"Let the little children come to me." ~Matthew 19:14
We Welcome Kids in Worship
for parents or Caregivers
➤ Model being in worship: your attendance, participation and attitude speak volumes
➤ Remind children that worship is a gift we offer to God
➤ Allow time to make bathroom visits and get settled before worship
➤ Sit toward the front. Children who can see what’s going on are more likely to be engaged
➤ Greet friends and visitors and emphasize how good it is to be together as a community
➤ Guide your child through the bulletin and hymnal
➤ Activity bags are hanging near the table at the side entrance to the sanctuary. We understand kids might get restless. It’s fine to let them read or draw, especially during the sermon
➤ Talk with your child about their joys and concerns before worship, and encourage them to pray silently or aloud during the Prayers of the Church
➤ Help them appreciate the sanctuary: the stained glass windows, flowers, paraments, candles, organ pipes and so on
➤ Encourage them to say “thank you” after the service to people who led worship that day
➤Have a conversation about the service on your way home: "What did you enjoy?" "What part was hard to understand?" "How did you feel when …?"
for the congregation
➤ Remember our congregation’s commitment to children and youth and the promises we made at their baptisms
➤ Extend the Peace of Christ to children as well as adults; call children by name
➤ Please refrain from entering or exiting the sanctuary during the scripture reading, sermon or prayers
➤ Appreciate that parenting is hard and holy work
➤ Remember that you were once a child, too
"Children’s participation in the sacrament of communion is based on their faith and trust, rather than extensive theological understanding. Young children can be nurtured in the trust and grace of God, and can come to the table with a sense of belonging and of receiving. Their presence helps the whole congregation to act as a community called into being by Jesus Christ. The Body of Christ includes all ages!"
~Rev. Carolyn Landers Pettigrew, from the Worship & Education Team of the national UCC
children and holy communion
At St. Anthony Park UCC, we believe that the communion table is open to all people – no exceptions, limitations or qualifications. Christ is the host and Christ welcomes everyone. On the first Sunday of every month, we celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion, and all children and youth are welcome to participate.
Children can understand 3 key theological components of communion:
God’s people share a meal together as God’s family
We say “thank you” to God
We remember Jesus
Children can observe, wonder, witness, absorb and participate in the whole liturgy of communion.
➤ Communion engages all of the senses: see, hear, taste, touch and smell
➤ Children may not fully understand the sacrament, but their experience of it will grow and deepen as they mature
➤ It is important for children to witness their parent(s) and other adults in the community receiving the bread and cup
➤ Children learn to be in worship only by being in worship; it is a learned behavior
➤ Children are capable of meeting high expectations
➤ Adults ought not underestimate the spiritual capacity of children
➤ If the parent(s) or child prefer that the child not commune, they are welcome to witness the sacrament but not partake of the bread and cup.
QUIET Corner
We encourage parents to do what is best for their family. We have a Quiet Corner under the Rose Window where kids who want to stay in the Sanctuary during worship can spread out on the carpet and find items that could be useful during the worship service.