Diocesan Sunday School Day - Sunday, December 7, 2014
Blessings to the Vicars, Priests of the locality, Deacons, Office bearers and all the faithful of the Outside India Region, especially the members of the Sunday School Association.
Dearly Beloved,
The Sunday School of our Church plays a very important role in the growth and development of every child. Nowadays, many parents are only giving importance to secular education for their children. While secular education prepares children for careers and is necessary, a huge part of their life, is learning that transforms and grows them spiritually. While we have the responsibility to educate our children and prepare them for life in this temporal world, we have the same obligation to prepare them for the Kingdom and the world to come. The greatest gift, the most precious inheritance that we have to give our children is our Faith. When we bring our children to Sunday School and provide them with proper training, we provide them with a gift of knowledge that has a lifelong value and significance.
As it has been in practice, Sunday School Day will be celebrated this year in the parishes of the Outside India Region on Sunday, December 7th, the day in which the Holy Church commemorates the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. On this day, all parishes should offer a special prayer for the Sunday School of our Church. The Vicars, principals and teachers should take leadership to organize celebrations within each parish in a suitable manner. Itwould be appropriate to have one of the students of the Sunday School give a short message for the day.
We exhort all parishes to take a special monetary collection on Sunday School Day and encourage all students to participate. Please be aware that this is the major source of income for the Sunday School of each diocese. Your contributions will help in the growth of the Sunday School program including further development of the curriculum and other educational materials. The special contributions along with the offertory collected on Sunday School Day should be sent to your respective diocesan centers at the earliest time and it will be distributed accordingly to the OSSAE, OIR and to the respective dioceses. Details will be communicated by the directors of each respective diocese.
We appreciate the leadership of our respected clergy, the dedicated service of our teachers, and the continuous support of our parents. Let us continue to pray for the growth of our Sunday School, that it may grow to serve its purpose in providing for the spiritual needs of our children.
May the blessings of God Almighty be showered upon us all.
Yours in our Lord,
Metropolitan Alexios Eusebius
A Prayer for Sunday School Day
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. May His grace and mercy be upon us weak and sinful in both worlds forever. Amen.
O Lord who said “Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them for such is the kingdom of heaven,” bless Your children who now stand before You in prayer. Help them to understand the depth of Your love. Fill them with Your grace and wisdom so that they may grow to be strong men and women who fear Your name and live for Your Glory. Protect them from all sorts of temptations and keep them under the wings of Your Divine care.
Lord, we pray for all the teachers of our Sunday School. Just as you told Peter to “feed my lambs,” may our teachers be enabled to teach and train Your children in the way of life. Grant them Your wisdom and knowledge that they may also share it with Your children and help them grow spiritually. May Your Holy Spirit work through them and strengthen them as you have called them to serve through the ministry of teaching.
Lord God, we thank you for the many blessings you have showered upon the Sunday School, and we pray that Your Spirit continue to nourish our children. O Lord, bless our Sunday School and all its future endeavors, that through it we may glorify You, and Your Father, and Your Holy Spirit, now, always, and forever. Amen.