Joint Sunday school programChristmas pageant links two churches
Jim Warbanks The youngsters gathering in the church basement to be fitted with their costumes for the Christmas pageant are crackling with pent-up excitement. Does the little shepherd need a band for the headdress? Angel wings always need a final check to make sure that they are straight. It is a scene repeated in countless churches, schools and community halls in the weeks preceding the commemoration of the birth of the Christ Child. What distinguishes this particular group of children is that they are participants in a novel experiment which involves the Sunday schools of two churches uniting to provide a viable, attractive program. The pageant is their first major undertaking, though they have taken part in services at both churches. Declining enrollmentThe number of children enrolled in the Sunday school program at the Saint Simeon Anglican Church, Lachute, had declined to the point where it was difficult to attract new members, despite the presence of committed volunteers. The energetic teachers at the Margaret Rodger Memorial Presbyterian Church, a short distance along Main Street, could rely on a larger core of youngsters but, to assure continuity, both groups sorely needed to expand membership. "What if we combined forces?" Rev. Alan Perry, of the Anglican Church, and his Presbyterian counterpart, Rev. Harris Athanasiadis have young families. Children from both churches attend nearby Laurentian Elementary School and participate in other shared activities, so there was little concern that the children would experience a sense of division. Agreement on the mutual advantages emerged from initial discussions, so the proposal was presented and approved by the decision-making bodies of the two churches. The joint program was launched in early November, with an agreement to utilize alternate buildings on a monthly basis. A sense of teamwork easily emerged among the teachers, David Dowse and Guylaine Dowse (Presbyterian) and Michael Fraser and Suyen Perry (Anglican). Feedback from parents has been positive and the youngsters have responded with enthusiasm. HurdlesRev. Perry indicated that some accommodations were required. The most obvious is that Sunday services had to be moved to 10:30 a.m. at the Anglican Church to facilitate establishment of the joint program. A common reaction among members of both congregations has been, "it's nice to see so many children in church again." Perry characterizes the theological stances of the two churches as "a difference of emphasis" with the Presbyterian focus more strongly directed toward preaching, while the Anglican orientation stresses liturgical aspects. "Success breeds success" he insists. Youngsters from the age of four through the teen years can now benefit from a solid program, "The One-Room Schoolhouse" which should prove attractive to newcomers. The next stage is to reach out parents whose children are not participants, citing the advantages of the combined Sunday school which has regained critical mass. Rev. Perry is looking ahead to the possibility of splitting the program into two age groups as numbers build. Small townIn a small town environment, people are constantly meeting and working together in other contexts. Why not also at church? Rev. Perry points out that church buildings, clergy and worship styles remain distinct but, that with continuing demographic trends, "we can't afford not to cooperate." He indicates several other successful cooperative initiatives: joint summer services have been a tradition for thirty years; monthly seniors' lunches are open to all; the United Church hosts a joint Carol Service, while the Presbyterian Church operates a popular Lenten Luncheon program. After an opening performance of the Christmas Pageant during the main service at St. Simeon's at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 14, repeated at the same time for the Margaret Rodger congregation the following week (December 21), the youngsters staged a final performance for the seniors at the Lachute Residence in the afternoon.
PayoffThe staging of a successful joint Christmas pageant has been an early payoff of the decision to merge the two programs. It matters not to the children whether the angels and shepherds participating originally came from the Anglican or the Presbyterian churches. They are working together. Their parents, and the two congregations, will have increasing opportunities to learn more about each other, as well as enjoying the benefits of a revitalized Sunday school program. Text and photo © 1997 Jim Warbanks |
