MC Saskatchewan launches online Sunday school for children

Mennonite Church Saskatchewan is offering Sunday school for children via Zoom. Josh and Cindy Wallace started hosting the half-hour sessions at the end of May.

So far, about eight families, with children ranging from 3 to 10 years of age, have participated. They represent four or five congregations.

Midweek, families receive a thematically appropriate craft idea to do with their children ahead of time. Sunday school begins with what Cindy calls “chaotic free-for-all sharing.” Then families mute their microphones and the leader reads a psalm, one family leads singing, there’s a short story from a children’s illustrated story Bible, and then the children are invited to show off the crafts they made during the week.

“The screen is a mosaic of all different versions of the craft,” says Wallace. “We’re shaping their imaginations that church is communal and interactive,” she says. “They really look forward to it. They like doing the craft and interacting with their peers.”

Finally, each child is given opportunity to share what town they’re in and to name one high and one low from their week. The leader then prays for and with the children.

Using a shared Google spread sheet, families can sign up to plan the craft, lead singing or tell the Bible story. “As parents, it’s encouraging for us to see other parents leading their kids,” says Cindy, who is hoping the Sunday school will grow. “More are welcome,” she says. “If we get a bunch of kids we’ll divide by age groups.”

For more information, email Josh Wallace at churchengagement@mcsask.ca.

Do you have a story idea about Mennonites in Saskatchewan? Send it to Donna Schulz at sk@canadianmennonite.org.