AYA Sunday school class “retires” after 66 years of education, mission and memories

“If you want to get acquainted, get involved!” says Helen Gibson.  President of the AYA Sunday school class, Gibson loves talking about the activities and ministry of her group.  In it’s inception in 1942, AYA stood for “Allen’s Young Adults,” after its first leaders, Mr. & Mrs. Fred Allen.  “But in the last 66 years,” quips Gibson, “we’ve outgrown that. It now stands for ‘Are You Able?’”
 
But AYA’s commitment to its church and community is no joke.  Former senior minister Leighton Farrell once told Gibson (who was his secretary for years) that AYA had the best outreach in the church for a class its size.  Rev. Mark Craig agrees.  “The AYA class has a tremendous history of giving to its church and its community.  It set the standard for all our groups. Congratulations to them on their ‘retirement.’”

The Growth
The class began in October 1942 with 12 members.  By the end of the first year, it had grown to 50.  Summer retreats, picnic socials and ministry began soon after, and the class continued to thrive.  By 1972 the class had grown to more than 80 people, and ten years later was standing at about 120 members.  Today the class has 37 members on its roster including two charter members, Polly Wilds and Lola Chenoweth.

The Mission
“We would be remiss if we did not talk about the tremendous impact and generosity of Robert L. Dillard,” says AYA Class Foundation President Martin Reese. “He was a real pillar of the church, and our teacher for 30-40 years.”  In 1984, Dillard’s son-in-law felt a calling to study theology at Perkins.  The man had a wife and several children, so the transition would be difficult financially.  Dillard offered to help, and Reese challenged the class to do the same. “I said, this is a very deserving man.  The class was generous and 41 members or couples pledged to give over the next 3 years.  We paid him monthly until he finished, nearly $6,000.”

Reese then approached the class again, suggesting a foundation funded by AYA members’ special funds, bequests and memorial gifts.  “The class bought it,” said Reese.  The first year, the members helped three students.  After that, they supported 10 students a year for 15 years. 

In 2004, SMU’s Perkins School of Theology Dean William B. Lawrence offered to match dollar for dollar any scholarships provided by an outside group.  “The class was getting older,” said Reese, “so we decided to hand control over to the Perkins School to administer.” AYA’s fund, matched by Perkins, totaled more than $400,000 at the time.  Since then, the AYA Class Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund at Perkins School of Theology has doled out 81 scholarships.

“They are a wonderfully generous class,” said Tracy Anne Allred, Director of Student Services at Perkins School of Theology.  “The AYA class would invite the scholarship recipients to dinner each year to hear about them, their plans and how the scholarship has affected them. I have files of thank you notes from the students (see excerpts at right).” The dinners wrapped up last year, after travel became too tough.

The conclusion
When asked what she would say to someone not involved in Sunday school, Gibson says, “You can go to church and meet a few people you’ll sit with.  But in Sunday school you get more personal contact.  It makes a big difference in how you feel about the church and membership.”

The class’ teacher of the last few years, Rev. Mark Teasdale, just accepted a job teaching theology outside Chicago.  The class decided this was the time to disband.  “Some days we have as few as 4 or 5.  Age has caught up with all of us; it makes it hard to get there,” says Gibson. “We were very active; it hurts to give it up.  But on Sundays, I’ll still be there somewhere.” 

Rejebian Summer Series Begins!
Wednesdays in June and July
Dinner: 5:30 p.m. in Great Hall; Reviews: 7:00 p.m. in Wesley Hall

This year marks the 50th annual season for the Rejebian Summer Book Review Series. For many years, the first review of each year’s series was given by Ermance Rejebian as one of her many gifts to her church. In 1991, the series was named to honor her memory. Generous memorial gifts from her late husband, Vahram Rejebian, subsidized the cost of the series. The family continues this gift to us all.

The 2008 Review will begin on Wednesday, June 4, 2008.  The lineup of wonderful speakers and authors is below.  There is no charge for the review series. However, dinner costs $8.00 and reservations for dinner are required by noon on the Monday before each Wednesday performance. Please call 214.523.2240 for reservations by name. Contact Richard Stanford at 214.523.2249 or stanfordr@hpumc.org for more information or visit www.hpumc.org/older adults.