By the year 1800 Sunday Schools had found a definite place in the educational programs of most Protestant churches. It is therefore probable that a Sunday School was established in St. John's congregation shortly after its organization in 1817. Prior to1881 no records of the maintenance of such a school are extant. There are however, records covering the years from 1881 - 1889. While the book containing these records has been preserved, many pages covering activates after 1889 have been removed and apparently destroyed.The above record indicates that many school sessions were suspended during the winter months. It also indicates that each spring the school was reorganized with the election of officers. When the school was reorganized in May 1883, four officers and eight teachers were elected. Forty five scholars were present and the offering totaled a penny for each person present.Since no accurate records are extent, it must be assumed that the Sunday School program varied little from year to year. It is interesting to note that Mr. Oren Cooperrider served the school as its superintendent for about 20 years with Maude Tavener, recently deceased at 103, serving as both a boys and girls class teacher for over 40 years. Mrs. Joseph Rinker who is still a member of St. John's was the Sunday School treasure for 40 years. It was through the dedication and committed devotion of members like these that the children of St. John's have been brought up in the wisdom and nurture of the Lord.At the suggestion of Rev. Rings, the Sunday School sponsored its vacation Bible school from June 22 to July 3, 1959. For the next 20 years, the Bible School would be coordinated by a dynamic lady named Mrs. Rollie Boring, who spread her time between council, choir, socials and whatever else needed doing. There has never been a summer since 1959 that we have not offered a vacation Bible School program for the entire community.In 1959 and 1960 a course of catechetical instruction, taught by Rev.Rings was included in the Vacation Bible school curriculum. In order that they might receive more adequate instruction, in 1961 the catechumens united to form one class with those who were enrolled from St. Paul's and St. Luke's churches. After the separation from the Vanatta Parish St. John's continued to grow in its Sunday School attendance necessitating the enlarging the basement classroom area and more recently in 1984 the purchase of the property next door in order to have more classroom space. (see description of purchase in Chapter II, 1980 - 1985).In 1976, the single confirmation class instruction was split into a first and second year class taught by the pastor of St. John's. Presently, classes are offered each Sunday from three years of age to adult classes with special classes for Jr. High and Sr. High on Sunday morning and confirmation study meetings on Sunday evenings from September to June.
