Before the service remind the child that he or she will be going to worship in the C.E. Building after the Time with Children. Ask him or her to please use the bathroom before the sanctuary service.
Children in Worship is a worship service for children, in contrast to a Sunday School class, where there is a less structured environment. The order in which we worship is modeled after the sanctuary worship service. We sit quietly in one place, we talk more softly, walk more softly, in our place of worship.
The Word from the Bible is given by a Storyteller who tells a Bible story, using small figures for the people in the story. It is a visual and auditory experience.
Yes! When the storyteller finishes the story he or she looks up and asks wondering questions about it. The storyteller says, “I wonder...” The children are invited to respond to the questions in a quiet way. They then are given an opportunity to respond with art materials—Play Dough, paints, markers, etc.
The children are invited to take off their shoes in the hall and then invited into the worship space one at a time, by name, by the Doorkeeper. They are greeted by the Storyteller who is already sitting on the floor. When everyone is seated on a carpet square, worship begins.
Yes! Children need to be picked up by a parent. The Doorkeeper announces the arrival of a child’s parent. The child goes to the Storyteller for a blessing, and then goes into the hall to put on his or her shoes. We do not permit a child to leave the Gathering room by him or herself.
There are several ways you can help.
- From a prepared list of supplies, gather items needed for a particular story.
- Parables are contained in boxes wrapped in gold paper – wrap the boxes.
- Become a Storyteller. We’re looking for parents of young children, as well as those who love children and enjoy interacting with them.
- Be a Doorkeeper – a greeter – one who welcomes and prepares the children to enter quietly a room of sacred space.
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