Am I the only Christian educator who gets a little frustrated when during a Sunday school opening I see and hear parents who would rather talk and drink coffee in the background while sending their children up front to “be in Sunday school”?

Have you heard about the little boy who was asked what he wanted to do when he grew up? His answer: “I can’t wait until I grow up to be just like my Mommy and Daddy. Then I won’t have to go to Sunday school anymore!”

Ouch! As a Christian educator with a passion for family ministry and focusing on the dynamics of parents as role models of faith for their children, this is the last thing I want to hear. Unfortunately, we can understand why this child can’t wait to be like Mommy and Daddy.

I feel I am not alone in my thinking as I have heard from others who have expressed the same scenario and experienced similar frustrations within their own congregations. My concern is the message we may be sending to our children about the role we all play in a learning setting when this happens. Although I appreciate the true need for parents to have time to talk with one another and the importance in providing a fellowship opportunity for all, I’m wondering how we can balance wanting parents to join children in Sunday school and wanting them to find our congregation as a place where they can gather each week, meet others, and build relationships.

My concern lies in the message we send when we tolerate adults and youth congregating in the background and talking while we are teaching and sharing scripture lessons. This doesn’t happen when we gather in a worship service. Those sharing a scripture lesson and prayer for the day deserve respect. I have the hope that everyone present will honor the words shared and role model the reverence of the time together for all. Can we expect everyone to take at least 15 minutes for an opening and introduction to a lesson to pay attention and be present by sitting together and listening with us, not observing us? I believe it can speak volumes to those entering a room.

As you are reading this, you may think I am challenging our basic understanding of what Sunday school is, but I’d like to suggest we ask ourselves what is happening when we gather together in a place for Christian education. Can we consider this to be sacred space? Is it akin to the worship service? Does worship only happen in the sanctuary? Can Sunday school happen in the worship space? Can worship happen in the Sunday school place? Is it not the place we teach all ages what worship is?

In the Subject Guide found in the back of my Bible, worship is defined as giving reverence and honor to God. It also references praise and prayer. In my opinion, God deserves our reverence and honor through our praise and prayer no matter where we gather to share His Word.

My challenge to you is to think about places and spaces you meet in your congregation to praise God and hear His Word. Are they sacred spaces?

Britannica.com’s definition of sacred is: the power, being, or realm understood by religious persons to be at the core of existence and to have a transformative effect on their lives and destinies.

The definition of space according to Merriam -Webster is: a period of time.

In the context and setting of our church buildings, where and when are the times and places you gather all the ages and provide opportunities to experience transformative effects on lives?

Although I know the worship service is our first answer, as a Christian educator, I have also witnessed lives changing and relationships strengthened through prayer and praise for God during a period of time we call Sunday school. It has taken setting expectations and being intentional.

The challenge before us is to help those entering our buildings to feel that transforming love everywhere and create opportunities for this to happen. God’s work happens in amazing ways and in unexpected places. Our work is to provide time for this to happen.

Time for children, parents, and youth…time to praise God together … then we have our coffee and doughnuts.

I’d enjoy hearing your thoughts about this and what you have experienced. And if you already experience Sunday school as sacred space in your congregation, please share how you do it!

Debbie Streicher is National Director of Children and Family Ministry. She is located in Northern Virginia and happy to address any questions you may have regarding Faith Inkubators’ resources. Please contact her at dstreicher@faithink.com. Read her blog at www.faithink.blogs.com/gift/.