Tag Archives: serving others

Is Sunday School going extinct?

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Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have. ~ Margaret Mead

There’s one in every crowd or in this case, committee.  Leave it to a science teacher who never graduated out of the preschool days of asking why to be the one in this case. I fervently believe and espouse in the college courses where I inspire future science teachers, one of the reasons we have to market science courses to high school learners is because we urged our youngest learners to stop asking so many questions when they were in preschool.  Preschoolers make the best scientists because they still have the it factor, and it meaning a healthy dose of curiosity.

I am not one for sophomoric humor (despite living with boys where  I get a HEALTHY exposure), but I have never graduated out of that preschool sense of awe and wonder regarding God’s creation and definitely not now, nor anytime – ever –  quit asking questions of how the world works. This questioning (while not the Spanish inquisition) can, at times, exasperate those around me.

I am a thinker and a dreamer, spending much time reflecting (and as I like to call it ruminating) over thoughts.  If I were to describe myself, I would tell you that God made me a BIG IDEAS kind of girl.  When in his word He tells us to take delight in Him and He will give us the desires of our hearts, I take that to heart (and I am not trying to be pun-ny). I DREAM big and have ceaseless fascinations.

Currently I am serving an advisory role in my church’s Christian Education committee and we, too, are experiencing what countless other churches are – a decline in Sunday school enrollment.  Our church conducted a survey asking all kinds of questions about people’s thoughts about Sunday school and small groups as those serve a similar function in our church.  The results provided some useful data for this science education teacher’s mind, but there was one nagging question that my ruminations could not let go and was the one question we didn’t ask.

And like that, I became a one woman crusader on a quest to uncover answers.  How can I make an informed decision to go forward if I don’t know why people are making the decision not to attend?  So what would any wannabe social scientist and anthropologist do in the modern world? Yep, you guessed it! She uses social media to poll her friends.  About now, Margaret Mead might be rolling over in her grave.

I didn’t mean this as a quantitative analysis, but rather as a snapshot of today.  I was blown away by the responses I received, but more so by the raw honesty from not only my community but from others in communities far away as well.  Some of the answers moved me to tears and reminded me that we can never as a church community forget that just because the doors of the church are open that not everyone feels welcome.

Here is a snippet of the responses thus far: (SS = Sunday School and SG = small group)

We are slow starters. Don’t always make it to church.

My child says he learns more at AWANA and it is much more fun than SS.

My kids learn more at AWANA and dread SS.

Live too far out to come back into town for SG.

2 hours is a long time to sit for little ones on Sunday morning.

School/sports activities.

Too much on the plate/agenda.

Live too far out.  SS offering would have to be something really good for me to come.

Cannot hear well and miss out on the conversations in the SS class.

Doesn’t read well and is terrified to be called on to read in the SS class.

Don’t know the Bible well enough to attend with others who know more.

Not making SS a priority.

Hates that sports occur on Sundays but feel that child would not be able to play if they didn’t participate.

SS is boring. (Adults & kids responed)

Very difficult choice for sports families.

Sunday morning is the only time my family can sit down together and interact.

If parents don’t make it a priority, it will never be for the kids.

Do not see the value in SS because it is rare to find devoted teachers rather ones going through the motions.

Just plain worn out after a tough work week.

Feel guilty just dropping off kids for SS (and not staying). Easier for all to stay home.

Kids went up until jr high and then dreaded SS so much I quit fighting them on it.

Changes in SS approaches didn’t work for us.

Treats are always good! But that only works for so long.

Wed night education is great, but for high schoolers it is tough to sit another hour after sitting in school all day.

Don’t know anyone there. SS is clique-y.

Disappointment in the offerings for studies in SS.

Feel awful when we miss a few weeks and are behind on the study.

I am all for transparency and try to model it in every leadership role I have including home, work, volunteering, and church family.  The last answer in the ones above is mine. We are a sports family and sometimes we have to miss because of a sporting event where my children are playing.  I get overwhelmed when I get behind in anything and even though I don’t believe Jesus would care, I don’t like feeling overwhelmed when I walk in.  Growing up, Sunday School was one of my most favorite places in the world to be.  We were at the church about every time the door was opened.  In fact on a recent trip to tour the South of my childhood, I went to visit all my old churches. Those old buildings were like beacons calling me home.  What I wonder now is if the Sunday School of my childhood is not relevant to my world today,  then what do we do? How does the church of today stay relevant while trying to reach people where they are and still offer education?

While my methods were not, at all, scientific, my heart is in a place that truly wants to make a difference.  Now that I have scratched the surface of why we aren’t gathering together, my next step will be to find out what people want out of a church (which to me means family) without “diluting the gospel”.  No matter what that looks like, I will continue to go out to love and serve others.

I think that is what Jesus would have wanted all along.

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One of the churches of my childhood.  Britt David Baptist in Columbus, GA. 

Please join the conversation by answering the question: If your church has Sunday School (or small group) AND you don’t attend, what is your reason for not participating? Feel free to reply here or to message me at mominmn@hotmail.com if you don’t want others to see your thoughts. Your thoughts will really help me to help others.

Thank you, Eunice Shriver

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Over the weekend, my entire family had the honor to serve together at the Fall Games for the Unified Flag Football for Minnesota Special Olympics.  Sadly, I had never experienced any Special Olympics events other than attending fundraisers.  Boy – have I been missing out!

If you don’t know anything about Special Olympics, I really encourage you to visit www.specialolympics.org to learn more.  For the speedy answers, the games are designed to encourage inclusion of athletes who have intellectual disabilities in the world of sports.  These amazing kids and adults, in my opinion, have other-abilities.  Those abilities include loving like no one else, brightening a room, reminding us relationships are more important than material things, and the ability to be comfortable in our own skin. There is nothing “dis” about them or their influence in this world. As a teacher, I have seen individuals soar in the classroom, but this weekend I was able to see them excel in the athletic world.

Faith – family – football

That is our family motto which aptly describes the order of our family’s priorities.  It is the third one that landed us in West St. Paul, Minnesota over the weekend to cheer on two great flag football teams. Last year, a beloved “uncle and aunt” heard that the flag football program was expanding and was in need of an extra coach.  Uncle Sheldon recommended our boy wonder, and from the first practice, he was hooked.

We weren’t able to attend last year due to exhaustion because the games were hosted the day following the final Reed’s Run.  I remember the pride in my son’s face when he returned late that evening telling us of how they pulled together and earned second place.  That sense of accomplishment and joy carried over into an essay he wrote detailing an example of leadership of which he was most proud.  A lump caught in my throat reading his descriptive words.

As time will do, it marched on. With a blink of an eye, it was time again for the flag football practices to begin.  Vaguely in the recesses of my memory, I recalled a message from our regional director that it would be great if we had cheerleaders this year.

Adding a new spring in my step, I helped organize our cheer team whose ages ranged from three to eight.  We learned cheers and routines, and decided that no matter what the end product looked like, we would have fun. Once a cheerleader, always a cheerleader!  My rah-rah! spirit came back to the surface as I sewed glitter tutus, ordered t-shirts, sewed/constructed a banner for the team to run through, found a mascot costume and ordered pompoms.  With those adorable cuties to cheer them on,  any team would be successful!

A few members of the Puma Cheer Team!

A few members of the Puma Cheer Team!

From the moment we arrived until the final awards ceremony, I was awed by the spirit of these games. Our entourage of athletes, unified partners, coaches, tiny cheerleaders and family members was a merry band of sportsmanship and friendship.  I can only imagine this was exactly what Eunice Shriver envisioned when she helped to create the Special Olympics.

From touchdown runs and “flag tackles” by childhood friends to amazing interceptions by new ones, the Pumas did our community proud.  To hear adults tell my son that he was one of the classiest coaches in this league brought tears to my eyes.  (The unsolicited comment was given because he refused to run up the score on a team they competed against.)

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It was a spirit of camaraderie and revelry as the Pumas marched the “lane of champions” to receive their gold medals.  They were humble and even had to be coaxed to give a “Number 1” signal for pictures.

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Our family left the games with huge smiles on our faces and hearts filled with an awe of all we had witnessed. Special Olympics is the best of the best of athletic events.  P-E-R-I-O-D! Everyone is encouraged and supported, and more importantly, around each corner was a potential new friend. We were honored to share in this year’s games.  As we drove home, talk centered upon we could do next year.

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It was at that moment I remembered something Reed had said the morning after playing in the 7th/8th grade Super Bowl game, the last football game of his life.

“Only 364 more days until I get to do that again!”

We couldn’t have said it any better!

Easter Countdown #2 – Love God, Serve Others!

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On our grief journey, we have learned that one of the things most helpful to our family has been the reminder given by Paul in 2 Corinthians.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Cor 1:4 (NCV) We have been comforted by simple acts of kindness and love, and now, we are able to do the same for others.

I distinctly remember Easter 2008 when my best friend called and said, “You are getting out of the house this weekend.”  I hadn’t left my children’s side (other than school for them) since the bus crash.  So I wasn’t sure how I was going to physically leave, but deep down I knew I needed to do it.  She told me that she had boiled about a bazillion eggs and that she and her family were coming over to dye Easter eggs with the kids.  She knew how much traditions (including egg-dyeing) mean to us.  She also knew I had zero energy to pull that off.  The day came and with God’s help, I mustered the courage and sense of peace to leave my house and take a break.

I have spoken about how simple acts fueled my family through many dark hours.  This is the type of comfort that I think Paul was addressing when he reminded us that we need to give to others the same comfort we were given.

For our Easter countdown activity, our family wanted to remember exactly how Jesus lived.  Throughout his life, he embodied our family’s mission statement: Love God, Serve Others!  It’s really that simple! In everything Jesus did, he humbled himself . . . fully God, yet fully human . . . to love on others, often the ones most neglected by others.  He fed, he nurtured, he wept,  he healed, he dried tears, he washed feet, . . never thinking of himself first, yet always knowing the precise amount of comfort to proffer.

As a family, we are often reminded of the love we felt when someone comforted us.  With all that in mind, we ventured off to the dollar store to purchase items for miniature baskets for a dear group of friends who we want to love on this week.  Sadly they were out of tiny baskets, but we found lovely Easter themed gift bags.

After returning home with our supplies in hand, we had supper and once again, got to work.  This time, we created an assembly line to stuff Easter grass, a tiny decoration, and chocolate bunny in our bags.  The whole time we talked about our friends and the special stories we have cherished from past times spent together.

We thought hard on who we could bless this week.  It didn’t take us long to decide, and of course, we had to the do the work for Huck, because he doesn’t have thumbs.  Our recipients will be Huck’s buddies at the nursing home that he visits.  The love that we receive from each resident pales in comparison to the joyful dog energy and companionship that we bring to them.  I think that Cloie’s card sums up what each of the residents mean to our family.

Through the visits our family has made to the nursing home, our children’s minds and hearts have been etched not to  fear the elderly, but instead see each one as a friend just waiting to be treasured.  Our only wish is that the love in those tiny packages carries as long as the love and memories that went into making them! If so, then Paul’s reminder will come true as the circle of love and comfort will continue to envelope others in our path!

Take-away: Is there someone in your circle of influence that could use a blessing this week?  Could you be the hands and feet of Jesus by serving someone else in love?  This doesn’t have to be costly, as a card or note can be a great pick me up!  If you are a baker, make a little extra of something yummy and share that.  Heaven is the limit on boundless love!

Idealism update: Please note how cluttered the rest of the room was while we worked on our masterpieces. 🙂  Despite what we all tell ourselves, you don’t have to have it all together to love on someone else!