Do It Now

You're in the first month of a new school year. The slate is fresh. Energy is high.

Sunday School Director, now is the time to . . .

• List every child in your congregation eligible for Sunday School. If they have attended already this month, send their parents a note or call them with thanks for their commitment to Christian education. If they have not yet attended, send their parents a note or call them, encouraging them to join the other families in your congregation who hear the Gospel each week in Sunday School.
• Check each Sunday School classroom for appropriate furniture, adequate storage, clean windows and floors, and a fresh coat of paint.
• Start plans for your children's Christmas service.
• Speak a public word of thanks for those who teach in your Sunday School.

Sunday School Teacher, now is the time to . . .

• List each child who is eligible for your class. Pray for each child. Note the ones who have attended in September.
• Introduce yourself to the parents of children who are attending. Invite their input on how their child learns best and is most readily motivated to be engaged in class.
• Introduce yourself to the parents of children who have not yet attended. Invite their children to join their peers in studying God's Word.
• Request a list of birthdays and Baptismal dates from parents or the church office.
• Start a weekly Sunday School class e-mail. Alert the parents to activities that went well last Sunday and to what lesson will be taught this Sunday.

Is that too much to do now, or this week? Then do one thing on your list this week, and do another one next week. It will be time well invested.

God bless you as you teach His children His Word!

Say Thank You

When was the last time your congregation said "Thank you" to your Sunday School teachers?

No one agrees to teach in order to receive your thanks. But the act of saying thanks blesses both the one thanked and the one doing the thanking. It acknowledges that we need each other in the body of Christ.

So, say "Thanks" . . .

• personally, one to one
• with a small gift
• with a card, handmade by the Sunday School children
• publicly, from the pulpit or during the announcements
• have the children sing a song
• with a phone call
• _________________________________

There are dozens of ways to say "Thank you." Don't put it off. And don't worry about doing it too often.

Thank you for teaching God's children His Word!