KIDS IN WORSHIP - WE LOVE THEM; LET'S HELP THEM

Dear Emmaus Road,

I have some ideas about how to help our children participate in worship services, and I am interested in your feedback.

Over the years, our gradually growing crowd of young children has brought energy to our gatherings. We welcome them in many ways, and pursue ideas to support them together. Having them in our midst challenges us to relate the Gospel in creative ways, and to equip them to become future leaders and partners in ministry. Recently, we began referring to our children and youth as the “Young Church”; they are already part of us. On Sunday mornings, we are usually all together for the first part of the service; we intentionally program their exit to Godly Play and Big Kids after they have had an opportunity to engage in worship, singing songs, hearing and reciting prayers, etc. This is a primary way of introducing them to communal worship. During the music, their free, unfettered response has often been noted by visitors as a welcome sign of life in Emmaus Road. It is a contrast with how some have experienced worship gatherings elsewhere, when worship spaces largely excluded children.

I know we love our kids, and I think we like those aspects of our Emmaus Road gatherings. I also believe, though, we could be helping them find their way into more intentional fellowship with us. Over our typical time span of about 15 minutes of singing and a brief prayer or reading, I would like to try some things to help funnel their wonderful energy into authentic engagement with the music and other elements of communal worship. Sometimes, it seems our children move beyond musical response and movement to something more akin to play time. From up front, playing, singing, and speaking, I sense they occasionally lose focus from our attempt to direct attention to the Lord together, and become more enthralled with each other’s motions, the thrill of speed, toys or objects nearby that are tempting to play with, etc. We all recognize there are developmental stages at work, and limits to attention spans. But we know that children can be led into song and motion, and can be engaged as a group, when leaders spend time with them, invite them to hear and learn, and set different expectations for that time. We may not be able to form a traditional children’s choir, but there are other ways to help them find their voice in our gatherings.

I wonder, too, about how to help them make the transition from receiving morning treats to giving time and attention to the main purpose of our gathering. What kind of structure could we introduce to differentiate between the places where fellowship around donuts, fruit, pancakes, etc. is enjoyed, and the spaces where community sings, prays, moves, shares, and learns together?

Here is where I ask for your feedback. Perhaps you have little ones (or a little one), and you know what excites them and what bores them. Maybe you have some creative ideas about how to help our kids move or dance together, or set expectations and boundaries around snacks and worship activities. Please let me know, as I would like to work on this throughout the summer. If we agree on some expectations and approaches, we could enjoy worship together in a way that includes our young church even more effectively.

BTW, nobody has come to me, your pastor, to complain about our children in worship. This springs from my own feelings and conversations I have initiated with some of you.

 Please respond directly to me as you have time to reflect!