Engaging Children In Worship Writings

This week I am thrilled to be with other champions for Christian education at the 2016 National CEF (Christians Engaged In Faith Formation) Conference in Nashville and participating in a Community of Practice for engaging children in worship. I serve a church where intergenerational worship happens every week.  But getting there started with the first step of communicating the ‘why’. One way to begin the conversation of moving to sharing worship as a whole family of faith included months of sharing writings/blogs/research about that very thing on my personal Facebook page with our congregation.  These are some of the writings shared that helped us engage in the conversations:

• http://www.churchleaders.com/daily-buzz/260593-students-leave-faith-graduation-according-research-biggest-factor.html
• http://www.kveller.com/to-the-woman-who-told-me-my-kids-dont-belong-in-synagogue/
• https://refocusministry.org/2015/03/10/my-kid-doesnt-get-anything-out-of-church/
• http://www.patheos.com/blogs/ponderanew/2016/03/13/killing-the-church-with-sunday-school/
• http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2013/03/welcoming-children-to-holy-week-services.html
• http://drewdowns.net/2011/10/07/4-keys-to-engaging-children-in-church/
• http://www.sarahwalkercleaveland.com/engage-kids-in-worship/
• http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/engaging-children-in-worship
• http://www.moodychurch.org/tmckids/blog/teaching-children-engage-worship/
• http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/more-ideas-on-engaging-children-in-worship/
• http://www.faithformationlearningexchange.net/uploads/5/2/4/6/5246709/best_practices_-_children_faith_formation.pdf
• http://www.religioninsights.org/articles/take-action-include-children-your-worship-service-0
• http://www.reformedworship.org/article/june-2005/it-takes-congregationto-nurture-children
• https://refocusministry.org/2015/03/14/do-not-hinder/

This is just a sample of information that is available to continue conversations within a congregation…one at a time…over a period of time….of engaging and including children in worship.

We are ‘all in’ to include children in worship at my church. It works for us and sets us our mid-sized church apart from other churches in our area that provide separate worship for children and adults. Worshipping as a whole family of faith is now part of our culture. Where we wish to go this next season is to not only engage children in worship, but continue to make worship even more engaging for children. I can’t wait to find out what else we will learn and share this week as we endeavor to champion for children in worship. What other writings can you communicate to continue the conversation?

“What’s good for kids is good for adults.” Mark Burrows, Director of Children’s Ministries at First United Methodist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, author of Children First: Worshipping With The Family of God

“The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:39