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Sunday School: 2018/2019 Wrap-Up Plus a Look Ahead

May 5 was the last day of classes for grades K-8.  On May 19, the K-4th grade students will be participating in the morning worship service by singing a couple of the songs that they have been learning since the Christmas Program.  Thanks to Missy and Darrin Sculley for their time and efforts in leading these students in praise to our Lord from week to week, with additional thanks given to Missy for directing the Christmas Program this past December.  And to all of Friendship’s Sunday School teachers–thank you for your time and dedication given to the children and youth of our church.

Grades K-6 students and teachers enjoyed a change of pace on December 16 after presenting the Christmas Program during the morning service.  Rather than the weekly lesson during class, they made Christmas cards for Forgotten Man Ministries, just as they did the past two years. Thanks to Jack DeBlaay who delivered the handmade cards to their recipients.

On February 3, in place of the usual lesson taught by the teachers, Bev Abma spoke to grades K-4 about the cause for which our offerings were being taken during the 2018/2019 Sunday School year.  This year’s offerings were designated to help displaced Kenyans whom Bev and others from our church met this past July. The money collected went to World Renew which then allocated it to Kenyan families, who had been in refugee camps (due to flooding), in order to help them in redeveloping their farming and livelihoods.  Jocelyn Ringnalda (one of our third-graders), who was among the other 13 people who accompanied Bev to Kenya last July, assisted Bev in her presentation to the kids.

The final amount that we (grades K-4) collected was $718.82. Thank you, kids (and parents!), for helping us surpass this year’s goal of $625.00, which we set way back in September. For their efforts, grades K-4 were treated to ice cream on the last day of class.

As is always the case at this time of year, a few teachers have indicated that they will not be returning to their teaching roles in September.  The following numbers will give you some perspective. There were 119 students, divided up into 13 different classrooms and taught by 24 different teachers, in grades K-8 during the 2018/2019 Sunday School year.  Most (but not all) teachers team-teach. This means that these classes have two teachers (only one teaches per week), each of whom teaches what amounts to be half of the church school year.

While you may not be sure if teaching Sunday School is one of your gifts or areas of strength, might God be calling you to accept this challenge for a year?  And really, it’s for only half of the church school year if you team-teach a class with another teacher. If you are willing to fill one of the open spots in September or if you have any further questions in regard to teaching Sunday School, please email me.

-Sue Vanderlaan

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