Children In Worship
Relax! Your family is important here!
- It is hard for children to sit still for long. They have short attention spans, but they will absorb bits and pieces of the worship service.
- You may wish to pick up the Children's Worship bulletins, crayons and coloring pages/stories in the blue plastic "Children's Worship packets" box in the Narthex.
- Growing up isn't easy. Being part of a church family extends your family by adding Christian brothers, sisters, grandparents, ..... the help and friendships that result can help every child feel special and included, and that God has a special purpose for them.
- Active or nursing child? If desired, parents may sit with their infants in the Cherub Room, through the hallway at the back of the Sanctuary. There is a live TV feed of the service in the room. An usher will be happy to assist you.
A Word about the Sacraments
- Parents desiring baptism for their children should consult with the pastor several weeks in advance. When baptism is part of a service of worship, all children are invited to come close and observe the ceremony.
- Communion is a family event in the household of faith. Children may partake with their parents. However, some parents may wish to wait until their children are confirmed or have received communion education classes before they participate. We leave this choice to the family. The pastor is available for consultation. It is important to let children know God loves them and that we are all God's family. Children do not need to fully "understand" in order to partake. Do any of us understand fully what God has done for us through Jesus Christ? Please consult with our pastor or Director of Christian Education if you would like some help in explaining to your child why this "meal with God" is so special and important.
Parents
- Try to come early to get settled and, if possible, sit near the front. Children who can see what is happening feel more involved.
- Introduce yourself and your children to the people sitting nearby.
- Review the order of worship and help children find the hymns, scriptures and prayers then mark them. Children's bulletins are available as you enter through the Narthex.
- Share the hymnal, Bible and bulletin with the child at his/her eye level. Point to the words with your finger for younger readers and even for non-readers who can pick out repetitive words. This not only strengthens reading abilities-it helps children to fell included and valued in worship.
- At the Children's Sermon, come forward with young or unsure children. Following that, they may go out the back door with their teacher to "Children's Church" (age 4 years to 4th grade) or return to the pew.
- Talk about worship at home. Look for opportunities to relate the sermon or scripture lessons to something that is happening.
- Allow children to write their own names on the friendship pad. (So what if they take 3 lines!)
- Children learn "worship etiquette" by participation. Feel free to whisper instructions to help them learn.
Congregation
- Remember the promises we make at the baptism of the children among us.
- Greet children as well as adults, and be as intentional about knowing children's names as you are about adults'.
- Hand them the offering plate rather than passing it over their heads.
- Pass friendship pads to children.
- See that a child has a children's bulletin.
- When children give visible leadership, respond to them as worship leaders -- not as performers.
- Always laugh with children, not at them.
- Occasionally invite a child you know to sit with you during worship.
- Understand when parents need to take younger ones out and then return during worship.
- Be patient with the learning process; we are all children of God!
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs." Matthew 19:14