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Superintendents

Hats Off to the Sunday School Superintendent

In any new position, appearance is important! Even down to the hat you choose to wear! So, before you begin to sort through your potential wardrobe of tasks and responsibilities, sit back, relax and let’s take a look at what your role might actually entail! It begins with baptism!!

Baptism? What does that have to do with Sunday School? Absolutely everything, my friend! In fact, a child’s baptism enrolls him/her in the program! It’s like a registration form. In affirming a child as one of God’s own, it surrounds him/her with the intentional community necessary to nurture growth in faith. Does that mean that a child’s Christian education begins at baptism? Does that mean we’re going to have to find teachers for them, too? Now...before we add another line to our list of things to do or design another hat to wear, let’s go back to the baptismal dialogue and ask ourselves the following questions.

- What is the role or responsibility of the congregation?

Wow! Maybe before we dress for insurmountable success in leading the entire pack, we should take note that our title is not even listed on the front page! Sunday School Superintendents, in any form or fashion, are not meant to be the solely set apart for this task, but join with others in the entire faith community to surround and support the parents as a child’s primary Christian educators.

Role of Parents

Lest we think that an hour or two a week of formal education is going to do it, the role of the parent must be upheld and not be compromised in light of our task at hand. Martin Luther believed the home to the primary place for faith growth. He saw parents as the primary Christian educators; sharing the stories of God’s people in the Bible, introducing and interpreting the fundamentals of Lutheran faith and modeling a Christian lifestyle. Luther’s Catechism was meant to be a guide for parents.

Most certainly father and mother are apostles, bishops and priests to their children, for it is they who make them acquainted with the Gospel. In short, there is no greater or nobler authority on earth than that of parents over their children, for this authority is both spiritual and temporal. Whoever teaches the Gospel to another is truly his apostle or bishop.

The Estate of Marriage, 1522LW 45:46

Search Institute, in it's recent study exploring the effectiveness of Christian Education, revealed that youth are involved in church today primarily because of their parents religious influence. Approximately 67% were encouraged by their mother’s faith and 43% were inspired by their father’s witness.

The original intent of Sunday School was to supplement faith growth in the home. It was meant to be an expression of faith growth in community. Through the years however, leadership roles have been shaped and skewed until the challenge of faith nurture and growth is claimed only by an organized and faithful few who volunteer to teach Sunday school. And the initial intent of the entire congregation to empower the child is personified in the role of the Sunday School Superintendent. So... in the words of Martin Luther, "What does this mean?

Does it mean we shrug our shoulders and resign ourselves to take on the challenge and proceed with a list of "how tos"? Hopefully not. Let’s try another approach. Let’s take a look at ways we can empower parents and others to honor their role in faith growth. Consider the following do’s and don’ts for reclaiming and celebrating Christian Education as a parent’s privilege and a congregation’s livelihood.

How you choose to see your role, sets the tone for your wardrobe of responsibility.

It also has the potential to energize you for long term service in the company of many or drain you as you gear up for the long lonely haul. As you choose your hats to wear, keep in mind that it is not the task but the person who wears them that brings the role to life! And...not all the hats are meant to fit just one person. Try a few on for size and share the rest with others.

Each congregation configures its educational ministry program in a different way. It would be unrealistic to expect your superintendent to wear all the hats listed below. Some hats do not apply to every situation. See which ones fit best and which ones can be shared with others!

1. WELCOMER

This is probably the most important task of the superintendent and often the one most frequently overlooked. Students, parents and teachers alike deserve to be greeted in the hallway with a warm smile and a friendly good morning. A newcomer or visitor will especially appreciate this welcome when it is followed by help in finding a classroom, introductions to teachers and students, and help in locating other parts of the church such as the nursery, restrooms, fellowship hall, sanctuary, and even the telephone.

2. RECORD KEEPER

It is crucial that someone be assigned to establish and maintain accurate records of children and youth in the congregation. A newborn child’s name should be entered on a roster that includes other information such as parents name, address, telephone number, birth date and eventually the baptismal date. The following are examples of how these records will be helpful in planning for Christian education in your congregation:

• who are the parents of our 3 year olds? Let’s provide them with Bible story picture books.
• when will each child begin Sunday School? Call or send a post card of invitation.
• how many children are in each age group? Will we need to group grade this year?
• who will be the children in the first communion class? Invite the whole family!
• who are our third graders? Now we know how many Bibles to order.
• who will be in the Confirmation classes? HOW MANY PIZZAS ????
• who are the high school graduates? Ask them to wear caps and gowns on Graduate Recognition Sunday.

Adding every child and youth in the congregation to the roster takes time and manpower initially. However, the time and energy are well spent if they help the congregation connect with each child and their family at significant stages along the faith journey.

3. COORDINATOR

In any organization, it is important that at least one person is designated as an over all coordinator and contact person. This is the person who keeps the program running smoothly and appears to have all the information or at least knows how to get it . For a Sunday school superintendent, coordination means planning, scheduling, communicating, staffing, managing supplies and delegating responsibilities to others. In order to do this the superintendent works closely with the Christian education committee and the pastor. When teachers or parents have questions, supplies and equipment are needed or someone must be contacted in the case of an emergency, it is reassuring that the superintendent is designated as that person. Members of the congregation also should know to whom to direct their comments and concerns.

4. RECRUITER

Ideally, the task of recruiting Sunday School teachers does not fall to one person but be shared by many. The superintendent can, however, play a significant role in recruitment by suggesting names of those who may make good teachers. Often the superintendent is the person who meets the parents or receives telephone calls from other interested members in the congregation. Recruitment is not limited to teachers. The wise superintendent is a careful listener who is invites participation by those with a variety of skills. Someone may not want to teach Sunday school but would love to build bookshelves, or demonstrate an advent craft, or tell about a recent trip to Africa, or help with toddler snack time. Keep an ear open and welcome those opportunities.

5. CURRICULUM MANAGER

Once the education committee or a curriculum selection team has decided upon which curriculum to use, management and maintenance of the curriculum is a relatively simple task for the superintendent. Keep in mind:

• your Sunday school records will tell you how much curriculum to order for each class
• allow enough time for the materials to arrive and for the teachers to plan lessons
• ask teachers to notify you if additional items are needed
• determine how left over materials will be used
• if you are using team teachers, will your budget allow one copy of the leaders guide for each teacher or will they have to share?

6. TREASURER

A time honored task of the superintendent has been to collect Sunday school offering. Whether this is done at a large group opening or in the individual classroom, the usual format is for the superintendent to collect, count, record and pass the offerings to the church treasurer. At times throughout the year, your Sunday school may have a special project such as "Pennies for Hunger" or a Lenten Love Offering. It would be helpful to provide the church treasurer with information about the project and where the money may be sent.

7. EQUIPMENT KEEPER

Nothing pleases a teacher more than to enter a classroom where the audiovisual equipment is set up and ready to use. Communication is the key to that picture. At the beginning of the year, it would be helpful for each teacher to have a listing of available audio visual equipment and a list of any cassettes (audio and video), films or filmstrips that are accessible. It is the responsibility of the teacher to request any equipment or media supplies at least two weeks in advance. A simple request form is helpful in facilitating this. Keep extension cords and spare light bulbs for projectors on hand. House all the audio visual equipment in the same closet or cupboard. Teachers and others in the congregation will be more likely to return any equipment to its proper place if they know where it belongs. Label all equipment including those elusive extension cords with a reminder such as Please Return to the First Floor Closet.

8. COMMUNICATOR

What is happening in Sunday school needs to be shared with the entire congregation and likewise what is going on in other areas of congregational life can be enhanced through the Sunday school. This can only happen if someone works hard to see that communication is consistent and correct. Suggested vehicles for communication include:

• -a monthly letter to parents describing upcoming events
• -a one page teacher newsletter
• -temple talks done by the children!
• -regular coordination with the church calendar
• -recommendations to the Christian Education committee and/or church council
• -a "What’s happening in our Sunday school" column in the congregational newsletter
• -reminders in the church bulletin
• -bulletin boards and displays

See the section on Organization Helps for other ways to integrate and communicate Sunday School activities with worship and other areas of congregational life.

9. ARCHITECT

The superintendent will not be asked to build a new education wing for the church but he or she may be asked to help create a safe and inviting learning environment. Classrooms should be clean, well lighted and ventilated with furniture that is sturdy, safe and the proper size for the students. Make sure electrical outlets and switches are well maintained. Report any problems to the custodial staff or the property committee.

Transform a dull classroom into one that is cheery and engaging by using colorful posters, banners, mobiles, displays, and live plants. Clean restrooms are a must.

10. SCAVENGER

A teacher sees an empty egg carton and visualizes an art project. Another teacher quickly retrieves a piece of carpet destined for the trash barrel, thinking it would be perfect for story time in the first grade Sunday school class. A superintendent who can see ordinary items them through the eyes of a creative teacher will be cherished! Check with businesses or manufacturers in your area to see if they might donate scraps and left over articles for your craft closet. It is especially helpful if teachers take the time to advise the superintendent in advance that particular hard to find items will be needed. Don’t be afraid to put a "want-ad" in the congregational newsletter.

11. DELEGATOR

A good coordinator is an even better delegator. The hats your Sunday school superintendent may wear can easily be shared with others. A helpful exercise is for the Christian education committee including the superintendent to list on newsprint all the tasks required for an effective Sunday school program in your congregation. Be prepared for a very long list! Then use a C (Christian Education Committee), S (Superintendent) or V (volunteer) to designate who will carry out those tasks. Some items may be shared responsibilities. For example:

_____lead Sunday school opening _____curriculum evaluation

_____collect offering _____contact substitute teachers

This strategy will not only affirm that Christian education is alive and active in your congregation but will remind you that an effective program requires the gifts of many.

12. FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN

Often when we are so busy attending to the needs of others we fail to leave time for our own spiritual yearnings. A Sunday school superintendent who spends time in worship, family devotions or other forms of personal faith rejuvenation is better equipped to put on these various hats with depth, enthusiasm, commitment and sensitivity. Give your superintendent a day off periodically to attend the adult Sunday school class! Is there a mid week Bible study that teachers could also attend?

Let’s Get Organized!

Once you’ve tried a few hats on for size and you feel ready action, ask the time honored questions of..Why? Who? What? Where? When? How? Now add one more...what if?

When was the last time the question "Why do we have Sunday School?" was asked in your congregation? The first Sunday School began in 1785 in an effort to provide a more formal education for children. Sunday was the one day of the week when children were not working. Obviously our reasons for having Sunday School are far different today. The foundations for Christian education are rooted in the scriptures. "Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you like down and when you rise." (Deut. 6:6-7) We are called and challenged to provide a safe and nurturing environment where children experience God’s love and grace and see his transforming power in their lives. Each year as your Christian Education Committee or Church Council plans for Sunday school the "why" question needs to be asked. Other questions that will help create a frame work for your Sunday school are...

• How does our Sunday school fit in with the total mission of the congregation?
• How does our Sunday school relate to all areas of congregation life?
• How are parents involved as partners in Sunday School?
• How does our Sunday school relate to the community we live in?
• Who are we overlooking or leaving out, as we plan for Sunday School?
• Are we attentive to our learners with special needs?

Who?

WE--THE CONGREGATION! The responsibility for Christian education should not be limited to a few faithful teachers but instead should be regarded as a priceless gift that we share with each other. However, in organizing for Sunday School, it will be helpful to consider 5 broad categories. Who are the people involved in your Sunday school?

1. The students---not just children, but youth and adults, as well.

Whether you use a computer data base or a 3 X 5 index card file, keeping accurate information is a vital tool in planning for all aspects of Christian education in the congregation.

2. The Volunteers--an effective Sunday school uses the gifts of many. We are reminded that as members of the body of Christ, each of us has unique gifts and interests. A wise recruiter of volunteers seeks more to match the talents and interests of people with the ministry opportunity than to just simply fill slots. Think of how many different people could be involved in your Sunday school if all the specific tasks that enhance the classroom experience were taken over by those who truly enjoyed that aspect of ministry. Here’s a starter list:

Audio Visual Equipment manager (where’s the extension cord? )

One of the best ways to honor volunteers, is to help equip them for the task. Consider these "tools" for volunteer ministry:

Listing of supplies and equipment and how to access them

3. The pastor or other church staff-it might be helpful to spend time defining the expectations of the church staff in relationship to the Sunday school participants, parents and other volunteers.

4. The congregation -Seek opportunities to help the congregation see themselves as a community honored with the awesome responsibility of providing an environment where:

All ages are equipped for ministry in daily life

5. The community-An effective Sunday school lifts up those opportunities where the community and the congregation intersect. With a little knowledge about your community and with a little creativity, ministry in daily life takes on new meaning.

What?

The most valuable rule to remember is...teach the child, not the curriculum! A well prepared Sunday school teacher will arrive with lesson plans in hand, supplies for interactive learning and a clear understanding of the lesson’s objectives, but the most important part of preparing to teach is through prayer. A good teacher is one who prays for the gifts of attentiveness and flexibility, to know when to put the lesson aside and to be open to those teachable moments whenever they may arise.

Selecting curriculum resources is a process that involves time and careful consideration of the needs of the congregation. In fact, curriculum is more than the paper resources (student books and teacher guides) you use to teach. It is the substance of what you teach--the content, the values, the desired outcome of your teaching. The Christian education committee, an appointed task force or sometimes the church council are usually given that responsibility. What to teach goes beyond just selecting resources. Other questions need to be considered, such as:

Are prayer and scripture important in all we do in Sunday school?

What versions of the Bible will we put in each classroom?

How does what we teach support and equip people (children, youth and adults) to carry out the congregation’s mission?

How does Sunday school complement and fit into other educational opportunities of the congregation?

Does the Sunday school experience lead to greater understanding of faithful expression through worship?

What are other ways we can encourage interactive learning?

How do music, drama, dance and other artistic expressions fit into our educational program?

Are there opportunities for intergenerational learning or mentoring?

Where and When?

Where we teach and when we teach are relatively minor details in comparison to what is being taught and how faith in nurtured. Each congregation faces its own space configuration and time limitation problems and therefore can only be addressed on an individual congregational basis. Very often space is at a premium. A creative superintendent will be able to "color outside the lines" and use the available teaching space in a whole new way. Not all Sunday school learning needs to take place in the church building. Nor does Sunday School have to be on Sundays. By being attentive to the rhythms and needs of the congregation, traditional Christian education can take place in very untraditional ways.

In organizing for Sunday School, the how question involves not only how do we teach, but also, how do we teach creatively, and interactively? Take a walk with me through an imaginary supply closet to see just a few possibilities for creative and interactive learning. The comments I mutter to myself might go something like this...

Wow, look at all the recycled shoe boxes! Everything is labeled...drinking straws, cotton balls, shaving cream-I know, our closing prayer will be to sculpt something that we are thankful for out of shaving cream.

A box full of costumes We can use these all year round, not just for the Christmas program. There’s an old shirt that is just begging to be a soldier’s tunic.

This box reminds me to call our supply volunteer. I wonder if she can call the appliance store and get a refrigerator box for me? Paul’s experience in prison would come to life if we created our own "Paul’s Prison Cell".

I wonder if there is a video on the life of Paul? Here’s the list of available videos and the volunteer who can come help me get it set up.

Look at these files of old curriculum. I’ll take some of these pictures and my class can help me to decorate a bulletin board showing Paul’s journeys. Now..what else will I need...

Just a few more things to consider:

1. The question is often asked about what to do with unused curriculum. The best answer is to be aware of needs in your own community. Unfortunately the high costs of shipping often prohibits sending curriculum to congregations in this country and around the world.

2. Ask and you shall receive! When there are supplies and other items that teachers need, don’t hesitate to send a note home to parents or to periodically include an "Items Needed" list in the congregational newsletter.

3. One other surprising source for stocking that supply cabinet is small businesses or manufacturing companies. Many printing shops are willing to donate paper and cardboard that they are unable to use. In the same fashion, upholstery shops often can provide foam rubber or fabric at little or no cost. Be ready for creative surprises when you venture out to call on the industries in your community!

What If?

Planning for Sunday school is not complete unless you allow your imagination to explore the possibilities within what appears to be impossible. At your next planning meeting, pose the question, What if.

Here are a few starters:

What if....

..every child and youth in our congregation was paired with an adult mentor?

..one Sunday each quarter the children taught the adults?

..every adult, youth and child brought a friend to Sunday school?

..our children knew scripture passages like they know TV jingles?

..everyone in Sunday school knew what living out their baptism means?

..every child felt a sense of belonging to their faith community?

Power Packed Planning

Holistic Planning

Sunday School will always be an important arena for Christian education but it does not stand alone. Look at the other educational possibilities within the congregation for mutual enhancement and support. Ask the question "in what way can our Sunday School program make connections with.......?"

**Confirmation ministry
**First Communion instruction
**After school programs
**Day Camp or Resident Camp
**Choirs, drama and Christian clowning groups
**Worship
**Evangelism, Stewardship or other committees of the church
**Women’s and men’s organizations of the congregation
**Family ministry activities
**New member Orientation
**Midweek Bible studies
**Church Library or resource center
**Scouting groups, 4-H
**VBS and other seasonal events
**Preschools and day schools
**Youth ministry groups
**Social Ministry groups

Consider involving representatives from each of the groups above as you do your long range or annual Sunday School planning. You might even consider hosting an all-committee, all-organization planning day once a year. Late spring might be a good time to do this. By participating in the planning, these people can interpret and lift up the Sunday School’s activities to their group

Themes

Give your program a fresh new look each year by uplifting a particular theme that is played out weekly in small ways and through larger events throughout the year. Devise a simple logo or symbol that will give a cohesiveness to the activities and will quickly remind the congregation that your Sunday School is active and alive. Use the logo on everything from newsletters to banners to bulletin boards to t-shirts! The ELCA begins a new emphasis at the Biennial assembly. The Christian education packet that comes to each congregations annually offers a suggested theme. You may want to look to what is happening in your own congregation, synod, community, or culture to find a theme that will not only give new life to your Sunday School program but will engage the entire congregation.

Suggestions might include:

~Prayer Power!
~The Bible Bunch!
~Partners in our Community
~Journey through the Church Year
~Seasons of the Son
~Planning for the Liturgical Year

Use the rich rhythm of our liturgical year to enhance your Sunday School program and strengthen the connection between education and worship. The seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost all lend themselves beautifully to intergenerational learning events. Consider a soup and sandwich lunch followed by an Adventfest or an early evening Epiphany event culminating in a candle light worship service led by the children. Augsburg Fortress or your local Christian bookstore can suggest resources to help you plan family and intergenerational events around the liturgical seasons.

Another idea is to assign one season to a Sunday School class or an age level. Check with the pastor and/or the Worship committee and then, on the first Sunday in each season, ask the class to do brief presentation in the worship service. Encourage creative expressions such as visuals, drama, songs or simple poems. A basic presentation might include: the meaning of the liturgical season, the significance of the name, the symbols associated with it, and something that describes why the season has particular meaning to your congregation. It will be a time to learn for adults and children alike!

Planning for success

One approach to effective planning involves 6 major steps:

1. Long range planning that answers the questions:
What is our mission?
Where do we want to be in 3, 5 or 10 years?

2. Annual Planning that gives an overview of the entire year and allows for plenty of lead time to order curriculum, to train and equip volunteers, to communicate and promote, and to uplift a particular theme.

3. Short term planning (1-3 months) that spells out specifically what will happen and who will do it

4. Immediate Planning that involves a last minute checklist to make sure people, supplies and equipment are ready for action

5. Implementing the plans

6. Evaluation

Planning and Communication - cant’ have one without the other!

Plan ahead! You’ll find others will be strewing flowers at your feet if you are able to provide an accurate, comprehensive CALENDAR OF EVENTS for the upcoming year. Teachers and parents will appreciate having this handy, Sunday by Sunday overview. Be sure to include the pastor, church secretary, church council president and committee chairpersons on your distribution list. A calendar listing the Sundays in the church year can easily be created and generated from your computer.

A well coordinated program begins with communication. Make sure that communication is clear, detailed, and consistent. And repeat, repeat, repeat! The average person needs to hear something at least three times before he or she remembers it. Also, try to make your written communication attractive, easy-to-read and uncluttered. It doesn’t have to be fancy to be appreciated and read. Avoid using too many clever type faces. Written communication through take-home announcements, newsletters or bulletins is an effective way to reach the masses. E-mail and web pages give instant access to information. Consider other ways to "spread the news". Bright, engaging bulletin boards that are updated or changed regularly invite readers of all ages.

A special event may warrant special communication. Consider recruiting 5th or 6th graders to wear sandwich boards made from poster board and ribbon at the shoulder. These messengers strategically placed the narthex before and after worship or at the entrance to the Sunday School wing will surely captivate passer-bys. Radio stations often offer opportunities for community announcements. Gathering information and calling it in to the radio station is the perfect volunteer job for a shut-in member of the congregation who has a passion for Christian education but is unable to participate in other ways.

A Feather in Your Cap: Teacher Training and Support

Many people are so "over - booked" when they volunteer to do something that it’s almost above and beyond the call of duty to ask them to commit to any other lengthy meetings or on-going Bible studies. So, it becomes even that much more important to provide opportunities for support and communication and inspiration which will honor these realities. One Sunday school coordinating team designed weekly "Mornin" sheets to relay info to teachers of upcoming events and points of interest and responsibilities along with a Bible verse or spiritual energizer. This became a key link for continuity with teachers involved in scheduled rotations and with those who breeze in and out with time at a premium.

Another leader printed thoughtful postcards to send to teachers and helpers with messages of encouragement and appreciation. Another writes one-liners on stick-it notes and puts them on there table door or resource box. You may want to invite members of your church council and education committee to express their support in verbal and written ways. Special buttons can be made to identify teachers and give others the opportunity to thank and support them. You also might want to encourage parents as partners by giving them similar buttons. Notes to parents thanking them for letting you share in their child’s faith growth also might be intriguing.

One of the very best ways to nurture a teacher’s growth in faith and community is to encourage regular participation in worship. Providing subscriptions to periodicals such as the Parish Teacher (Augsburg Fortress) gives teachers a variety of information. One church schedules T.E.E.M. (Teacher Enrichment Every Month) meetings for fun, food, support and brief presentations on Parish Teacher topics and time for discussions. Another church provides fast and efficient distribution of information, craft ideas, program responsibilities at "Teacher Info Drive Thrus" equipped with all the necessary audios, visuals and hand-outs to grasp the reason for gathering in a few brief moments. Specific leaders are available to answer any questions and signatures on the "I Came By" sheet indicates a teacher’s presence and understanding of the materials. Celebrate the partnership you share with the many who sense God’s call to nurture children in faith. Share the many hats you have available and compliment those who choose to wear them. And, for you and the many things you do...

" HATS OFF TO YOU!!"

Parent Covenant

Contract for Continuing Partnership in the Christian Education of my Child

I would like to have my children continue their faith growth at ____________(church) during this school year.

First name                        Middle name                Last name                    

Grade   Age                         Birthdate                                     

Address                                     Primary Phone number                           

Emergency Contact Person/Phone number

Physical, dietary or other special needs

And......understanding that the more involved I am in my children's’ faith growth-the greater their interest and participation, I/ we would like to: (adapt to your own needs, here are are few examples)

shopping/gathering supplies
computer work
story telling
woodcutting/construction
food share program/deliver
driving
character portrayal
summer volunteers
substitute teacher
play piano or guitar

Covenant Liturgy as a part of the Sunday morning worship service:

Renewing Our Partnership

Pastor: Today we gather to celebrate and renew our commitment to the partnership we share in nurturing the faith in children

(ask parents to stand)

Parents, you have been given the privilege of primary care for your children. At baptism you agreed to teach and model for them a faith based on scripture, the Apostle’s Creed and the Ten Commandments. Even now as they are given additional opportunities to grow in faith with others, do you promise to continue in partnership with teachers and other church leaders through active support and involvement in specific tasks, modeling a Christian lifestyle at home.

Parents: Yes! (ask teachers to join parents in standing)

Pastor: Teachers, you have accepted the privilege of nurturing children in faith community, to increase a child’s understanding of God’s boundless love, acceptance and forgiveness through Bible stories, crafts and activities. Do you promise to join in partnership with parents to affirm a life style of faith and service.

Teachers: Yes!

(Children join them in standing)

Pastor: On your baptism day, we welcomed you as a member of God’s family and we all said "Yes" to helping you learn what that means. But, you, your attitude and your willingness to learn and grow is the key to your faith development. Do you promise to come willingly to learn and grow with others.

Children: Yes!

(Ask the congregation to join them in standing)

Pastor: At many a baptism we have joined together in surrounding children and their parents in a covenant for faith development. Do you promise to continue your support and involvement.

All: Yes!

Pastor: Let us all join in confessing our common faith together in the words of the Apostle’s creed...

The end.