Children Worship & Wonder

It's time, once again, to begin our Children Worship & Wonder program. This program is a Montessori influenced program where children learn about God as they experience God’s stories. It was created to make a special worship space where Children come to encounter God, to be still with God and to listen to God and begin to nurture their spiritual life. This special worship space is designed with recognition of children as spiritual beings who already have a relationship with God.

Each week the children come into their special worship space, where a storyteller waits for them with a smile on his/her face. They sit in a circle, surrounded by bible stories made just for them. Everything in this special place is accessible to the children. 

They begin their worship time just as we begin ours, the gathering of God's people to hear God’s word. They will hear the word proclaimed through a bible story told with multi-sensory materials children with all learning styles can value and enjoy. As the story is finished they are invited to enter into a time of wonder. They are asked 'wondering questions' to help them dive deeper into the meaning of the story and to listen for God's still voice found there.

And, just as in "big" worship, the children will respond to the Word. In adult worship we respond through prayer, song, offerings, communion, blessings, dedications and baptisms. The children have the chance to respond to the Word in a myriad of ways as well. Some of these ways include telling their own story or the biblical story they heard, using arts and crafts materials, reading books or working with puzzles, paint and Play-Doh.

We begin this important program with orientation sessions to help the children learn that the worship center is a very special place. We help our younger friends, who might be new to the program, learn how to prepare themselves for such a special place and how to work with God’s special stories. It is important for each child to attend these orientation sessions so they can remember that what we do together in the worship center is special and is for God. Parents, Grandparents or special adult friends are strongly encouraged to attend at least one session with the children so they will have an idea of how wonderful this program is for the faith formation of our children.

Please set aside time to encounter God in Children Worship & Wonder beginning Sunday, August 9th. The children will be invited forward for a special blessing during ‘big church’ and will then depart for a wonderful year of learning together to worship God, for our children were given to us to love and teach the ways of our faith. This program is an important part of fulfilling that call.

Blessings,
Tracy