Back in the fall of 1948, Sunday School did not formally begin until the first Sunday of October, and Rally Day was held the week before to encourage families to register for Sunday School and get set for the start of the year. 

On September 26, 1948, Holy Cross held its first rally day with a children’s service at 9:30 a.m. followed by a family service at 10:45 a.m. Attendance at the family service was 92 people, the highest attendance at any service since the inaugural service in August of that year. 

The children’s service began with the singing of the hymn, “Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling” which is the closing hymn for our worship service this morning. Mr. Martin Schumacher, the Sunday School Superintendent, led the service and shared a message for parents and children. Pastor Meyer also had a short sermon. 

One of the important parts of the service was a time of prayer and singing focused on the importance of prayer in the Christian home. Here is an excerpt from the bulletin: 

In the morning we fold our hands, bow our heads, and say – 

Father, I thank thee for the night, 

And for the pleasant morning bright, 

For rest and food, and loving care 

And all that makes the world so fair. Amen. 

Because we receive our food from God, before we eat we pray – 

Our hands we fold, Our heads we bow, 

For food and drink, We ask Thee now. Amen 

Come, Lord Jesus be our Guest, 

And let Thy Gifts to us be blest. Amen. 

Because we need God’s help to obey Him, we pray – 

Help me to do the things I should, 

To be to others kind and good; 

In all I do, in work or play, 

To love Thee better every day. Amen. 

When we are sick, we trust Jesus to help us, and we pray – 

Tender Jesus, meek and mild, Look on me a little child; 

Help me if it be Thy will Too recover from my ill. Amen. 

Before we close our eyes at night, we ask God to keep us from harm and we pray – 

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep; 

Glad and well may I awake, And this I ask for Jesus’ sake. Amen 

When Sunday School classes were first held the following week, the young congregation set another attendance record with 103 people in service, and 42 in Sunday School. 

Adult Bible Class was also held with 10 in attendance.

As we begin our 76th year of Sunday School, Bible Classes, and other education ministries, we give thanks for all those who have been blessed by our Sunday School, Bible Classes and other education Ministries. We give thanks for all the teachers, some of whom served for over 40 years, and commit ourselves again to the work of bringing the little children to Jesus. We take to heart the words of our Lord in today’s Gospel reading, “I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4) 

May God bless our 2023 – 2024 Christian Education Programs!!