Children in Worship
Worship is:
- A time for the gathering of our church family.
- A set-apart time to consider things of worth and value
- A time to come home to ourselves.
Children:
- Are full, important members of our faith community. They are welcome here.
- Just like adults, children learn by doing and experiencing firsthand. We believed it is important for children to participate in whole church worship. Regardless of whether they understand everything that happens, we believe they will absorb bits and pieces as well as the sense of being valued and welcomed.
We also know that it is tough for children to sit still for long!
Thus we offer the following suggestions to parents.
- Get settled with your child(ren) as early as possible. Consider sitting near the front - children who can see what is happening feel more involved.
- Introduce yourself and your child(ren) to the people sitting nearby.
- Review the order of service and help children understand what will be happening. Share the hymnal and order of service at your child’s eye level. Line words with your finger for younger readers or whisper each line before it is sung.
- Feel free to whisper instructions to help children learn ‘worship etiquette’.
- During the storytime (Words for All Ages), feel free to come forward with any young or unsure child. (Words for All Ages is not offered during the Summer as at that time the religious education classes take place during service.)
- If your family has experienced a significant joy or concern, you and your child(ren) are welcomed to come forward to share during that portion of our service (Joys and Concerns).
- If you have a nursing infant or toddler, they are equally welcome in our service. If you prefer, you may be seated in the Wiggle Room, located just to the left of the main entrance.
- You and your family are important here.
