We've

been living the great annual "Back-to-School" experience for

a couple of weeks now, but there's also ANOTHER great "Back-to-..."

that occurs at this time each year.

"Back-to-SUNDAY

SCHOOL"! For many of you this is no "Back-to-..." at all.

You never miss a Sunday.

But for

many of us, this is kind of a "New Year" with hopeful resolutions

for a shift back into "The Spiritual Lane." For some (children,

youth, and adults) this might even be a FIRST like pre-school or kindergarten

or first grade a FIRST TIME to encounter the "good stuff" Sunday

School has to offer.

Whatever

your situation...WELCOME! WELCOME to any of the fine churches in our community!

EVERY Church has its doors and hearts OPEN to you! Especially at this

time of the year! Please "make yourselves at home"! You'll be

so glad you did!

On this

subject, I often run across lists that try to help parents give their

children the best experience possible in Sunday School.

Here's

a marvelous list that I believe will be quite helpful to you parents since

you, of course, want your children get the most out of Sunday School.

1. Encourage

your child to develop friendships at Sunday School. One of the strongest

benefits the church provides your family is an extended "family"

of both adult and childhood friends who support positive Christian values.

Consistent attendance makes it easy for meaningful friendships to grow.

2. Be

consistent in bringing your child to Sunday School so that he or she will

benefit from the Biblical instruction. Children are surrounded by influences

which are often in conflict with the real truth of life. Sunday School

can be your child's most important hour every week! Perhaps better than

any other, Sunday School is the place and time where the good values and

understandings YOU want your kids to have are reinforced.

3. Cultivate

friendships with your child's teachers. It's easier for you to approach

two or three teachers than for them to personally contact the parents

of all the children in their classes. They have busy lives and give so

much! Your support helps teachers do an even better job! And besides,

this gives you another important friendship as well.

4. Watch

for and talk with your child about the take-home materials provided each

week. Just a few minutes (!) of informal conversation at home can help

tremendously to reinforce and apply the Bible Truths your child has studied.

And we parents usually learn something from these as well!

5. Use

the Bible in your home. Open the Bible in your home to the Bible story

or Scripture reading from last week's Sunday School class. Copy key verses

onto a folded index card and set it on your kitchen table or put it on

the front of your refrigerator. NOTE: If you do not have a Bible,

I promise you that ANY church in this community will GIVE you one if you

simply ask! There are several newer translations that are wonderfully

easy to read and understand.

6. Ask

a few questions about the Bible Story to see what your child remembers

and understands and talk about how the story illustrates familiar experiences

at home or in the neighborhood. A good question is, "What is one

way you can do what that story teaches us?"

7. During

the week look for ways to connect a recent Bible verse or story to specific

situations. For example, while watching TV, ask how a character's action

compares with those of a person in a Bible story.

This

is obviously just the tip of the iceberg! So many of you out there would

have additional ones to add from your own experiences.

I invite

you to share these with your churches and with "newcomers" for

whom the "Sunday School Thing" might be just beginning.

WELCOME