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Today in the Mission Yearbook

Oregon congregation connects with children in the community

PMY-8

September 1, 2016

What do you do when your Sunday school consists of one three-year-old child? If you’re First Presbyterian Church of Myrtle Point, Oregon, you invite other kids from the community to join her.

That’s exactly what the congregation, which is 27 members strong, did. In an effort to surround their young one with more children her age, the church body decided to reach out into its neighborhood. It invited to Sunday school, among others, the children of parents who used to attend the church as little ones. The first attempt was centered on the Advent season, and when the Sunday school grew to eight, the church decided to run another class during Lent. It was so successful that First Presbyterian decided to offer vacation Bible school this summer for the first time in 15 years.

“We have felt the enthusiasm and the energy it has given our congregation,” said Sandy Gurney, a ruling elder who has helped lead the Sunday school. “It’s not us who is doing this. It’s God who’s helping this, and the kids really feel that.”

Just as importantly, it has made an impact on that little three-year-old’s life.

“When she wound up at her mother’s place on Christmas Day,” recalled pastor Agnes Brady, “she insisted on telling the Christmas story because it wasn’t Christmas without telling the Christmas story. We were just delighted that we were making that kind of impact in a family where the Christmas story would not be considered to be part of the Christmas celebration. It was very much a direct relationship to the Sunday school.”

There was talk of following the lead of many churches by making the class a nine-month program, but Brady suggested first giving it a try during Advent and then picking it up again over Lent. This keeps the commitment level down for the small congregation and also allows for the class to remain unique.

“It keeps it special enough for the kids that we get them,” Brady said. “We don’t have the people to run it year-round—we’d be pulling people out of worship all the time—but we have people who are willing to step out of worship for a month for the kids.”

The Sunday school now includes three preschoolers and five elementary school-aged children. It begins in the sanctuary before the worship service and includes Brady and the “Church Mouse”—a quiet and shy puppet that whispers in Brady’s ear to help instruct the class.

“Some of the kids had never been in the church at all,” Gurney said, explaining why they start in the sanctuary. “We just try to use that time to explain a little bit about what we’re doing and then a little bit about the church service itself.”

The Sunday school finishes up in a classroom, running for roughly 90 total minutes and involving everything from Bible songs to crafts.

“At first, the parents would sit out in their cars and wait for them,” Gurney said. “We went out and tried to invite them in. By the end of it, the parents were joining us in the church service and for the soup lunch.”

It all seems to be having a lasting effect on the children.

“The second week of Advent, one little boy asked his mom, ‘What’s the name of that fun place we go to on Sundays?’” Gurney said. “And she said, ‘You mean church?’

“We’re known as a fun and safe place. They’re very comfortable now with coming to church.”

Mike Givler, Communications Coordinator for the Synod of the Trinity
Today’s Focus:  Presbytery of the Cascades

Let us join in prayer for:

Presbytery Staff:

Cheryl Anderson, Business Manager
Diane Wells, Bookkeeper
Carolee Neighorn, Administrative Assistant to Stated Clerk
Janet Alpine, Administrative Assistant

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

T.P. Coleman, PMA
Blake Collins, PMA

Let us pray

Eternal God, be our guide in the days and generations to come. As you have shown your love for us through Christ, may we serve all your children through Christ’s love. Amen.

Daily Lectionary

Morning Psalms 116; 147:12-20
First Reading Job 16:16-22, 17:1, 17:13-16
Second Reading Acts 13:1-12
Gospel Reading John 9:1-17
Evening Psalms 26; 130