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Why should there be children in the pews? 1. All should be welcome in worship. "Everyone must come - men, women,
children, and even the foreigners who live in your towns. And each new generation will listen and learn to worship the Lord
their God with fear and trembling and to do exactly what is written in God's Law." Deuteronomy 31:12 2. Morals and spiritual development starts as early as age two. Research
by the Barna Research Group shows that by age nine (other says age seven) most children's spiritual foundation has been
formed and integrated into their life. 3. Children need
to learn how to worship - by watching others, participating, exploring. 4. Children are concrete learners - they need to see, hear and feel worship before they will be able to embrace
and claim it for themselves. 5. Children need to know
that they are a part of a community of faith. 6. Children
are shaped by the corporate worship opportunities of the faith community - experiencing rituals, traditions, language, commitments,
and challenges. 7. Children show us how to worship as
children - see Matthew 18:3
Children in Worship at Central...
Children in K-5th grade join worship whenever there is a 5th Sunday in a month. Because of the way our Sunday morning
children's ministry works, it is difficult to have our children in worship on a weekly basis. This is our current balance.
When the children will be in worship they will be provided a Children's Order of Worship to help walk them through the
service. They will also be given a worship bag. A baggie that has paper and crayons in it. The purpose of the worship bag
is for children to visually express what they are experiencing in worship. Children will also be invited to the Chancel area
for Children's Time. A portion of the service focused on the children. If you have any questions about children and worship,
please contact Rev. Kathy.
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I am a parent... How do I prepare to have my kids in
worship? First, breath. Remember that kids are
by nature concrete learners and they often learn through their senses. Here are some other ways and suggestions for you to
include your child in meaningful worship: * Prepare.
There is a difference between "going to church" and "going to worship". Have a "going to worship"
mentality. Teach kids the difference between "be quiet and be good" and "Be still, and know that I am God"
(Psalm 46:10). "Going to worship requires a life transformation and happens out of a new heart, not an old habit. Going
to church can be nothing more than smart time management with good intentions. It may not have much at all to do with worship.
(p.18)
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The Meaning
of Worship
Worship is not refueling to get through another week. "Worship is the surrender
of our souls to a God who is jealous for our attention, time and love. Worship is a challenge. We need to work at our worship.
With children, we often have to work harder." (pp 24-25) Worship
is not refueling to get through another week. "Worship is the surrender of our souls to a God who is jealous for our
attention, time and love. Worship is a challenge. We need to work at our worship. With children, we often have to work harder."
(pp 24-25) "God invited families to 'be still and know' God. Jesus desires
the praise and worship of children. He delights in the songs of infants. God calls us to worship God, God commands it.
In fact, so serious is this to God that if we humans fail to worship, rocks may take our places.
When Jesus came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began to joyfully
praise God in loud voices... Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry
out." Luke 19:37-40
Parenting in the pew is the process of putting a few rocks out of work! (p. 30)
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A resource... The quotes that
I have used in this page are from a book called Parenting in the Pew: Guiding Your Children into the Joy of Worship by
Robbie Castleman. I wish I could just give every family a copy of this book. It gives wonderful instruction about how to parent
in the pew. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of this book, please see Kathy Pittenger.
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