The Reverend Christine V. Hides

Worship with us this Children’s Day, Sunday, May 21 when the congregation will recognize the third graders who have written scripture on their hearts. Memorizing these words of instruction, comfort, and prayer ensures that they are available to us in every age and stage and through every joy and challenge of life. We give thanks to God for the dedication of the third graders and their mentors!

Looking through some old files, I learned that the third graders have been learning the Ten Commandments, Psalm 23, the Beatitudes, Lord’s Prayer, Greatest Commandments, and books of the Bible since the 1930s. Digging further into the archives I estimate that we will give the 2,700th Bible to this year’s class.

Perhaps you still have your well-worn, personalized Bible that you held proudly on Children’s Day. Maybe you were one of the first to sing Bill Lacey’s Books of the Bible song written specially for the Sunday School. Likely you are one of countless adults who has mentored and encouraged third graders of many generations. Whatever part you have played in this beloved tradition, I hope you will come to celebrate the ways God’s word continues to be woven into the life of this congregation.