‘No Sunday School?’ Try the Summer Children’s program, instead. (July

July–August 2003

‘No Sunday School?’
Relax. That doesn’t mean your kids have nothing to do during the 10 o’clock service. In fact, you might want to consider helping with the Summer Children’s Program, which provides an age-accessible way of teaching that Sunday’s lessons to children.

Then little children were brought to him....
—Matthew 19:13

Though there is no formal Sunday school through the long, hot summer months, the parents of Saint Andrew’s will be relieved to know that their children can still be brought to Jesus during the 10 a.m. Sunday service. From now through the end of August, the Summer Sunday Program for Children will introduce children of all ages to the Gospel via a special Liturgy of the Word designed just for little ears. Children three and up will begin the morning in church, but during the sequence hymn should follow their leader into the family room. There, while mom and/or dad are absorbing the Gospel reading and sermon, they will enjoy their own age-appropriate, interactive Gospel lesson, followed by music and prayer time. They’ll then rejoin their parents at the Peace. This is a golden opportunity for any small fry caught in Saint Andrew’s net to experience the beauty and richness of liturgy on their own terms. (And of course it is also a chance for the big fish to do the same thing with undivided attention.)

Because our Sunday school teachers are taking a well-deserved break, volunteers are sought to pilot the children’s program through one Sunday between now and August 24. The sign-up sheet is waiting in the Narthex for parents and other adults willing to give their time to this important ministry. Teams of two—spouses, friends, or just fellow parishioners—will find themselves amply supplied with relevant materials and activity guides well in advance of their chosen day. Older teens can help too, and are hereby granted permission to trade a full morning in church for some special time with the little ones.
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