Single vs Multiple "Rally" Events ?

Traditionally, Sunday Schools and churches thought in terms of a "singular" event to celebrate or "kick-off" the Sunday School year. The singular "Rally Day" is a good example of this kind of planning.

But some educators and creative types have been challenging this kind of "eggs in one basket" approach, noting that many of our members no longer attend every week (for a variety of reasons) and would miss a one-time event --the kind we might hope would re-energize their commitment.

So instead, some are starting to think in terms of "Rally Days:"   a renewal theme that runs through more than one Sunday in order to create many opportunities for our members and children to catch the excitement.

This does not mean creating a series of "big" events and it doesn't necessarily exclude the planning of at least one "big" event, such as the "Make a Splash" water-themed event described above. Rather, it seeks to provide numerous and varied ways people can get excited about a renewed and renewing season of learning.

Here's an example of a three-week "Rally Days" series to renew the commitment and celebrate the return to Sunday School.

Week One's Rally Day

Make a Splash—the water-themed big event described above connected to baptism in the worship service. (Here are some baptism suggestions you could include in worship.)

Week Two's Rally Day

Worship with a "Compass and Guide" theme of getting lost and finding your way or looking for treasure. Explore surprising directions in the Bible.  Conclude with a set of instructions that leads people to a picnic, or provide a geocache course people could follow that afternoon. (Here is a "Let's Go" treasure hunt you could use.)

Week Three's Rally Day

Renew Our Classrooms by setting up a supplies in advance and asking members to bring it as a wrapped gift-offering to be unwrapped by the kids during the children's sermon. Theme the rest of the service on the topic of "supplies faithful people need." Follow that a workday to refresh, clean, repaint, and redecorate a classroom or two; clean out and organize the supply closets; sharpen all the pencils. Include a blessing of the paint and painters as well as the classrooms in worship.

Along with these "Rally Days" activities, the congregation could also:

• Refresh its "welcome" to visitors
• Renew its signage, landscaping, and website.
• Recommit by signing up for certain needs around the church, including greeting, teaching, helping in the food pantry, and singing with the worship team.