Kids in Worship!

We believe Connecting through worship is a vital part of developing faith at all ages. The schedule that launches August 11 opens up opportunities for everyone in our church to Connect and Grow more deeply. This will be an adjustment for children, parents, and other congregants and we want to support folks as much as possible.

The new schedule will have a growth hour starting at 9:00 a.m. with new classes and Life Groups being offered for parents. We will start children's check-in and drop off at 8:45 a.m. for those who have worshipped at 8:00 or who are on their way to adult classes. The Sunday school/Growth hour will include a bigger snack to help support families as we know it is earlier than before.

Sunday schedule as it pertains to children's classes and worship:

8:00-8:45 a.m. A shorter, smaller worship service (some early bird families worship here)

8:45-9:15 a.m. Children arrive, welcome, free play, light breakfast

9:15-9:30 a.m. All ages children gather for opening with songs, story, prayer

9:30-10:00 a.m. Preschool students in their class completing activity, video story, and time for free play as needed

10:00 a.m. Dismissal

10:00-10:30 a.m. Coffee and Donut Fellowship in Celebration Room

10:15 a.m. Worship in the chapel with the Praise Band

10:30 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary with the Choir and Organ

Worship will likely be the biggest challenge for our preschoolers and young elementary students who have not regularly attended worship before. We hope to bridge this gap by utilizing the Grace Spaces (tables and chairs with activities), adding ways for all people to connect to the worship celebrations, and by helping families on an individual basis if there are challenges to address. Worship wise, the new schedule will look very similar to summer for preschool and early elementary students. The nursery will continue to accept children up to 5 years old (sometimes older) who will be more successful there. We will continue to have Worship Readiness during the sermon, which we find the most challenging, and will try to have children participating in as many other parts of worship as possible like communion, opening songs, prayers, scripture, and special events like new members and baptisms. As we work into the new schedule please let me know what is working and not working so your entire family can feel success.

One resource that some have found helpful: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/children-in-worship-mom-tested-tips/

The resource bookshelf in the Celebration Room also has books on helping families on their faith journeys.

Over the next months we will share some tips for how others can support families in worship and how parents can support children, too. This is a big change and a challenge with young children and want you to know that we aim most of all to support you all in connecting in worship and growing as followers of Christ. Please, reach out to Allison Brewer if you have questions or concerns or to make an individual plan of support for your family.