PARENTS

God’s Children Worship

A GUIDE FOR CONGREGATION AND PARENTS

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

Notes…..for the Congregation

+Love our children.

+During greeting time (and at other times when the Church gathers for fellowship) greet the children as well as the adults.

+Pass the offering plate TO children, not over their heads.

+Ensure that children have their own bulletin.

+When children participate in worship, respond to them as worship leaders, not as performers.  Flash pictures are discouraged.

+During Children’s Moments laugh with the children, not at them.

+Occasionally, invite a child with whom you are acquainted to sit with you during worship.

+Be understanding when parents need to take younger children to childcare and then return to worship.

Have patience with the learning process-We are all growing as Children of God.

Children are not only our future, they are the present.

When the worshipping community is gathered, children belong.

At their baptism, the people of the church promised to help raise the children of our congregation in the faith and fellowship of the Church.

It isn’t easy to grow together, but it is vitally important for us as the family of God to make the effort!

I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Church.”  I knew that I would see good friends.  I knew there would be music there, and time…time for sitting and thinking about my life about the things that bother me about the world I live in and my place in it. I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Church.”

Advice for Parents ………at Worship

+Come early to get settled.

+Sitting near the front makes a child feel included in what is happening.

+If possible, seat children with adults between them.

+Greet and introduce your children to those sitting nearby.

+Quietly go through the bulletin, locating hymns, readings, and any other special happenings.

+Share the hymnal and Bible with children at their eye level.  Line out the words with your finger for young readers so they can follow. 

+Allow children to write their own names on the attendance slips (even if they take lots of space!)

+Encourage children to participate in the offering by sharing their own money or by placing the family’s offering in the plate.

+Children learn “worship etiquette” as they participate in worship.  Feel free to whisper words of instruction and encouragement.

+Come forward with young or unsure children for Children’s Moments.

+Remember that it is difficult for a young child to sit still for long.

+Enjoy holding your child(ren) on your lap or allow them to kneel on the floor and use the pew as a desk.

+Feel comfortable taking younger children to the nursery at any point during the service when it is necessary or appropriate.  There are qualified, loving attendants in the nursery.

+Pagers are available from nursery attendants if your child needs you.

+Library is available as a crying room during 11:00 worship.  The sound system will allow you to hear the service.

……..at Home

+Teach your children the Lord’s Prayer, the Doxology, the Passing of the Peace or any other items which are sung or said regularly in worship, so that they can participate fully.

+Talk about people and events, which might be included in the congregation’s joys and concerns at the time of prayer.

+Talk about the worship service at home, recalling stories told or using a prayer from the bulletin at mealtime.

+Learn some hymns together.  Talk about family favorites.

+Read the Bible, perhaps rereading the lesson from Sunday worship.

+Prepare a Worship Bag to bring to church.  Contents could include a notepad and crayons, bookmarks for marking the hymnal and “quiet” toys.

Nursery care for infants and young children is available in the Nursery from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 on Sunday mornings during worship.

Children’s Bulletins and activity folders are available in a basket in the Narthex.