How to love your SRE class when lessons are cancelled
SRE lessons are currently on hold at many schools due to COVID-19, but we can still care for our students.
As I write this, my two sons, in Kindergarten and Year 3 are home from school with a sniffle and a very mild cough. But even when my boys are better and go back to school, it will be different. Sport and assembly have been cancelled, my son’s music tutor has been asked to suspend lessons and SRE classes have been put on hold at their school for now.
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I’ve been teaching my eldest son’s SRE class this year and now I won’t get to see my students for the rest of term. You might be in a similar situation. It’s one of the many difficult decisions some schools are making to help stem the spread of COVID-19.
And even after the COVID-19 virus subsides, you may at some point discover that you’re unable to teach your SRE class for another reason. In 2011, I had to say goodbye to my SRE students mid-year because my baby was about to arrive and teaching with a newborn was beyond my capacity. Other faithful SRE teachers have had seasons where illness, family tragedy and unforeseen circumstances have had them step out of the classroom.
So how do we love our SRE students when we can’t see them every week?
Firstly, you can pray.
As I was looking through Paul’s prayers for encouragement, I was struck by just how apt his words are in Romans 1:9-10 (CEV): “God has seen how I never stop praying for you, while I serve him with all my heart and tell the good news about his Son. In all my prayers, I ask God to make it possible for me to visit you.”
What can we learn from Paul’s prayer here?
Remember your students and pray for them. I don’t think that means be praying for your students 24/7, but certainly frequently and regularly. Pray for them by name and ask God to care for them during this uncertain time.
Pray that the way may be opened for you to teach them again. If it’s COVID-19 keeping you from them, pray that it will pass swiftly. If it’s personal illness or situation, entrust its duration to God’s will as you wait for it to pass.
Another thing you can do is to prepare.
Prepare yourself by spending the extra time in your week in God’s word and prayer.
Prepare your next few lessons in advance so that when you’re able to teach again, you’ll be ready!
Prepare yourself for the questions you may face from students when classes return. If you’d like some help, make sure to check Youthworks ministry resources in the coming days and the various SRE teacher groups on Facebook for helpful tips and advice.
Ephesians 2:10 is encouraging here: “God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are.” While it is good for us to take this chance to prepare, God has already planned good things in advance for us to do. Do not fret the missed classes, they’re not outside of God’s plan for you.
This is an uncertain time, but what’s not uncertain is God’s desire for you to keep loving and trusting him. Praying for your students and preparing for when lessons resume are two simple ways to do that.