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Pre-School and Daycare
Mrs.Hizzo
member
Please explain to me about church/sunday school.
Mrs.Hizzo
member
Why do some churches not have Sunday school at the same time as the worship service? Like, Sunday school is from 9-10 and but the service starts at 10:30. I totally don't get this. What are you supposed to do with your kids during the service, especially if they're too old for the nursery? Keep them with you? I can't imagine a child under eight sitting still for a sermon that makes absolutely no sense to them, especially when they've just finished an hour of Sunday school.
We're church-shopping right now and I've basically ruled out all the ones that have this set-up, because it seems so impractical to me. Am I missing something?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Please explain to me about church/sunday school.
(m/c 1.17.07, m/c 5.15.07)
DS - 03.15.08
DD2 - 12.03.09
DD3 - 3.28.11
If they have a children's church, I'd totally understand that, but it doesn't appear that way.
At my church there is no 'Sunday School' (I think it may be a Catholic thing, I don't know any Catholic Church that has "Sunday School") The lessons are suppose to come from the readings and sermon (homily). Having the kids with the parents in Church, for us, suppose to be the norm since the Mass is a communal thing. If the kids are brought up having to be quiet and sit relatively still (not statue-like but not running all over) they will learn that its just what is done in church.
It is also understood that kids sometimes make noise, babies cry, etc. To me not having the kids at service/Mass/preaching is the off/weird thing. At what point/age do the kids join in? And will they appreciate and know how to act then? Will they get bored and act up at that point of joining in?
I remember going to Protestant churches as a kid, rarely though- mom tried-lol! (I wasn't Catholic until I was an adult- I converted) and none of those had Sunday School for kids during the service. Some did have the SS classes before the services but all joined back together for the main service. I also remember while visiting friends' churches (protestant) in middle &high school and all the kids sat together and passed notes, whispered, etc. It wasn't the best example for a visitor who was considered "unchurched" by most of them.
So not sure what denomination you are used to, but that might be the reason, or perhaps it was just your church that did that.
Well, I was raised Presbyterian. We had Sunday school for little ones during the service. Older kids were expected to go, but we were all in the choir and just sort of dorked around during the sermon, and periodically we got up and sang. That's how I remember it, anyway.
I haven't gone to church regularly in many, many years, so my question is an honest one. I just don't remember how it all works. And for me, if I'm going to go to the trouble of getting the kids ready on a Sunday morning and getting us all out the door, I'd like to actually be able to sit and listen to the message. I also want it to be something that they enjoy, so that it's not a battle. I think they'd hate it if they were expected to sit still for an hour in a pew. Or maybe they'd surprise me, who knows?
The church we've been attending lately (which I like very much) has children start in the sanctuary with their parents, and about ten minutes in, they're invited up front for a brief discussion with the children's minister. It lasts maybe five minutes. Then they all parade down the aisle and go to their respective classrooms for Sunday school. I think it's a nice way of doing it.
I agree with a lot of what Emiliana said.
I'm a pastor in a Protestant church and we have Sunday school. I fought tooth and nail to get rid of it for Senior High kids. I'm still fighting to get rid of it for Jr High.
As for kids younger than that? Well, DD *LOVES* Sunday School. But really? Studies don't show that it's all that effective.
ie) one study followed two large groups of church kids in England for for 5 years. Half went to SS. The rest stayed in the services with their parents. Guess who ended up with a stronger personal faith and more knowledge etc?
Yep. The kids who sat with their parents.
We actually did an experiment this summer on my prompting. Only kids 5 and under hand SS. The rest stayed in the services. Honestly? It was great. They behaved wonderfully. Were attentive and even laughed at my jokes, so they were listening.
I agree with a lot of what Emiliana said.
I'm a pastor in a Protestant church and we have Sunday school. I fought tooth and nail to get rid of it for Senior High kids. I'm still fighting to get rid of it for Jr High.
As for kids younger than that? Well, DD *LOVES* Sunday School. But really? Studies don't show that it's all that effective.
ie) one study followed two large groups of church kids in England for for 5 years. Half went to SS. The rest stayed in the services with their parents. Guess who ended up with a stronger personal faith and more knowledge etc?
Yep. The kids who sat with their parents.
We actually did an experiment this summer on my prompting. Only kids 5 and under hand SS. The rest stayed in the services. Honestly? It was great. They behaved wonderfully. Were attentive and even laughed at my jokes, so they were listening.
Anyway, there are lots more ins and outs of this... But there's my very short answer.
that is really interesting to hear!
My church has sunday school at 9am and service begins at 10am. I would not want my children in sunday school during the service- i want them WITH us - so we can worship as a family.... so we can teach them how to behave in the pew, why we are there, etc.
Griffin starts sunday school next week - i'm excited b/c i know he'll like it - but I'm so glad he will still be with our family for the service. We genearlly are in the sanctuary for the first part of the service... the readings, and then they do a short children's sermon where all the kids to up to the altar and the pastor talks with them about something at their level that relates to the readings... then they all say a little prayer together- and come back to the pews.
after that they do the regular sermon- which is when we usually go to the nursery - which is just a play room with a speaker so you can hear the service, and a window so you can see it, too. The kids will play and we sit on the couches and listen - much easier for us than trying to keep 3 quiet in the pew for the whole hour... but we go back in for communion at the end - and our kids learn about sitting in the pew for the 1/2 half, etc. When we just had griffin we were always in the pew- it's just too hard with 3 at this age right now -b ut soon we'll stay in the pew the whole time once the twins are a little older.
worshiping together as a family is important to us. I don't believe in sending my kids off to some other room while I worship.... I believe they should be with DH and me - so we can teach them.
i'm glad to hear that studies showed this to be the most effective! My kids will get both -sunday school AND the service with us. That makes me happy.
My church has a nursery from birth-4yrs old that is for SS and for church service. After that there is a 4+ (preschool & Kindergarten) SS school class at the same time as the other regular SS classes from 9:45-10:50. For church service the nursery is only open for children birth-4) Our cut off is in Oct when the kids all move up to new classes. K&K are getting ready to move up to the next class and no longer be able to go to the nursery during service.
Every other Sunday we have Mission Friends that is for kids 4-4th grade. (I think, may be younger) It is similar to SS.
I agree that kids should be sitting in service at younger ages to get used to sitting the entire time and behaving. I will allow my kids to have snacks and to play quietly with a small toy or color until they are around 8. At that point they will need to pay full attention to the sermon.
This for me too!
I haven't read other replies.
When I was a minor (and still attended church - Methodist), Sunday School (for all - kids, adults, elders, etc) was from 9:50 -10:50 and "church" (like the actual service in the sanctuary) was from 11:00-12:00. "Church" was for everyone - kids, adults, babies, what have you. There was a nursery for the little-ist peeps. But from 4/5+, I sat in the pews with my parents and colored the church bulletin while listening to a bunch of stuff I didn't understand.