RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Evening Star, Issue 23693, 28 September 1940, Page 7

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

[By Forward.] In Sunday school work at any rate the most important elements are the human, social, and religious influences. It is in these personal relationships that we find the character-forming forces and those qualities which bind the children to tho school and to the church. POINTERS FOR SUPERINTENDENTS. Be a person of prayer, push, pluck, punctuality, patience. Be at the school in time to greet teachers and children‘as they arrive. Begin and close all meetings on time. Have the programme for the day carefully prepared. Plan your work outside, work your plan inside. Make much of the teachers’ meetings. Allow no interruption, in class study. Never be content with present attainments. Spend much time with the Bible. Above all else live close to God. A TEACHER’S PRAYER. O Holy and Ever-blessod Spirit, be Thy gracious influence my perpetual guide in tho work that I .have undertaken. Inspire mo 'with wisdom and knowledge, with spiritual understanding and humble faith. Make mo gentle and forbearing, compassionate and long-suffering, and mortify in mo all self-seeking. Lot no opposition or weariness provoke me to ungentlcnoss; but in all things conform my spirit to the mind that was in Christ Jesus. Suiter me to remember my own sinfulness and to grieve for rather than to condemn others who sin ; that so I may dwell in Thy love hero and be Thy servant for over; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PRESBYTERIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. There was a fairly good atlendauce at the monthly meeting of the Presbyterian S.S. Uniop, which was held at South Dunedin on '.Monday evening. The president (Mr J. Hunter) presided and opening worship was conducted by Sister Alice Townrow. _ The subject under discussion, ‘ Bridging the Gap Between S.S, and Bible Class,’ was introduced by two speakers, Mr Magnus Johnson speaking from the Sunday school point of view and Mr J. L. Gregory from the Bible class. Mr Johnson pointed out some of the weaknesses which must be overcome, weaknesses which arise through both home and Sunday school, particularly the indifference of parents and the added responsibility thus thrown upon already overburdened teachers, inadecniate buildings and equipment, and the tendency to overdo through-tlie-week activities which take the children away from the home. These were! weaknesses which must be attacked and overcome.

Mr Gregory pointed out that the quality of leadership iu S.S. and B.C. was dependent upon the complete surrender to Jesus Christ and'His service. Ho then outlined the ways in which the gap exists between S.S. and 8.C., which is greater in some churches than in others, but which is apparent everywhere, He then referred to the results of the discussion of the problem at tlu l round table conference of last yar, and the work of the committee appointed to go into the matter. He presented to the meeting a scheme drawn up-by this committee for the formation of a department to bridge this gap, a disciplined organisation where definite teaching would be given, an evangelistic agency to bring young people into definite and vital communion with their Lord and Master.

_ Several teachers spoke to the discussion,. and voiced their opinions on the suggestions givep. Mr Hunter expressed thanks to the speakers who hud led the discussion and to South Dunedin staff, who kindly served supper to the visitors. The next meeting, which will be the annual meeting, will probably bo held on November 4, when a largo attendance is hoped for. TEACHING JUNIORS TO PRAY. In prayer the children are led to understand that they arc talking to God. They should be encouraged to express themselves in prayers that they themselves formulate. At first these may be brief sentence prayers; then later, they learn to express themselves more fully. If this should bo the first of these, an introductory or explanatory talk on prayer as a means of worship should be given, somewhat as follows : “ In our Sunday school we have been hearing beautiful Bible stories, and doing interesting work. Now we are going to learn bow to pray. Prayer is one form of worship and one way in which we can get near to God. Everyone should learn howto pray. Jesus Himself taught His disciples how to pray. They saw how often He prayed and how happy He seemed to be. His face would'fairly shine. So they came to Him and said, ‘ Lord, teach us to pray.’ They knew, too, that through prayer He received great power from God to do wonderful tilings for the sick and the blind and the suffering. As wo pray, God will, help us too. “ Prayer is talking to God. Yes, but it is much more than'that, it is entering into God’s Presence; and we can do that. We read in the Bible in Psalm 24 that those of clean hands and

pure liearts can ascend into the hill of Jehovah and stand in His holy place. So with /leads reverently bowed and onr liearts free from everything else but God, lot us be very quiet, and think only of Him. The Bible says wo must wait upon the Lord. A.s our hearts become clear of all outside interests, wo can boco/fio conscious that God boars, and know that Ho is lovingly waiting to hear our prayers.

“We can thank Him for all our blessings and praise Him for all His kindnesses. Wo c.m ask Him for further blessings for ourselves .and others. God never refuses and never forgets, but answers us in the best way for our own good. You know that God is all-wise, and knows oven better (ban wo do our needs and our wants and our desires. Now with all our hearts lifted up to Him, let us pray.” 'Clio rising chord may then be given, and the children allowed a few moments for silent preparation in mind and attitude. Then the leader or a teacher may lead in prayer. This adjili, should identify himself or herself with the children and truly lead them in prayer. The thoughts must be expressed in terms that will not be above the children’s understanding.

Following the talk and praver, the leader and children may together plan a prayer, the leader asking the children for ,suggestions regarding things to be thankful for. and petitions for guidance and help. After the prayer has been written on the blackboard, the chord may be given, and the children told to prepare for prayer. After a few moments of silence all reverently read the prayer. The children should bo taught that wo need not always pray out loud, but that if we think our prayers they will mean as much to God as though spoken, for He knows what is in our hearts. 'l'lie leader may suggest the thought for the prayer, which should be the theme of the worship programme, and ask all to tell God in their hearts what they want to say.—E. W. Lewis.