in the lot belonging to Camitta Bros. on the NW corner of 4th and Vine (be sure not to park in any of the other private lots). There are also public parking lots near by. You can get location and pricing info at www.philapark.org

Agenda

The very full afternoon (2 to 4PM) consists of an overview of Methodist history for all in the sanctuary, followed by some activities to let the students explore history in different ways (adults will have a fun time with a musician in the Sanctuary while the students explore). Your group will have the opportunity to join with youth from other churches.We encourage you to take advantage of other activities in Philadelphia that morning. We are only blocks from the Constitution Center, the Visitor’s Center, and Independence Hall.

We promise a unique and enjoyable day, and we have a few hints to help you make the most of your time here:

When you arrive (doors open at 1:30PM), your group may go to their seats in the sanctuary while the leader checks in and picks up your group’s packet.
Encourage your students to follow the leaders of the different activities as they are requested… what may seem mysterious at first will be clear in the end! To have a successful experience, it is important that we have everyone’s cooperation and move in an orderly fashion from one activity to another.
Following the history overview in the sanctuary, your group will be divided into 3 experiential parts: one group will be discovering the relations of St. George’s to the AME churches, the second group will be “history detectives” in the museum, solving a puzzle and learning a little Wesley theology, and the third will be working with a music director to learn a hymn the old-fashioned way (no i-Pod!). [note: because of the wealth of material, we have found this approach to work the best … please plan time after your visit for your participants to share their experiences with each other.]
We reconvene in the Sanctuary for the closing ceremony.

Bonus … snacks, extended tour time and facts galore

A light Philly snack will be provided following the event. The museum will remain open following the event, and guides will be available to tell you about our many treasures. Encourage your students to see the Wesley chalice and the Asbury Bible.

Fun in the city

If you wish, you will have the morning to explore the many attractions of historic Philadelphia . One of the neat nearby activities is a miniature golf game with tiny replicas of the historic buildings (Franklin Square Miniature Golf, 6th & Race Streets, Philadelphia, 215-629-4026), but don’t miss the full-size attractions, too! Independence Park has a variety of wonderful resources. Check out their offerings (open to church groups as well as conventional classes). If you plan on visiting Mother Bethel, please make a reservation (we recommend 2 pm or later to give you time to eat and travel there).

When you return to your home church

Here is a compendium of links to explore Methodist History on the internet.