SUNDAY SCHOOL IN THE 60'S AND 70'S 

There are probably many adults within the church who can recall their time in Sunday School, but I asked James Carter to put down his recollections, which date back to the 1960s and 1970s. I hope that others are encouraged to write down their thoughts and memories in the future because Sunday School has been, and remains, an important aspect of our church's program over the years. 

I attended the Sunday School, pretty much weekly, from Nursery to Senior Young People and have very fond memories. Sunday School was from 9.30 am - 10.30 am when there was then morning tea and service at 11.00 am. For a number of these years the Sunday School was "All Age", as an adult group met as well. This was always a quiet and reserved group, as you can imagine, with discussion often featuring people including the Blackburns, Hiltons, Butterfields and Ruth Joyce.

One of the terrific things about Sunday School was that there was a solid group around my age group growing up together. Sunday School was an important and consistent part of our lives and as well as providing teaching, it provided a source of friendship. 

Although I now struggle to remember the details of what I was taught, I know that much has remained with me. Looking back, I can see many themes weaving through those years. There was a consistent emphasis on learning about the love of God, the need for a commitment and seeking to reflect that commitment in our daily lives. Even going right back, I can remember time in the Nursery playing at those tables that are still there and the love and care of people like Merle White. 

There has been a change of style in teaching over the years. I recall lessons in Primary School were very structured and we sat at tables in the Waldock Hall. We learnt Scripture verses and even studied for the Sunday School Examinations, which were hotly contested for the Colin Hellier Prize awarded to the top student. I remember Phil Mills, David Evans and Roslyn Hughes being amongst the teachers. 

We had some wonderful activities that always seemed to involve a huge amount of organization and commitment for our benefit. Sunday School Picnics at Weston Park were legendary and involved most of the church I think. There was the marquee (namely the famous Sunday School tent which was about as old as the church building) and food and games. There was even sailing on the Lake with
Norm Evans and Jack Pettifer. 

Sunday School Anniversaries were another highlight of the Sunday School year and the preparation of plays and music etc took weeks and involved the rebuilding of the front of the church with a very elaborate timber stage. I seem to remember that we were always wearing sheets. We even presented musicals led by 
Merilyn Carey, the most famous perhaps being "Cool in the furnace", which was notable in my case as my voice was changing at the time and no one was quite sure what I was going to sound like as it went along. I am afraid I still have the tape. 

The time I value most was through High School, as Sunday School in these years was very important to the growth of my individual faith and commitment which was ultimately reflected in my baptism. I recall challenging discussions led by 
David Clark, Merilyn Carey, Phil Hughes and Max Callan. We were encouraged to question and to explore issues and there was a strong emphasis on the practical meaning of faith. 

In those days the Young People took the evening service for the Sunday School Anniversary and this led on to us taking responsibility for monthly Youth Services. There was a Youth Tea beforehand, which Lynne Dickens provided for a long time. Sunday School related very closely to our Youth Group activities, camps and studies etc. I recall an early camp at Burrill Pines where we hid for hours in the sand dunes one night with our frantic leaders very near to calling the police to send out a search party. At the time we thought it all very amusing until we wondered back to camp when the concern of our leaders was made clear to us! 

Throughout my years the Sunday School was a very important part of the Canberra Baptist Church. Over the Church's history, many people have committed themselves to educating and developing the children and young people of the Church. For students, all of this is perhaps taken for granted at the time, but looking back, the commitment and love of our teachers is evident and reflected in the lives of so many. It is encouraging that the Sunday School continues to make an important contribution to the life of the Church and, even more significantly, its future.

James Carter