From the "Gracevine" Newsletter Article for Grace Lutheran Church in Thornville, Ohio, January 2023.
Sunday School
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6 ESV
There are among pastors differences of approach when it comes to newsletter articles for church. Some view them as opportunities to promote events in the congregation. Some view them as opportunities to teach people about the Christian faith. Though I tend toward the latter view, I suppose there is nothing wrong with some promotion mixed in with education. Such is the case with this month, as we kick off a new calendar year.
Many of us remember Sunday school growing up. I certainly do. Over the last century and a half, it was rare to find a “mainline” Protestant congregation without a Sunday school program. Congregational Sunday schools were similar across the board. We remember the Sunday school songs, the Bible lessons, and singing in front of the congregation. To this day, many Sunday school songs still surface in my head from time to time!
Sunday school might seem like it has been around forever, but it is actually a fairly recent phenomenon among Christian churches. We are familiar with Sunday school as we know it: a time usually before worship or in between worship services where children in the congregation gather to learn. But its beginning was much different.
Sunday schools first began in eighteenth century England. Though not the first, the chief promoter of English Sunday schools was an Anglican layperson named Robert Raikes (A.D. 1735-1811). Raikes was from the city of Gloucester and was concerned about the welfare of children in the slums of English cities. Such children often performed hard labor in factories during the week. Sunday was their only day off.
Raikes gathered the children on Sunday for what was an all-day educational program. Remember that for most of these children, this was the only formal education they received. Raikes and his assistants taught the children literacy in order to read the Bible. They were also taught from a catechism of the Church of England. Children were expected to dress neatly, and they were instructed in basic manners. Though there was some controversy attached to the practice, these types of Sunday schools became popular throughout England. No doubt the lives of many children were transformed through Sunday school. It was an important part of social reform in English society.
In those days, Sunday school was an outreach to disadvantaged children. Over time, however, the concept of a time of learning on Sunday became incorporated into regular congregational life and was adopted by churches of various denominational families: Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and others. What became the International Sunday School Movement was a pan-denominational Christian organization devoted to Christian education. In fact, we have a remnant of this movement in our sanctuary. The symbol of this International Sunday School Movement was the so-called “Christian flag” that stands at the front of many congregations (including our own), opposite the American flag.
Sunday school has been a part of the fabric of American congregational life for many generations. But it has also not been without some controversy. In some congregations, children were dismissed from worship itself to attend Sunday school while their parents remained in the sanctuary. Many believe that it was this practice that led to such children distancing themselves from church as adults. Not being involved in worship itself growing up, such children never developed the habit of worship attendance. In other places, Sunday school was viewed as a replacement for church, which was never the intention. Some people have also been concerned about the lack of doctrinally specific educational materials for Sunday school, which means that Lutherans and Presbyterians might be using lesson plans designed by Baptists, and so forth.
What shall we say to all this? Some people think that the traditional Sunday school is a concept that needs to fade away in favor of a new model of cross-generational learning. And practically, it is getting more challenging to find people willing and able to teach Sunday school. But I am not convinced that Sunday school is something that should disappear. When understood properly and implemented in a way that does not take away from the worship of the congregation, I believe it can be a good thing and an opportunity for children to learn more about God’s love through Jesus.
Thankfully, we do have some people in our congregation willing to help with Sunday school, what we here call “Adventures in Faith,” though we definitely can use more. Perhaps it is something that you have done in the past. Perhaps you have not done it and are unsure if you would be good at it. Whatever your situation, please consider giving it a try. It can be not only a blessing for the children, but for yourself as well.
And even more so, I encourage attendance at Sunday school for our children. It is important that children are in worship. But children can also benefit from the experience of Sunday school as a supplement to that. In this coming year, let’s try to fill those Sunday school rooms on the third floor! Sunday school at Grace Lutheran now begins at 9:30 (different than what the church sign says, which is 9:15).
As we begin a new calendar year, I want to say thank you to all who teach with Adventures in Faith/Sunday school and to those who serve in this congregation in any other way. Working together, we accomplish much for the kingdom of God.
Pr. Tom Jacobson
Sunday School
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6 ESV
There are among pastors differences of approach when it comes to newsletter articles for church. Some view them as opportunities to promote events in the congregation. Some view them as opportunities to teach people about the Christian faith. Though I tend toward the latter view, I suppose there is nothing wrong with some promotion mixed in with education. Such is the case with this month, as we kick off a new calendar year.
Many of us remember Sunday school growing up. I certainly do. Over the last century and a half, it was rare to find a “mainline” Protestant congregation without a Sunday school program. Congregational Sunday schools were similar across the board. We remember the Sunday school songs, the Bible lessons, and singing in front of the congregation. To this day, many Sunday school songs still surface in my head from time to time!
Sunday school might seem like it has been around forever, but it is actually a fairly recent phenomenon among Christian churches. We are familiar with Sunday school as we know it: a time usually before worship or in between worship services where children in the congregation gather to learn. But its beginning was much different.
Sunday schools first began in eighteenth century England. Though not the first, the chief promoter of English Sunday schools was an Anglican layperson named Robert Raikes (A.D. 1735-1811). Raikes was from the city of Gloucester and was concerned about the welfare of children in the slums of English cities. Such children often performed hard labor in factories during the week. Sunday was their only day off.
Raikes gathered the children on Sunday for what was an all-day educational program. Remember that for most of these children, this was the only formal education they received. Raikes and his assistants taught the children literacy in order to read the Bible. They were also taught from a catechism of the Church of England. Children were expected to dress neatly, and they were instructed in basic manners. Though there was some controversy attached to the practice, these types of Sunday schools became popular throughout England. No doubt the lives of many children were transformed through Sunday school. It was an important part of social reform in English society.
In those days, Sunday school was an outreach to disadvantaged children. Over time, however, the concept of a time of learning on Sunday became incorporated into regular congregational life and was adopted by churches of various denominational families: Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and others. What became the International Sunday School Movement was a pan-denominational Christian organization devoted to Christian education. In fact, we have a remnant of this movement in our sanctuary. The symbol of this International Sunday School Movement was the so-called “Christian flag” that stands at the front of many congregations (including our own), opposite the American flag.
Sunday school has been a part of the fabric of American congregational life for many generations. But it has also not been without some controversy. In some congregations, children were dismissed from worship itself to attend Sunday school while their parents remained in the sanctuary. Many believe that it was this practice that led to such children distancing themselves from church as adults. Not being involved in worship itself growing up, such children never developed the habit of worship attendance. In other places, Sunday school was viewed as a replacement for church, which was never the intention. Some people have also been concerned about the lack of doctrinally specific educational materials for Sunday school, which means that Lutherans and Presbyterians might be using lesson plans designed by Baptists, and so forth.
What shall we say to all this? Some people think that the traditional Sunday school is a concept that needs to fade away in favor of a new model of cross-generational learning. And practically, it is getting more challenging to find people willing and able to teach Sunday school. But I am not convinced that Sunday school is something that should disappear. When understood properly and implemented in a way that does not take away from the worship of the congregation, I believe it can be a good thing and an opportunity for children to learn more about God’s love through Jesus.
Thankfully, we do have some people in our congregation willing to help with Sunday school, what we here call “Adventures in Faith,” though we definitely can use more. Perhaps it is something that you have done in the past. Perhaps you have not done it and are unsure if you would be good at it. Whatever your situation, please consider giving it a try. It can be not only a blessing for the children, but for yourself as well.
And even more so, I encourage attendance at Sunday school for our children. It is important that children are in worship. But children can also benefit from the experience of Sunday school as a supplement to that. In this coming year, let’s try to fill those Sunday school rooms on the third floor! Sunday school at Grace Lutheran now begins at 9:30 (different than what the church sign says, which is 9:15).
As we begin a new calendar year, I want to say thank you to all who teach with Adventures in Faith/Sunday school and to those who serve in this congregation in any other way. Working together, we accomplish much for the kingdom of God.
Pr. Tom Jacobson