From Sunday School To Church. A series of lessons to help children make the transition. For each child there comes a time to graduate from Sunday School to the Sunday service. It could be helpful prepare them for the transition by setting aside time from the regular Sunday School program to explore the different parts of the church service in a way that will enable them to understand its meaning and will help them participate in it more fully. The following are some suggested topics and practical ideas for how these could be explored with the children. This is not a definitive list and other topics could be added or exchanged. Also, there is no set order or obligation to cover every topic but each should be chosen in the light of the time available, the children s previous experiences or particular need. Finally, the outline below is aimed for 10-12 year olds and will need to be modified for younger children.
There are 8 topics 1. Our church, it's history and goals. 2. Called to worship as part of the body. 3. Singing in worship 4. How to pray with and for others. 5. Hearing the Word. 6. Lord's supper and Baptism 7. What else do we do in church? 1. Our church, it's history and goals. Aim: To develop a sense of affinity with the church and excitement about God s purpose for them as they transition to the Sunday service. Ideas (Use one or more in combination.) a. Explore the story of the Jordan crossing in Joshua 3-4 (you can even act it out). Focus on the concept of transitioning and growth by exploring the changes Israel experienced and the changes they too will undergo as they move from
Sunday School to church. Make it positive and help them to realise that this is the next step in God s plan and how the Lord will go with them. b. Ask an older member of the church to give a short talk about the church s history, some stories about its founding and some insight into its purpose. Get the children to draw a picture of the church in the local community. Add a caption of the church s vision statement. Talk about the transition to the Sunday service and what that means for them. c. Find pictures of the church and discuss the characters and events that have made the church what it is today. Consider how they will continue the story as they move into full church life. d. Take a walk around the church and discuss its founding and history. Pick particular sites and share stories of its past. Pray at each point thanking God that they can be part of the church. Ask them to consider what they will contribute to the next chapter of the church s life as they move into church. 2. Called to worship as part of the body. Aim: To identify themselves as called members of God s called people and to develop a sense of commitment to the church as the body of Christ. a. Arrange for the call to worship one Sunday to come from Ps. 95:1-6 or Ps. 100. Stay in church to hear the call to worship and at an appropriate time leave to discuss what it means to be called to worship as the people of God. Consider what it will mean for them to join in Sunday services. Create your own calls to worship and ask if they could be read on one Sunday morning by the children or when they are present (perhaps the first Sunday they are part of the service.) b. Read 1 Cor.12 :27. Use large sheets of paper to draw a body and discuss what it means to be part of the body of Christ and how attending the service is part of that. On the first Sunday they are in the service, show the picture and affirm the children s presence and contribution to the body. c. Read Eph.4:16. Do some circus type performance acts (such as making a human pyramid). Discuss working together and how the church works together. List some of the church s activities and how the body builds itself up in love. Talk about their contribution and how worship is part of it.
3. Singing in church. Aim: To appreciate the joy of singing together in worship. Ideas a. Read some of the Psalms that invite God s people to sing (Ps.9, 30, 33 etc). Discuss singing with the children and why we sing. Make a poster with reasons to sing to the Lord. b. Stay in church to sing with the congregation. Reflect with the children on their experience. Brainstorm practical ideas about how they can participate more fully in singing (eg. listen to a CD of church songs at home; read the words of songs at home.) Practice during the week and return to share their experience. c. Invite children to bring and share their favorite songs. Talk about the words and the reasons people sing. Discuss occasions on which God s people sang (Moses after crossing the red sea, David and the temple, the psalms) and discuss why God s people sing. Talk about singing in church and how they will participate. d. Ask a gifted musician to help you write a song with the children to a popular tune that expresses their faith in God. Talk about singing, why we sing and what it means to sing with God s people in church.
4. How to pray with and for others. Aim: To appreciate the privilege of corporate prayer and consider practical ways to participate more fully. a. Have the children remain in church for the pastoral prayer. Choose and read passages about prayer such as Phil.4:6. Discuss the role of corporate prayer. What is their impression of prayer in church service? Brainstorm practical ways to facilitate greater participation. Create a word-search, a poster, or write and release balloons upon which are written all the key ideas about participating in corporate prayer. Practice some of the ideas. b. Invite the pastor or elder to talk about the pastoral prayer and its place in the service and how they can participate. c. Take some items that represent prayer, such as a trophy (praise), a shopping list (requests), a sorry face (confession) and a thank you card (thanksgiving). Discuss prayer and the kinds of prayers that are included in the service. Ask the children to write out a prayer of each kind. Brainstorm how to they could participate fully in all each kind of prayer in church. d. Design and create a service prayer journal which the children can use in church to record prayer items and use for personal prayer. 5. Hearing the word. Aim: To engage in the reading of God s word and the sermon. a. Using pictures, objects or drama examine the parable of the sower (Mark 4). Talk about God s word and how we receive and react to it in church. Discuss how we can better hear God s word. Create a seed-pouch for their Bible. b. Present each child with their own church Bible. Examine it and discuss how they will use it during the service and sermon. Brainstorm ways to listen to the sermon effectively. c. During the first part of the service take the children apart to discuss the sermon and practical ways to engage in it. Return to church and sit through the sermon armed with notebook and pen (or listen to a sermon on tape.) After the sermon (or while it is being played) take time to reflect on the experience, what was learned, what could they do and how could they improve.
d. Invite the pastor to lead a discussion about God s word in the service, how he writes his sermons and the importance of preaching. Encourage questions and discussion. Reflect with children about how they can remain engaged with the sermon. 5. Lord's supper and Baptism Aim: To understand and appreciate participation in the sacraments. a. Gather the elements used in baptism and Lord s supper. One by one explore their significance and meaning. Invite questions and a discussion about how we use the sacraments in church. b. Watch a video of another church s celebration of Lord s supper or baptism (or invite a person from another church to come and explain how they celebrate them.) Use it to discuss how your church celebrates these sacraments, the similarities and differences. Discuss how they can engage with the sacraments (for example, their thoughts on their role in the being a faith example to younger children). c. Ask children to bring in some baby pictures and their baptism certificates. Talk about what baptism means and how it impacts their life. Discuss Lord s supper and profession of faith and how it follows on from baptism.
6. What else do we do in church. Aim: To consider other aspects of the Sunday service and facilitate meaningful participation. a. As the children attend services get permission to take photos of them at various times (from being greeted at door, to playing afterwards.) View the pictures and reflect on what they were doing at the time. Discuss the meaning of the parts and how to engage fully in each. b. Ask some members of the church to come and talk about their roles in the service, from from greeting to reading the Scripture. Discuss how the children could be involved and present some next steps if they would like to help. c. Create a mindmap of the different parts of the service. Divide the children into smaller groups or pairs and have each discuss an areas of the service and report back to the group regarding its purpose and ideas for how to engage in it in a meaningful way. Put these on the map and illustrate it accordingly. Graduation After the children have completed this course celebrate the closure of Sunday School and the embarking on a new chapter. Discuss with the service planning team or pastor a transition or graduation service when their presence in the Sunday service can be acknowledged and affirmed by the congregation.