WHY DO WE WORSHIP WITH CHILDREN?
Research tells us that children who worship with their parents are three times more likely to grow into adults, who have a life-transforming faith in Jesus Christ and who are connected to a worshipping, serving, learning community of faith themselves. Isn’t this precisely what all of us want for the children we love?
Scripture
- God created all
- God calls all into relationship with both God and the neighbor
- God calls all of us to worship
- Jesus welcomed children
- Jesus told us we need to become like children in faith, so they
- are sent as our teachers
- All need to know God’s story, so that we can share God’s story
Baptism
- We welcome children as our brothers and sisters in Christ.
- Children are the present of the church, not just its future.
- The Holy Spirit is active in the children, stirring up faith.
- Parents promise to bring their children to worship in God’s house.
How children learn
- By doing, early and often.
- By watching the adults we love worshipping.
- When worship becomes a family habit.
- Children can lead in worship, too.
What children learn by worshipping
- That worship is important to the adults they love.
- How to worship.
- Elements of worship – prayer, creed, hymns, liturgy.
- That they belong, that they are a vitally important part of the faith family.
- That Jesus loves them and welcomes them.