Sunday School Fall Kick-Off

Most Sunday schools start their new Sunday school year on the first Sunday of September. Now is the time to begin making plans to make this first Sunday of the new Sunday school year a very special and memorable event. Put up a "welcome" banner and posters throughout the building. You might use a Sunday school slogan like "I Love Sunday School" or "Meet Me In Sunday School" as the theme for the day. As everyone arrives for Sunday school, give each person a Sunday school sticker, button or other small gift. It’s also a good idea to have everyone wear name stickers on this first day. Have special "greeters" at the door to give everyone a special welcome, make sure everyone has a name tag and direct persons who are new or who will be in new classes to the proper locations. You might have everyone assemble in the sanctuary for a few words of welcome from the superintendent or pastor before the start of classes. During this time, you could have a short devotional program using puppets or other methods that would be of interest to persons of all ages. Dismiss the students to go to their rooms by class, starting with the youngest classes. As you introduce the teacher(s) for each class, ask the students who are in that class to follow the teacher to their room. You might also have a time of fellowship and refreshments before or after the Sunday school hour.

(This article appeared in the "Summer, 1996" issue of "The Herald.")