Practical Tips for Worshipping
with Children
We
are so glad to have small children in worship with us. Even the
littlest ones can absorb God's love by listening to the various forms
of m
usic,
by hearing the Gospel proclained from the center, and by feasting on
the bread and wine at communion. Please don't worry about them if
they wiggle or make noise - we are very used to that around here!
What follows are some tips that might help them engage the liturgy.
Try to have them use the restroom before the service begins, but of course if the need arises, there is a door in the front to the right that leads to the Sunday School wing. There is a women's restroom upstairs, and both gender restrooms downstairs.
Keeping their hands busy is a good idea. They
can choose a soft toy, book, or coloring clipboard from that area at
the top fo the 
stairs,
near the sanctuary entrance, Or you may bring soft toys with you.
Please refrain from things that beep or clank or make loud noises
when thrown down or dropped.
Point out what is happening in each part of the service. (Look! Here comes Rex with the Jesus storybook! I wonder what story it will be today?)
Speak to them in quiety whipsers, so that they learn to whisper solftly in respone.
Teach them parts of the service that they can join in reciting, such as the songs of the Sanctusy (Holy Holy Holy Lord), or the Lord's Prayer, or the Baptismal Covenant responses (I will with God's help). Teach them the responses to the readings (thanks be to God!) or to the Gospel (praise to you Lord Christ). Prompt them when these parts are about to come up in the liturgy and encourage yoru child to say it with you. There is a book called "Alleluia Amen" you can take from the back that helps children learn these responses.
During the peace help them mover around and shake hands 
with members of the congregation. Teach them to say "Peace of the Lord be with you".
Have them do the physical movements of our liturgy. Stand to sing or pray, turn to face the Gospel book, bow when the cross goes by, hold hands out for the holy bread, etc.
Bringing food into the sanctuary for small children is fine. Please refrain from things that come in noisy wrappers though, and please clean up your area when the service if over. (Those cheerios could live under that pew for quite a while, as we don't have a regular cleaning service for the sanctuary!)
If your child prefers staying in the nursery during the service, that of course is fine. We have two nursery options, one for very small children, (3 and under), and an option for slightly older children. A greeter will go to the nurseries at the passing of the peace to bring in to the sanctuary any who want to celebrate the Eucharist with us.
Help make Eucharist be the highlight of the morning. You can teach tehm about 'Jesus Bread'. You can heop them create their own way of offering gratitude after receiving, such as 'amen' or 'thank you God'.
Help teach
stewardship by having them place a food shelf item in the basket in the
lobby, or by letting them put your donation in the offering plate.
Encourage them to give away a portion of their personal money
from allowance or gifts.
Older Children
Have them follow along in the bulletin.
Have them find the Hymn and sing along.
Encourage them to help an usher ush or a greeter greet - just speak with whomever is doing it that day, they will be eager for a child's help.
Have them bring up the bread and wine at the offertory. Simply go to the back at the passing of the peace and a greeter will hand them vessels to carry to the altar.
Is your child a good reader? They can read a lesson in church. Speak with LeeAnne or MiaLisa about how to volunteer and be trained for that ministry.
Have them bake bread for Eucharist. Speak with
Ginny DeLuca about how to get involved with that.
Have them come to the sacristy after the service and become a junior altar guild member.
Speak with your child on the way to church to see what special needs they might like to remember in prayer that day, or who they might be especially happy to see, or wonder what the Jesus story of the day might be.
Encourage their attendance in our Godly Play program Sundays at 9am. This program teaches the flow of the liturgy, the rhythm of the church year, as well as great Bible stories.
Speak with your child on the way home. What did they see? Hear? Feel? Have questions about?