Sunday School

Please Pray for Sunday School

Now is the time where I begin to think about a theme for the new Sunday School year, which will begin in a few months.  It is during this time that I probably do some really important praying.  In fact, I am reminded of a quote by Martin Luther:  “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”  Why do I spend so much time praying, you wonder?

I pray a lot.  I pray that our Sunday School lessons and activities will reach across what sometimes seems to be the great divide between Sunday School and our greatest arch enemy called the “calendock”.  Yes, you read that word correctly, “calendock”.  It’s the combination of our calendars and our clocks.

Our Sunday School families are forced to choose between soccer and Sunday School; between hockey and Sunday School; and between Boy Scouts weekend and Sunday School.  Parents also have other commitments that require a choice, but you can fill in the activity with which you are most familiar.  Parents also have a calendar of their own.  They work weekends.  They work long hours.  Parents and kids are forced to choose.

While the calendar seems to provide its own insurmountable challenges, the clock is a beast of its own.  For some parents, getting out of the house on a Sunday morning doesn’t carry the same weight as NJSA 18A:38-28-31, which requires children to go to school.  Sometimes, it is the lesser battle… children have temper tantrums; there’s a party at noon; they need encouragement; and maybe the week before wasn’t as exciting as it could have been.  Parents are forced to choose.

I pray for many things:  Selfishly, I pray that Sunday School’s themes and activities will feed our children; that they are engaging enough to bring our kids to rise and shout, “Yay, God!” so that they live as Children of God, and treat others as they wish to be treated.  I also pray for parents and kids to feel the Hoy Spirit’s active presence – the Holy Spirit calls us to come together to worship and learn about God.  It is my ardent prayer that parents and kids feel that they are supported when having to choose between SS and the rest of life, and they feel Jesus’ gentle nature who taught us about forgiving, loving others as much as ourselves and remembering the scriptures.  I pray for God’s grace to fall on our leaders and helpers, and our young people.  Most importantly, may SS influence us so that we will be of service to others.

I encourage you to bring your child(ren) or a child(ren) you know to Sunday School.  I hope your “calendock” will allow for it.  If you have to fight the good fight and encourage your child to come, we take kids in all of their craziness.  Not only will Sunday School get the “W” but so will they and the Kingdom of God.

I am always in awe of Team Sunday School for their dedication!  They have “calendocks” too!  They also have my gratitude for all they do.

Bev Grazioli, beverly.j@outlook.com