One of the things I am most pleased about in my ministry is the creation of a Children's Sunday in our congregation. This is different from Youth Sunday, which we actually have two of, one known as Youth Sunday and one known as Massanetta/Montreat Sunday. These services are led by our teenagers, 6th-12th graders. Children's Sunday also happens twice a year, on the fifth Sundays, one in fall and one in spring. These worship services are led by our elementary aged children. We also invite children from the preschool to participate as all the ages are welcome to join in the music that is prepared with the Children's Music Director.
This worship service is about more than the children singing in worship. There is more to this than the Christmas Pageant (which is also fun). For several weeks the children work with their Sunday School Teachers to pick or discuss a theme for the service. Then they work to prepare prayers and liturgy for worship. I typically preach, but the children have responsibility for leading the congregation in the other parts of worship. Sometimes we bring their artwork upstairs or use it on the bulletin cover. Sometimes we carry in Children's Bibles and use a lectern built just for them.
I have worked really hard over the last few years to create an environment of welcome to children and families in worship. We have had worship bags and children's bulletins which actually coincide with the scriptures and service of the day. Most recently we have started having acolytes each Sunday. I've taken inspiration from other churches and created a card found in each pew with a welcome to parents to encourage them that it's okay to have wiggles or giggles in church. For three summers, children have been welcomed in worship without an additional children's worship held outside of the sanctuary. We try (although not so well this summer) to do special things to engage the kids during the service. I love Children's Worship or Chapel apart from the sanctuary up to a certain age and I think it is a vital time for their faith development. But, my reasons for this particular kind of service are multilayered.
1) Children will not know how to behave in worship if you don't invite them into worship. They will never learn or understand that church is not intended to be boring, stuffy, and for adults only if you do not cultivate a culture that encourages children to express their faith.
2) Children have something to say about God! Children know the stories, they listen and imagine the narratives of the Bible, and the wonder of it excites them in ways that we will miss if we don't allow them a space to share their own thoughts and beliefs! Do not discount them because they are young, this is in the Scriptures! We as adults can learn something from our children if we open our hearts to listen to them. It is also an opportunity to develop leadership skills in them that will benefit them in their future.
3) Children need to feel ownership of church life in the same ways that you do. When I hear teenagers or young adults talk about how they grew up racing through the halls and knew every nook and cranny of the church--that means something! It means they were welcomed there like a second home, they felt safe and loved. Their memories should not just be relegated to the "education wing" or the "Sunday School Room" they should feel like the sanctuary is theirs and worship belongs to them as believers too. Worship takes on a new meaning if you understand all of the effort that is put into it. And worship also means more if you feel like you have an important role to play.
4) Worship is not about you. Worship is not about you as the parishioner or about me as the pastor. Worship is not a performance for you to feel validated or comfortable. Worship is not an act performed by the pastor to keep you entertained. Worship is not even about you seeing those precious children and oohing and ahhing. It's not a parade. Worship is directed to God. We are worshiping the triune God through our words, through our music, through our offerings. In worship we explore, and we make meaning, and we glorify God. In all honesty, it takes all ages to make that happen. So, maybe it is uncomfortable for you to have children crying in the pew behind you. Maybe you get annoyed when the transitions between the hymns and the prayers take a little longer for the children to get into place. Maybe it is harder to see them or hear them. Maybe they talk too fast, maybe they read too slow. But, at least they are there and that is brave.
So, on September 30th at 10:30 AM, I extend a special invitation to you, to witness people of all ages giving glory to God, being led by the children. I encourage you not to dismiss it outright. I encourage you to come and be present as you would any other Sunday and bear witness to the Holy Spirit moving in and through the priesthood of all believers.
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