Sunday School

As soon as I used the word "context" I knew I was in trouble. I was speaking to a group of Sunday School children (4-18 years old), for most of whom English was a second language. Here I was telling them that I was happy to see Anglicanism and Christianity in a new context...

I was at St. Luke Borella on Sunday. This was a bit of a last minute trip, as I had hoped to head down south to Galle, but a number of factors made that not work out. So, late on Saturday night, I was told to go to St. Luke's. The trouble with last minute visits is that no one is really prepared- not me, not the priest. After the first service (7:15, Sinhala), I was asked to go see the Sunday School. Even after being here for a month, I really thought that I would just be watching, seeing what they do.

I headed over to the parish hall with one of the Wardens, Asoka (who is also my friendly 3-wheeler driver). We entered the dimly lit hall, and I could see a cluster of fifty or sixty children on folding chairs, an overhead projector, with chorus projected on screen. Quite like my own Sunday School, really. Quite like what I remember, except the five piece band to accompany the chorus. A five piece band (including a violin) and three singers to boot. This was Sunday School done seriously!

A woman came rushing up to us as we came in. Asoka introduced her to me as the leader of the Sunday School. I smiled, and was polite. She asked me to say a few words. And that is how I ended up telling this group of children that I was enjoying seeing things in a new context.

Who really likes the word "context" anyway? Aside from theological students, of course. For us, its essential. For the rest of the world? Less so. For kids? Not at all.

I awkwardly made my exit, and joined in singing the choruses. The band was really quite good.

Sunday School here is a serious thing. They have a curriculum (produced by the National Council of Churches), which includes exams. Actual exams. Attendance in Sunday School is considered imperative for Christian kids who want to get into the best schools, and so attendance to the Sunday Schools are limited to the children of people who actually worship at the church. You're not allowed to just send your kids. Since Sunday School is usually after church (or before, but never during a service), many churches also have classes for the parents waiting for the kids. And the parents go.