Dear Parents and Church,
We are so glad to have you in worship and love having both you and your children with us. As I am just getting started with my family, I know that taking young kids to church can be hard. It’s hard before even leaving the house. And upon arriving, it can still be a struggle. But it’s worth it to worship together as a family. It matters. We’re here for you and lovingly embrace the struggle with you. Here are a few helpful suggestions when worshipping together…
- Sit towards the front where it is easier for your little ones to see and hear what’s going on.
- Quietly explain the parts of the service and actions of the pastor to help them understand what is going on.
- Sing, pray, and voice the responses. Children are learning from you as you worship by copying you.
- Relax! God put the wiggle in children and we all know it can be hard for a child to sit still for the duration of the service.
- Lastly, it takes time! Helping your children to worship takes practice, patience, and regular participation.
But, we all know that there are times when it doesn’t always go the way we plan, times when your child needs a bit of a break or reset. When those times happen, please don’t feel bad about taking your child out of the Sanctuary. You are always welcome to step out into the Welcome Center, where the service is being streamed. There is, also, a staffed nursery available for children 5 years old and under. And if you need to leave the service with your child, please feel free to come back in at any point in the service. As Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.”
Remember, we worship as a community of Christ, not just as a group of individuals. Our actions in worship, our welcoming of others, our encouragements and assistance to those who might need it can strengthen us both as a community and as individuals. The way we welcome children and train children in church directly affects us all, but especially affects the way these little ones respond to worship and to God. Every time a child is brought to the waters of baptism, we make a promise to partner with the parents and come alongside them to encourage them in their faith in Christ. It’s a promise that leads us to joyfully commit to each other to practice grace, love, and patience with one another, understanding the joys and struggles of worshipping together.
Lots of love,
Amber Reed
Director of Children’s Discipleship
Memorial Lutheran Church Katy