NEW CHRISTIAN EDUCATION BUILDING
BUILT 1967

Sunday School 1950-1963

Mrs. John McDonald, who had started teaching during Rev.
Marshall’s ministry, offered the services of her husband as a substitute
teacher for Senior Boys. This proved to be every Sunday and in Janu-
ary 1950 became Superintendent as well as teacher of the Senior Boys.
This Husband-Wife teaching (Mrs. McDonald had Senior Girls) was very
rewarding and enjoyable. The average attendance at this time was 45.

. . Many changes developed in supervision — not without some mis-
givmgs, but the great increase in attendance proved these changes Were
worthwhile. Among these changes was the introduction of the Perfect
Attendance Records. The Teachers and Officers were all in agreement
that the word “Perfect” can only mean one thing — attendance every
Sunday from the first Sunday in October to the last Sunday in June
(even illness disqualified a pupil). This Perfect Attendance did not apply
to anyone who stopped being a pupil and became a teacher. To qualify,
pupils had to attend the Church Service from 11 to 11.30 a.m., then down-
stairs for Sunday School. It was felt that this introduced the full meaning
of Church attendance and sharing in Church Worship. If a pupil was
away, he could attend church or Sunday School wherever it may be
and thus be credited.

One incident that will never be forgotten happened when a little
boy (4 to 5 years of age) had only one Sunday left to complete his perfect
attendance record. His Grandma could not find him by 11 o’clock (Mrs.
White had him at the playgrounds). Mr. and Mrs. McDonald, feeling
“Sick” when Craig did not appear at Sunday, School called on Grandma
Dunn and arranged for them to attend Ninga Church, which was‘held
later in the day. This enabled Craig to qualify for his perfect attendance
and the day ended much happier for everyone. —

 

For first year Perfect Attendance, the reward was a Bible, for
second year, name in Gold, and 3. Scroll for third year with seals for
every year thereafter. Presentations were made on Rally Sunday.
Jimmy Musgrove was presented with a 7 year pin, Wilfred (J o) McDonald
was presented with a plaque for 8 consecutive years and Lucille Pratt
for 7 years.

By this time the attendance had increased to approximately 130
and teaching space in the Basement of the Church which was becoming
more and more cramped was diminished even more when the ladies
decided the need of a larger kitchen, thus eliminating one more room.
However. everyone managed quite cheerfully — the teachers’ voices
sometimes had to be raised to drown out the lesson being taught to
another class, separated by curtains or screens. With very little help
from the Lesson Books, Many Saturdays were spent in the Bible House
in Brandon or Winnipeg, hunting for material (bought by the teachers,
themselves). What a Blessing, the New Curriculum! With the scarcity
of funds, papers and Lesson Books were cancelled for the quarterly of
July, August and September. This made a difficult task for the teacher
to find enough teaching material for the month of September. The
Senior Girls and Boys usually reviewed the formation of the United
Church and the meaning of the Church Seal.

Specs] Events

White Gift Sunday was celebrated the first Sunday in December
with pupils and parents sharing the Worship Service. Teachers decor-
ated the Choir Loft with white sheets covered with cheesecloth and
tinsel and a large basket covered in white was at the front of the
Church. The Junior Choir was in attendanca and appropriate Christmas
Carols were sung as children filed past the Basket with gifts. The
little ones had a special part in this service as well as the Mother’s
Day Service.

Special stories were told by Mr. McDonald on Mother’s Day, Rally
Day and White Gift Sunday.

Picnics were held every June at the Fair Grounds for the Sunday
School and Congregation with refreshments supplied by teachers and
parents and the lemonade supplied by Dr. and Mrs. Studd using Mrs.
Studd’s favorite recipe. Highlighting these picnics was the prize of a
package of life savers to all winners and every little one received a
sucker.

Every November 11th, for 14 years, Dr. Studd, Mr. and Mrs.
McDonald and usually one or two teachers attended the annual Sunday
School meeting attended by representatives from Sunday Schools in
this Presbytery. Some of these meetings were as boring as some were
interesting.

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS presented a problem as the attendance
grew larger. Every pupil had to take part. Sometimes the measles,
mumps or chicken pox spoiled many a drill or play. However, when
Chatelaine Magazine published a Christmas Pageant that enabled so
or more pupils to participate, the teachers decided to undertake this
instead of the usual Christmas concert. With no money available,

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