Written by Lallawmzuala Sailo, Fifth Semester, Media Technologies 2023
The banner reads( Madanrting Pastor Bial Naupang Sunday School INKHAWMPUI VAWI 13-NA) written in Mizo meaning the 13th Madanrting Pastor Branch of the Children’s Grand Sunday School Congregation.
It is held inside this church which belongs to the Synod Mizo Presbyterian Church of Madanrting Branch and on the 10th of September 2023, it is reserved for the children's and for them to perform their acts and to compete head to head against their peers.
Every year the Mizo Presbyterian Churches of the North-East hold a grand event for the children, every Mizo Presbyterian church has a Sunday school where children of various ages study the Gospel and in the middle of the year, call it an examination of sort but with the chance of winning prizes, where the children put their knowledge of the Gospel that they have learned and are put to the test.
The children are divided into departments from Beginners all the way to Intermediate and vary according to age as well. Furthermore, each district has a specific location to congregate to or as we call it their own specific branch where this event will be held for them, districts of fives congregate to one specific location and the event takes place respectively. For Shillong the two main places where the yearly congregation of the children takes place are the Mizo Presbyterian Church Madanrting and the Mizo Presbyterian Church Shillong near St. Anthony's.
At 10 AM sharp the congregation commences and it begins with greetings and condolences by the secretary of Madanrting branch and it is followed by Bible reading and prayer. The Chairman officially declares the commencement of the competition and announces the order of talents who are to perform their items.
Few of the special items from the Beginners Dept. from solos to recitations.
During the various group special items, there are invigilators who look out for mistakes and flaws in the children during the item and keep a look out for imperfections and accordingly they deduct or add marks based on their observation of that particular department.
Group Special items from different departments
After conducting various items from different departments, at around noon, the congregation comes to a break for lunch as the children would be hungry at that time and the elders of the church deemed it appropriate, the break lasts an hour and the congregation resumes at 1PM sharp which is heard from the ringing of a bell indicating the time to re-enter the church.
The afternoon is when the children are most tired, after having a heavy lunch provided by the church the elders know that in order to rejuvenate their vigor and re-ignite their spirits a moment of rejoice commences and everyone from the youngest to the eldest take part in singing and chanting in good spirit, this helps keep the children full with joy and ready for yet another round of good spirited competition against each other.
The afternoon service is very similar to the morning service, the items are called in order and in between, the departments performs as a group. The only difference between the morning is that in the afternoon, the much awaited prize distribution takes place and is handed individually to the talents specifically by the Pastor of that branch.
After the prize distribution ceremony, there is only one thing left to do but to come to a close of another fruitful and cheerful event, the Pastor steps up the podium and blesses the people and children with prayer and the congregation comes to a close.
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