Unification Publications
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Unification Publications |
Sunday is a time for getting our lives focused spiritually in preparation for the new week. We begin with pledge and prayer, and follow with a Sunday service. For our children it is also a time for spiritual preparation. Following the tradition of the Protestant churches, a network of Unification Sunday School programs has evolved. We have used Christian materials; we have created our own; we have tried teaching Divine Principle to little children; we have continued teaching Divine Principle through the teen years. And we have learned many things.
Religious education is a vital part of our children's lives. It is the responsibility of parents to see that their children are brought up in the truth and tradition of Divine Principle.
Unification Sunday Schools in America were first born when parents of some of the early blessed children decided it would be more effective and more inspiring for the children to meet together for their spiritual training than to do it individually. Parents met here and there and began planning programs for groups of five to ten children. The parents were the initiators, administrators, teachers, everything.
Older parents know how much work went into preparing even one lesson. The parents of younger children today should be able to benefit from the work already done. Hopefully, this manual will be a beginning and will save time and effort for today's parents/teachers.
Also, in the near future, we would like to develop some of our successful curriculum to the point where it can be printed and shared with others. We would like to build up a resource of lesson plans and ideas for our parents/teachers. Everyone's help is needed and welcomed in this endeavor.
This manual is only a general introduction to Sunday School planning. Every situation is different, and plans must be modified to meet the needs of a specific group and specific children. But hopefully, it will provide at least a nucleus of ideas for starting or overhauling your own program.
We recommend getting many parents involved, with one parent in charge. (Or a different parent in charge each year.) Then plan, prepare, plan, prepare.... Many problems can be eliminated by good planning.
Children should be exposed to spiritual teachings and life in the church regularly so it becomes a natural and integral part of their lives. As they grow, they should be developing a strong relationship with God and True Parents. They should grow in their ability to love and care for and be sensitive to others. They should develop a sense of being a blessed child. If they have a higher purpose and a strong sense of belonging, it will protect them from becoming involved in unprincipled activities in the secular world. It is our job, then, to foster this growth.
To provide an ongoing program for meeting the spiritual needs of our children.
To provide opportunities to learn about our beliefs and values.
To provide a place where the children can regularly meet with church friends and deepen relationships.
To have an orderly, meaningful Sunday School Program, detailed preplanning is an absolute necessity. If the environment and curriculum are carefully prepared and all the teachers come well prepared, the children will feel the importance of the program and will respond positively. Plan every detail: how the chairs are to be arranged, who will set them up, where the children shall sit, how they should enter and leave the room, how the offering will be collected, everything. Leave nothing to chance.
If you are just beginning the Sunday School program, or if your old one needs a major overhaul, there are steps you can take to make it happen the way you visualize. Here are some suggestions.
Begin by closing the existing Sunday School for a few weeks to give time for planning and preparations. Even if you are not making a complete overhaul, it is helpful anyway to close for a couple weeks in August and to start a new Sunday School year in September Just like school). If there is a summer camp in August, you might choose to close for the entire month. This will give an opportunity to make a new start with new life and new enthusiasm for all.
Call together all parents. Or call together a committee of parents. Decide who will teach, who will assist, and what needs to be done to prepare and how it will be done.
You may prefer planning many things yourself and then meeting with the other teachers just for final preparations. Or you may prefer meeting with them from the start and planning everything together. Or perhaps something in between. The goal is to be prepared and for all teachers to be clear about the procedures, the lessons, their duties, etc.
if parents prefer taking turns teaching, it helps to have a plan for the year which everyone will follow. Each parent can sign up for the topics they will teach. It is also important to meet periodically to discuss the program and unify it. At first, it may be necessary to meet every week. With more experience, once a month or less may be adequate. But if you do not meet at all, you will find the program will not be well organized and things will not run as smoothly.
Decide on the purpose of your Sunday school so you can plan accordingly. Is it for religious education? Is it for social interaction? Or both? Is it for child care while parents are in the adult service?
Decide what ages you will include. For example, if you do not have enough room or teachers to take children under the age of five, then make this decision and be clear about it to parents. Or you might decide to take a few 4 year olds only if their parents accompany them. There is no point in accepting all ages if there is no one to care for them. Be clear about your limits.
Get the names and ages (or grade levels) of all the children and assign them to classes. They should stay in this class for one year and not move up to an older class as soon as they have a birthday. This way, the classes can be more organized. As much as possible, each class should have fewer than 10 children.
If your numbers are large and/or you need funds for curriculum materials, you might consider asking parents to register their children and pay a fee at the beginning of the school year. This will also help you know how many and what ages to expect when you line up teachers and buy materials.
Inform parents of your plans perhaps by mail. Let them know when the new Sunday School year begins, how and when to bring their children and pick them up, how the children should dress, what offering they should bring, what materials to bring, your need for volunteer help, etc. Include the registration form, if you have decided to use one.
1. Planning the procedures and environment (the rooms) is even more important than the curriculum itself. We always teach more through our attitudes and actions than through talk. If there is not good organization, for example, what the children learn is that it is not important to attend Heavenly Father and True Parents in a particular way. Respect must be taught in many ways.
2. Walk through the entire program together step by step, and list everything that must be prepared. Here are some examples, but not necessarily everything:
Which room will be the main meeting room for the entire group?
How will it be set up?
How many smaller classes will be organized?
Where will these individual classes meet?
Who will teach each class?
Who will lead the main meeting? The same person each week? Or will the teachers take turns?
What will be the duties of the leader (master of ceremonies)?
What decorations and props can be used in the main room? (Altar, picture of True Parents, etc.) Can they be put up permanently, or must they be portable?
How will the rooms for smaller classes be prepared each Sunday? (tables, chairs, art materials, pictures on display, bulletin boards, etc.)
Where should the children go when they first arrive?
When and how should they enter the main meeting room?
How will they be seated? (Will the older ones sit in the back row? Will the boys and girls sit separately?)
What schedule (format) will be followed each Sunday?
How can each teacher help during the main meeting?
How will Sunday School come to a close each Sunday? Where should the children go and what should they do after class? How can they be taught to exit quietly?
Following is a suggested pattern that could be followed. Other patterns might be better in your situation.
Establish a pattern to be followed each Sunday, and the children will learn that they can depend on this routine and find it easier to follow. It will still need to be reinforced every, Sunday, of course.
When the children first arrive, ask them to assemble outside the meeting room. If they go in too early, they tend to walk around, talk, etc., and it is hard to establish a spiritual atmosphere. They should learn that this is a place to worship Heavenly Father, and they should have a reverent attitude.
Call the main meeting room a "sanctuary", "worship place" or something similar to help foster the proper understanding.
Have children line up and enter one by one. Then you can greet each one and give them reminders, as needed. a. Stop at the door before entering and say good morning. b. Make a half bow to Heavenly Father and True Parents. c. Walk quietly to seat.
Older children could be used as ushers. However, give them this role only after they have been properly trained themselves.
Have a seating plan. Perhaps the older ones should sit in the back row in the front where they can help lead the program and serve as models for the younger ones. It is important for the older ones to gain experience in leadership and in taking on the role of elder brothers and sisters. But, of course. careful training is always required.
If your numbers are large, consider having only the older children attend the first Sunday of the year. At that time, you can teach them the procedures and train them to help the younger students.
Be sensitive to the feelings of the children. If they seem inattentive or bored, make changes. Perhaps the service is too long. Perhaps singing several songs is too many and makes them restless, and you should decrease the number and/or change to a different type of song.
Prepare a holy atmosphere for the children Then, the children will feel something special and will more naturally display the proper attitude.
Arrange chairs nicely ahead of time.
Prepare an altar with pictures of True Parents.
Perhaps play soft music as they enter.
Ask teachers to be at their posts early
Have teachers assigned to various posts.
Someone in charge of setting up main room with altar, chairs, etc.
Song leader
Pianist, guitarist, etc.
Greeters for the children as they arrive
Greeters at the door to the meeting room
Emcee who runs the program where all are gathered, and either introduces the person telling the story that day or tells the story him/herself.
All teachers help keep order while one teacher is leading the service.
Someone in charge cleaning up afterwards.
Someone in charge of snack.
Have special containers for collecting the offering and place them on the altar.
Decide what to do about songbooks. Possible ways to handle songs: buy songbooks, get copies of just the songs you plan to use each day, have a large chart with words, or teach songs by memorization (which is necessary for the younger children anyway).
When dividing into smaller classes, you may not always have available separate rooms for each class. Rather than putting too many children together or children of too great an age range, find a way to put up some room dividers. Many churches over the years have done this (even nothing more than curtains), and soon the children learn to concentrate on their own class without being distracted by the sounds from the other classes.
Silent Prayer Teach the children to pray silently when they enter. Or teach them to meditate. You could have some words posted which help them know what to focus on, a thought for the day, a written prayer, a recording to listen to, a video, etc. Find ways to train them to at least sit down quietly when they enter.
Songs 1 Holy Song, 1 or 2 children's songs. It is best to teach one Holy Song at a time, spending several Sundays, or even months or more, on it. One to three holy songs a year may be enough. They can memorize the words, a few each Sunday. If they sing a different song each week, without really learning it, they do not get much out of it. The words are often hard to understand. Appropriate children's songs may be found in Christian song books.
Pledge If possible, do pledge #5 in Korean. You could help them memorize one line each Sunday, and then go ahead and say the entire #5 pledge even if they do not know it yet.
Offering Suggest to parents that they send at least a dollar each Sunday with each of their children. You need money for materials, outings, prizes, snacks, etc. And, as a precursor to tithing, it is a good habit for the children to form.
Group Lesson (1030 minutes) To provide unity and to save work for the teachers, it may work well for all classes to study the same topic. For this format, one teacher would teach a lesson to all the children in the main meeting room. Telling a story is good, because all ages (even adults) car! enjoy hearing a well told story.
Individual Classes (3060 minutes) Divide into several smaller classes by age. The teachers should view this time as a class unto itself. It is just as important as the large group class. The teacher should always prepare a lesson and activities and be prepared to teach in conjunction with the main lesson.
For the younger classes, the teacher may review the story, retell parts of it, ask questions about it, tell another story that is similar and makes the same point, and/or talk about how it applies to their lives. For example, if the story is about love, the discussion could be on ways to show love. Have an activity planned that will help them understand and remember the lesson.
For older classes, they may discuss the story in relationship to the Divine Principle, or use the Bible as a resource. Guide them to think more deeply about the message. Children up to 11 or 12 years of age usually continue to enjoy doing projects to reinforce learning art, drama, music, games, etc.
Closing Ideally, it is good for all classes to meet again for an official closing. At a designated time, everyone reconvenes in the main room. Some possibilities are as follows:
Sing a song (perhaps one less formal, or review an earlier one).
Perhaps share what they did in their classes and/or give a review of what to remember from the day's lesson.
Sing Happy Birthday to those who will have a birthday that week.
Make announcements (one announcement should be a reminder on how to leave the room).
With a prayer and three Monseis.
Dismissal Develop a definite procedure for dismissal. Explain to the children how they should leave (before the Monseis), and all teachers should help enforce it. Perhaps the children could leave one row at a time, and carry their chairs to a storage area on their way. Or they could all march out to a song. Something that will help them keep control.
In some cases, it may not work well to reconvene for the closing. It usually takes a strong hand to manage it, because by this time the children are ready for big muscle activity.
An alternative plan might be to have a closing in each classroom. For example, clean up the room together. All sit down for a final song and prayer. Remind them where to go and what to do when they leave the room. Accompany them, if necessary.
Snack It is nice to have a snack prepared for the close of Sunday School. in some cases, a lunch may even be served. For this, you may need help from other parents.
If it is expected that you care for the children until the adult service is finished, you will need a plan for an "After School" program. If you can take them outside, that is great, but if you must stay inside and if you are not able to have noisy games because of the service, prepare quiet games, reading corners, art projects, videos, etc. This is a lot of work in the beginning, but once the system is in place and the children have been taught how to handle the materials, it is not require extensive weekly preparations.
Consider beginning the year with lessons about Sunday School itself. For example:
How Should we Prepare Ourselves for Attending Sunday School? (purpose of Sunday School, behavior, attitude, how to prepare, bathing, dressing nicely, etc. bringing an offering).
What is a Service? (what is it, why do we do it, how do we do it?)
Offering (What is it. why do we do it, how do we do it?)
Prayer (What is it, why do we do it, how do we do it?)
If possible, it is wonderful to begin the year with a picnic or some other outing. Doing things like this periodically makes Sunday School special for the children, something to look forward to. They feel you really care about them, and they associate your care with Heavenly Father's care.
When children first arrive each Sunday, they may (probably will) become very active and noisy if not directed. And an unsettled, secular atmosphere where children are chewing gum and talking about Nintendo and kids at school, etc. once created, is not easy to change. Preplanning is the key.
A guided pre-Sunday School activity may solve this problem. It could be nothing more than a stack of books and magazines on the hall floor. Or it might be something more ambitious, such as an art project, a puzzle, a video, etc.
The dress code is important. Dressing up helps create an atmosphere of respect for Heavenly Father. This should be explained to the parents, as well as to the children, at the beginning of the year. If you plan to have outdoor play time after Sunday School, they could bring play clothes. If you plan to have art projects, you can collect some men's shirts to put on over the good clothes.
Again, remember: Prepare well and always follow up on plans. Do not leave anything to chance. It is necessary to not only pre-plan every detail, but to be ready to enforce it. At first, this may seem like many rules and much work, but as time goes by the children become accustomed to the routine, they know what to expect, and it will be more comfortable for everyone.
Make Sunday School fun. Our purpose as teachers is not to force information into their brains; rather it is to nurture their hearts so they can grow up to be children of God.
We hope our children want to come to Sunday School. We want Heavenly Father, True Parents, Divine Principle, and life in the church and with church friends to be the central point of their lives. We want them to learn things in Sunday School they can use in their lives at home and at school. It is not by ordeal of lectures and tests that we inspire them to have loving hearts.
Plan activities that help develop strong ties with each other. Ideally, their ties to each other should be stronger than their ties to the children at school. Planning retreats and outings, picnics, trips to the mountains or seashore, etc. can be memorable events which will be associated fondly with Sunday School and will help them build strong relationships with each other.
We teach the Divine Principle because it is the Completed Testament Truth and guides us in our growth to perfection, in our growth of Heart, in our growth toward God. It is not just a set of rules to memorize. It teaches us Truth (with a capital T). It teaches us Love (TRUE Love, with a capital L). It teaches us how to live and grow. It is Life itself.
Basically, then, when we set out to teach Divine Principle to children we intend to help them understand the Principle, to internalize it, and thus to live it.
How do children learn? Young children are usually good at memorizing. Thus, they can readily memorize verses and words. But this does not mean they understand the words or that they mean anything to them in their lives.
To really understand what they are being taught, they need to manipulate concrete objects. They are not very good at abstract thinking until sometime after the age of 11 or 12, and some cannot think abstractly at all. Therefore, rather than merely hearing the Divine Principle, they need to experience it.
This, then, is the challenge to dream up ways to make the lessons interesting and meaningful thus to make it real.
Anticipation: Help children get mentally ready to learn. For example,
Plan an activity to do when they arrive which gets them interested.
Plan an introduction which gets them thinking.
Objective and Its Purpose: Tell them what they will know or be able to do by the end of the lesson and why it is important.
Introduction: Teach the lesson and provide activities which will help the children remember the lesson.
Modeling: Show the finished product or how to do the process.
Checking for Comprehension: Review constantly, and make sure they understand.
Guided Practice: Supervise their first attempts to work on their own. Circulate.
Independent Practice: They can go ahead on their own.
Of course, these steps are flexible. You might not do every step every time, and you will adapt these steps to suit the ages and abilities of the pupils.
Tell stories. Instead of just telling children about Abraham, read or tell a story about him. Find a story that helps them feel as he felt, think as he thought, and understand why he acted as he did. or tell secular stories which make a point. This will help them apply spiritual truths to their own lives.
Plan interesting activities to complement the lessons. A drama about Abraham will help children remember the story and understand it. An art project will help them understand how the people looked and dressed at that time. It shouldn't be just a craft project because it is fun. It should be fun, but also help teach the lesson.
The same is true in teaching the Divine Principle. For example, tell a story about forms of give and take perhaps a story about a family, a team, or a classroom. They can learn something about human relationships and how to get along with people in various situations. At the end of the lesson, once they have understood the principle being taught, simply say, "That's called give and take." Then use it in the course of your class thereafter. For example, "I notice you are having good give and take with your brother." And so on.
Strive to begin lessons with an attention getting action story, demonstration, skit, chalk talk, pictures, song, etc.
When planning a curriculum, it is wise to plan a general one year program at the beginning of the year. If you know at the beginning what subjects you will focus on, you can be looking for materials and books throughout the year instead of scrambling for scarce materials every Saturday night.
Furthermore, if there is continuity, the children can learn better.
It is also wise to think of a slightly different plan for each year, or, better still, to make a three-year plan. It is wasted time and effort to begin with something entirely new each year. On the other hand, if you teach exactly the same thing every year, the children who return year after year will lose interest. There are so many, many things to teach; we cannot possibly cover everything in one year. So why not vary it?
Begin with Bible stories. When we adults were introduced to the Divine Principle, most of us were able to relate to it because we already had a foundation in Judeo-Christian teachings and concepts. Likewise our children need to learn the basics first. They need a solid foundation in the Bible.
Tell stories. Instead of just telling children about Abraham, read or tell a story about him. Find a story that helps them feel as he felt, think as he thought, and understand why he acted as he did. or tell secular stories which make a point. This will help them apply spiritual truths to their own lives.
Plan interesting activities to complement the lessons. A drama about Abraham will help children remember the story and understand it. An art project will help them understand how the people looked and dressed at that time. It shouldn't be just a craft project because it is fun. It should be fun, but also help teach the lesson.
The same is true in teaching the Divine Principle. For example, tell a story about forms of give and take perhaps a story about a family, a team, or a classroom. They can learn something about human relationships and how to get along with people in various situations. At the end of the lesson, once they have understood the principle being taught, simply say, "That's called give and take." Then use it in the course of your class thereafter. For example, "I notice you are having good give and take with your brother." And so on.
Strive to begin lessons with an attention getting action story, demonstration, skit, chalk talk, pictures, song, etc.
When planning a curriculum, it is wise to plan a general one year program at the beginning of the year. If you know at the beginning what subjects you will focus on, you can be looking for materials and books throughout the year instead of scrambling for scarce materials every Saturday night.
Furthermore, if there is continuity, the children can learn better.
It is also wise to think of a slightly different plan for each year, or, better still, to make a three-year plan. It is wasted time and effort to begin with something entirely new each year. On the other hand, if you teach exactly the same thing every year, the children who return year after year will lose interest. There are so many, many things to teach; we cannot possibly cover everything in one year. So why not vary it?
Begin with Bible stories. When we adults were introduced to the Divine Principle, most of us were able to relate to it because we already had a foundation in Judeo-Christian teachings and concepts. Likewise, our children need to learn the basics first. They need a solid foundation in the Bible.
Focus primarily on the Bible stories. Just tell the stories simply. They like to hear about Noah, Abraham, and other providential figures. They also like to hear about people such as Samson, Jonah, David, and Daniel. These stories are rich and provide many moral lessons.
Choose one moral value to teach from the story. Emphasize how we should develop that value in our own lives. For example, from the story of Noah you could choose to teach about perseverance, obedience, or faith. Talk about the meaning of the word and explain ways we can show those qualities in our own lives
Tell a secular story that contains a value that is being taught In the Bible story. A secular story can be an interesting way to make the Bible story applicable to today.
At this age you can still use Bible stories, but bring in the Principle. Read from the Bible. and then explain what Divine Principle says about the topic.
Again, use stories and activities but on a more advanced level. Using stories with moral values is always appropriate, also.
Continue with the same, but on a more advanced level. Teach more about Divine Principle. This is a good time to delve into some of the lesser known stories of the Bible, such as Ezekiel, the prophets, the early apostles of Jesus, and Paul. In this way, you can teach more about history and make it meaningful for Divine Principle study.
Teach more about Chapters 1 and 2 in the Divine Principle, as well as Resurrection, Consummation of Human History, Second Advent, and recent history. Again, try to make it interesting with stories, activities, discussions, etc.
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Autumn |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
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Creation, The Fall, Chapter 1 |
Jesus' Life |
True Parents' Lives |
Miscellaneous |
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O.T. Stories (Providential Families) |
Jesus' Parables and Works |
Unification Ch. History |
Miscellaneous |
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O.T. Stories (Stories not included in the previous year) |
Jesus' Teachings, Messiahship and Christology. |
Unification Ch. Today |
Miscellaneous |
Suggestions for Miscellaneous Summer curriculum (above)
1st Blessing: Moral Values, Striving for Individual Perfection.
2nd Blessing: Family Life, True Family, Social Relationships.
3rd Blessing: Caring for Creation, Developing One's Talents and Abilities.
Paul and Other Christian Missionaries and Saints.
Unification Church Traditions.
Testimonies of Members.
An Alternative Three-Year Plan
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Autumn |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
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Creation, The Fall |
O.T. Stories (Providential Families) |
True Parents |
Miscellaneous |
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O.T. Stories (Lesser Known) |
Jesus' Life and Teachings |
Unification Ch. History |
Miscellaneous |
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N.T. Stories (Apostles, Paul) |
Jesus' Role, Christology. |
True Parents, True Family |
The Unification Church Today. |
Intersperse the above with lessons on church holidays and traditions, stories with moral values. etc.
A Unit of study is a series of lesson plans on one general topic. A Lesson Plan is a plan for teaching one lesson. When planning a unit of study, make a series of lesson plans to cover the topics in that unit.
First, a unit of study should be decided upon; for example, a unit on Creation and Fall. Than, a series of lessons are planned that cover the desired topics within the unit. Here is a suggested format.
Objectives What do you want the children to get out of the lessons? It may include certain knowledge and understandings, as well as certain skills. For example,
Students will learn . . . (list facts to be learned)
Students will gain understanding of . . . (list understandings)
Students will learn how to . . . (list skills to be learned)
(At first, this may seem like unnecessary extra work, but it will help to keep you clear about what is being taught.)
Vocabulary List any words that may be new for the children and decide how to teach them.
Introductory Activity Introduce lesson in an attention-catching way, using pictures, objects, dramatics, questions, etc.
Develop Lesson Prepare a story and/or talk. Be clear on the main points and emphasize those. Until experience is gained, it is good to practice telling the story before a mirror. Don't just read it; be as dramatic and expressive as possible even acting out the parts as you talk. Relate the story to the children's own situations. Give examples, ask questions, use visual aids, etc.
Followup Prepare activity. List materials needed and get them before Sunday. If making a craft object, practice making a sample ahead of time. Plan everything carefully.
End of Unit Activity. Review what was learned, decide on any future action that might be taken, perhaps give a test (but not always), play a game which reviews the important points, etc.
Consider sending something home with the children to let the parents know what they have been learning. If you are really organized, you can even send something for the parents to use to reinforce learning, a review, a test, suggestions for activities.
And/or consider working on one big project through an entire unit of study, rather than doing a different one every Sunday.
To share the responsibilities, a different parent(s) could be assigned each Sunday, or each month, to manage this part of the program. They also need to be in on the basic planning and understand the procedures and rules being taught to the children.
Have a snack (or lunch).
Go outside for free play or organized activity.
Play games inside.
Have an art project.
Have board games, toys, books, etc. for them to choose from for individual and small group activity.
Teach a Korean class.
Read a chapter or so from an ongoing book.
Show a video.
Exercise/dance.
Choir practice.
Small group discussions on a topic of their choosing. (Older children like to talk about their problems, situations at school. etc.
A project to serve older people.
Yes, it takes a lot of effort to create and carry on a good Shim Jung Sunday School program; but these are our precious blessed children, the hope of the future, who have been entrusted to our care for so brief a time. It is our God-given responsibility to do all we can for them with our most loving heart. The rewards are limitless.
Unification Church
"Principle Life Education for Children," draft, by staff members of Jin-A Jacob House Children's Center, 1984.
"The Principle of Creation for Young Children," by Joy Pople and Bruce Biddle. Provides suggestions for teaching Chapter 1 of the Divine Principle. Can be adapted for approximate ages 5 12 years.
Christian Churches and Publishing Firms
A multitude of books and pamphlets are available from Christian organizations. They have many resources on how to teach, what to teach, and materials to use with the children.
Furthermore, they have developed what they call "Sunday School Curriculum." Curriculum, as opposed to books, is usually bought by the quarter and typically comes with everything needed to run the Sunday School lesson teacher manuals with detailed lesson plans, lesson books for the pupils, newsletters for the pupils, posters, tapes, and other visual aids. Most companies will send free samples upon request. The material offered by Standard Publishing House is generally of high quality.
Since much of our Sunday School is involved in teaching the children the lessons of the Bible, Christian publications can be very helpful. Call or write to them for catalogs. Following are the names and addresses of some of them.
Christian Board of Publications, Box 179, St. Louis, MO 63166; Tel. 3142318500. They publish materials which are developed by a dozen or so churches and are shared by these churches (more mainline; not fundamentalist)e.g., American Baptist, Disciples of Christ, Episcopal, Moravian, Presbyterian, Reformed, United Church of Christ. They have two Sunday School curriculums which are ordered on a quarterly basis.
Christian Book Distributors (CBD), P.O. Box 3687, Peabody, MA 019613687; Tel. 5089774550. They do not publish materials themselves, but they have a catalog with a good selection of books for adults and children. Some of them are hard to find, and the prices are very reasonable.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Salt Lake City, UT 84104. The Mormons publish, among other things, a Family Home Evening Resource Book, which is designed for their weekly family meetings at home. To receive a catalog, send $1.50 made out to "Corporation of the President" to Salt Lake Distribution, 1999 West, 1700 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84104.
Cokesbury, 201 Eighth Ave., South, P.O. Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202; Tel. 6157496113. Publications of the Methodist Church includes Sunday School materials.
David C. Cook Publishing Co., 850 North Grove Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120; Tel. 7087412400. They have an extensive collection of Christian publications hich are general in nature They are very generous in sending samples. They have an extensive collection of Christian publications which are general in nature They are very generous in sending samples. They have an extensive collection of Christian publications which are general in nature They are very generous in sending samples.
Rainbow Publishers, Division of Success with Youth, P.O. Box 261129, San Diego, CA 92126; Tel. 6195784700. A nondenominational "Bible-based" publisher, which services many churches.
Standard Publishing, 8121 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45231; Tel. 180Q5431353. They publish many kinds of Christian. materials for ail ages. They sell to many different churches, so their materials are quite general in approach. They are very helpful and quick to send materials, and the quality is generally good.
Undervalue Publishing House, 1415 Lake Drive, SE, Grand Rapids, Ml 49506. Tel. 18004444012. An interdenominational publisher that leans more toward the fundamentalist belief.
A Few Recommended Books
Bible Alive, by Lin Johnson. Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, 1988. 80 pp. Provides detailed descriptions of 11 projects to do with students who can read and write.
High School Ministry, by Mike Yaconelli and Jim Burns. Undervalue Publishing House, Grand Rapids, [Ml,1986. Provides information on working with teens and ideas for activities. May be available in Christian bookstores or inquire directly from Undervalue
Learning Games and Activities for All Ages, by Elizabeth Crisci. Standard Publishing Co., Cincinnati, OH, 1989. Games and activities which can be used along with regular lessons to help make Sunday School interesting. A good resource to use with 711 year olds. 127 pages.
Teach with Success, by Guy P. Leavitt; revised by Eleanor Daniel. Standard Publishing Co., Cincinnati; Division o, Standex Corporation,1990. 160 pp. A very helpful and well done book on teaching Sunday School.
Teaching and Reaching: Junior Resources A How To Book, by Sally E. Stuart. Warner Press, Anderson, IN, 1984. Provides activities to use when working with upper elementary school children (ages approximately 9-12).
Teaching Children Joy. Teaching Children Responsibility, and Teaching Children Charity, by Linda & Richard Eyre. This Mormon couple explains a program that can be used with children. Joy is for children under 6 years old; Responsibility is for children aged 6-12; and Charity is for Teens. These books are not for Sunday School exactly, but they might be helpful in giving ideas for working with children in an interesting way. It is also possible to join their organization, "Home-base," and get detailed lesson plans, using the ideas set forth in the books.