Week after week, in congregations all over The United Methodist Church, children, youth, and adults gather to find friends, to learn about God, to delve into Scripture and to catch and teach the faith. In an average week, 1.6 million of us find ourselves there. Is the lesson always wonderful? No. Is the teacher always prepared? No. The class always engaged? Again, NO. But GOD is always there, yearning to gather us in and to send us out. In Sunday School we can work to become the sort of communities of faith that we aspire to lead.

We know that people are looking for authentic connections with others and with God. They’re seeking to learn more about the love of God made known in Jesus Christ through the Bible, worship, and other various kinds of spiritual exploration.

What would happen if we decided to give Sunday School more attention?

What if:
We act as if being part of a SS class is as critical to our formation as worship
We affirm what the classes are learning
We listen for stories of growth and engagement, and share those with others
We help classes plan their studies to build on each other and to connect to the congregation’s mission and vision
We help the leaders recruit new teachers
We see classes as a primary spot for inviting new people and making them welcome

This is the vision of Sunday School Harriet Olson (www.sundayschool.cokesbury.com)