This Booklet comes to you from the All Age Sunday School Planning Committee set up by our Church, as an introduction to what is proving to be a most significant development in the life of many Churches today. Strictly speaking, All Age Sunday School is not a new idea. Baptist Churches in the United States have operated All Age Sunday School for over half a century. The movement is rapidly growing in Australia - and now in New Zealand.

All Age Sunday School Is For The Whole Family

The Purpose Of All Age Sunday School

In the past Churches have thought of Sunday School for children, followed by Bible Class for teenagers - but nothing was provided for adults. So when people had the best capacity for learning the truth of the Scriptures, and relating them to their daily needs and problems, they were deprived of doing so, because they were not provided for in concentrated Bible study. Now the problem is solved - in All Age Sunday School the whole family comes to Sunday School. Mum and Dad can come because babes and toddlers are happily provided for in the Nursery. It makes the family a unit, and Sunday School a family affair.

There's a place for YOU in our Sunday School.
YOU have the power to make the venture succeed.
YOU are the key to the situation. In God's work there is always the human factor.
YOUR WILLINGNESS to follow, YOUR DEDICATION to Christ, YOUR COURAGE to venture, YOUR WILL to succeed, are vital factors to the success of our venture for God.

Abandon fears and prejudice - "This is the way walk ye in it"

• Bible Centred
• Church Identified
• Fellowship Forming
• Soul Winning

New Features

How Will Our New Sunday School Differ From The Old?

• It will bring the whole Church together to study the Word.
• It will be vitally linked with the Morning Service.
• There will be a planned programme stimulating vitality and growth - the whole Church at work.
• It will feature a Nursery Department; and, of course, a Cradle Roll.
• It will have Adult Classes, which feature Bible Study and discussion.
• It will have an Extension Department for those who through age or work cannot attend Sunday School.
• It will develop the class idea of fellowship among those of the same age and sex.
• It will search out prospects and gather in new people to the homely fellowship of a class.
• It will serve the Whole Family.
• It will have a definite aim - "To Win the Whole Family to Christ, and Build it into the Church"

There are now 139 Baptist Churches in New Zealand, one-third of which have adopted the All Age Sunday School programme into their life. All our neighbouring Churches - Palmerston North, Napier, Gisborne, are already All Age Churches, with Taupo commencing on 20^th August.

• Reach The Unsaved
• Teach Them When They Are Reached
• Win Those It Reaches And Teaches
• This Is Evangelism

It's A Family Affair: Helpful Hints On Getting There

Mothers of young children who are already attending All Age Sunday School say "It can be done. Here's how:"

• Plan the right kind of meals for Sunday dinner - easy meals that don't need extensive preparation
• Prepare as much of the meal as possible on Saturday
• Set the breakfast table overnight and choose an easy breakfast - not too much washing up.
• Avoid late Saturday nights. Determine to arise a little earlier on Sundays
• Bath the children Saturday night. See they clean their shoes (also Mum's and Dad's) on Saturday. Get the family to make their own beds

Don't forget you'll get home from Church earlier than before under All Age Sunday School

The Committee has planned and the Church has approved of Sunday 15^th October, as the Opening Day for our All Age Sunday School.

There's A Place For Everybody In Our All Age Sunday School

Nursery: This Department will cater for children from birth to three years. Provision is being made for these little people to be cared for from before Sunday School starts until after Worship Service. Nursery and toddler rooms are to be equipped from bassinets to rocking horses. Capable and experienced staff will be there all the time, making it possible for parents to attend their own Departments, knowing that their children will be well cared for.

Beginner and Primary: These Departments provide for children up to 7years.

Chi1dren from 8 years to 12 years of age comprise the Junior and Intermediate Departments. It will be readily seen that this section continues to be the Sunday School as we have known it for many years.

Young People: Catering for young people from13 (or High School commencing age) to 21 years, retaining much of the character of the well-known Bible Class Movement. But now, instead of being separate, they will be linked into the total Sunday School.

Young Adults (22-34) and Adults (35 and over): These will be new Departments. Like the others they will have their own Superintendents and Teaching Staff, with their own assembly period. Classes will be divided by, age and sex. In these Departments, relaxed, informed discussion with other adults of similar age and interests is the usual pattern - a most acceptable one too, because from it they are able to discover what the Bible says about adult needs and problems.

These Departments Meet On Sunday Mornings.

All Age Sunday School: Staff

Teachers appointed within the above Departments complete the Teaching Staff.

There are two Departments which do not meet on a Sunday. One is the Cradle Roll Department which caters for wee ones until their parents come to Sunday School, or they are old enough to come themselves. The other is the Extension Department, which provides for a visitor-teacher to folk who are sick, elderly, who work on Sunday; or are not able to come to Sunday School, but want to receive Bible teaching.

Teacher Training

No matter how good a teacher may be, a trained teacher is always a better teacher

In order to better equip present Sunday School and Bible Class Teachers, and train potential teachers for All Age Sunday School, instruction classes will be held on Tuesday evenings for a period of 7 or 8 weeks, commencing 29^th August. Instruction, which will commence at 7.15pm, will comprise three 25 minute periods, with 5 minute breaks, concluding at 9pm, after allowing sufficient time for prayer. Replacing the normal week-night service, for these weeks, the three subjects for study will cover Teaching Methods, Bible Knowledge and Doctrine, and will be open to everybody. Folk may attend one or more periods as they wish.

Sunday Morning Programme

Morning Tea

With the introduction of Adult Departments into Sunday Schools, it has been found that a brief morning tea break has proved desirable. This matter is receiving the attention of the Planning Committee.

Transport

This has not been overlooked, and transport required for young or old will be in the hands of competent personnel.

Weekly Training

As soon as All Age Sunday School is under way, teachers will be encouraged to offer themselves for Weekly Training under their respective Superintendents, one evening per week, for approximately 1 hour. This will tie in with the week night Prayer Meeting.

Office

It is anticipated that a suitable location will found for an office where records may be kept and from where the necessary administration can be directed.

Future Accommodation

The use of the Central School for Adult Departments will be on a temporary basis, as with the advent of the New Church Building, and the future re-arrangement of the present Sanctuary, it is anticipated that adequate accommodation will be available within the Church property.

Enrolments

Your VISITOR has explained All Age .Sunday School to you. If you have not already filled in an Enrolment Card, and wish to join All Age Sunday School, kindly complete same (one for each scholar), and hand to Miss B. Garrioch or Miss C. Caves as soon as you can.

Download (259.63 kB)

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/hide comments

Show/hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Add Comment Preview