We are delighted to have children in our

worship services.

We believe that children are important to our church family. We find that they contribute their unique perspective while they are learning from the worshiping community.

A child of any age may attend the worship service. However, parents and other church members volunteer to provide a nursery throughout the service for children ages birth through two-years-old. Separate worship and learning experiences are provided for children three years old through 5^th grade. These older preschoolers are in the 11:00 worship service until after “Prime Time for Kids” when they may exit to their own worship experience or remain in the service with their parents.

We are eager for children to feel “at home” in the worship service.

You may find that the following suggestions will help to maximize their understanding and enjoyment of the service as we invite them to participate in their own way.

Prepare your child for the worship experience by speaking of attending the worship service as a special experience.

This is a wonderful opportunity for you to have a family experience at church. Bringing your child to the worship service can be a real challenge, but so are many other facets of parenting. On Saturday evening or Sunday morning, pray together for the service. Approach this family worship experience as an opportunity to learn from your child as well as to teach him or her. Jesus said to his disciples, “…unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:3-4) Experiencing worship from the perspective of a child can help us to recapture the wonder and mystery of being in the presence of God.

Make opportunities for your child to talk with worship leaders.

When children know the worship leaders as friends, they are more likely to attend to them in the worship service. You might invite them to your home for a meal or dessert, make a visit to their home or office (perhaps taking something made by the child), or linger after church services or meetings to interact with worship leaders.

Take care of basic physical needs before the worship service.

Taking your child to the restroom and getting a drink of water should make it unnecessary for them to leave the sanctuary during the service. If they must leave, please instruct them to use the back entrance rather than the side doors nearest the pulpit.

Sit together as a family, especially when your child is young.

Children learn much about worship as they watch you and other adults participating in the various expressions of worship. If they see what is happening “at the front,” they will be more attentive. Try to choose a seat near the front or in a location where their vision is not blocked. Children cannot and will not sit perfectly still in the service. A certain amount of wiggling is expected and appropriate. Other worshipers probably are more tolerant of their movement than you are. Yet, they need guidance from parents in appropriate behavior for a child.

Encourage your child to stand and sit with the congregation.

Children tend to want to sit during the first part of the service when others are standing up periodically. Then when the congregation is seated for the sermon, they are ready to “stretch their legs.” The elements in the first part of the service are often the ones that are more active. Children need to be guided in how they can participate.

Pick up a Children’s Worship Bulletin available at the entrance to the sanctuary.

Age-appropriate Bible stories and activities engage the hands and mind of a fidgety child.

Encourage your child to participate in “Prime Time for Kids” during the service.

This is a wonderful opportunity for children to participate in an object lesson taught on their level. Children should move forward during the last verse of the hymn or chorus preceding Prime Time. Children ages three through 5th grade will exit from Prime Time to their own worship experience.

If you are a guest, you might allow your older child to complete the guest information card in the Welcome Packet located on the Information table in the vestibule.

Let them put it in the offering plate when it is passed or hand it to the pastor as you exit the service.

Involve your child in the music experiences.

Even the youngest, non-reader can respond to music by tapping in rhythm or swaying to the beat. You can help older children locate the hymns and indicate with your finger which line of the hymn is being sung. We read hymns differently from books and that can be confusing to young readers. Share the hymnbook with your child as you sing.

Help your child know how he or she can best join in prayer.

It is difficult for young children (and others, too) to close their eyes and concentrate for a long prayer. Discuss ahead of time how they can keep quiet and focused on think-talking with God. Suggest prayer activities such as mentally listing friends for whom they are concerned, people and happenings of the week for which they are thankful, or events about which they are anxious. If they are quiet, do not insist that they close their eyes for the entire prayer.

Help your child to find the Scripture passages in his or her Bible.

Beginning readers have a lot of interest in finding passages and recognizing words. Encourage them to find, as well as listen for, familiar Bible names or verses.

Help your child to understand about the offering.

The offering fascinates children, but they do not understand why it is given or where it goes. Take some time to discuss these issues with your child. Give him or her money to put in the plate. This act helps them to learn that the offering is an act of worship, too.

Prepare your child in advance for special services such as baptism and communion.

Prepare your child for what will take place and how they should participate. Listen carefully as the pastor explains the meaning of these ordinances. It may help you answer your child’s questions later.

Before and after the service, talk with your child about the invitation time.

Explain why people respond by going to the pastor and why it is an important time in the worship service.

Discuss the service after you go home.

In a casual way, share which parts of the service were most meaningful to you. Ask the child what they found most interesting. Answer their questions about parts of the worship service they found confusing.

We hope you and your child will have a positive worship experience. Remember that we are here to help you in any way we can. We would like to hear your suggestions about how we could involve your child in our worship services or make the experience more meaningful to them and to you.

He (Jesus) took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
(Mark 9:36)

We Welcome

You and Your Child to Worship

"Using our spiritual gifts to proclaim the gospel, love, teach, reach and serve people for Christ in our community and beyond."