Welcoming Kids in Worship
From preschool through high school, a large part of my faith was formed on the left side of the 4th row of the sanctuary located at the corner of Andrew Jackson Trail and Daniel Drive in Gulf Breeze. Nanna sat on my right, Mom on my left, and further down the row was my brother and my dad. Sunday morning after Sunday morning, an elderly gentleman, Mr. Bass, always greeted me with a hug and a stick of gum. Nanna held the hymnal down to a height where I could read it. I learned the Lord’s Prayer, Doxology, and Gloria Patri through repetition each week. Yes, Sunday School, children’s programs, and youth group were all essential parts of my growing faith journey. This intergenerational community on Sunday mornings, though, holds some of the strongest feelings and ties for the meaning of the church as the family of God.
Beginning this Sunday, I am excited to begin building this type of experience into the faith development of the children of Cokesbury. Our kids ages 3 and up will begin in the sanctuary for both the 9:30 and 11 am services. I can’t wait to have them as part of the church community in this way, and I know I can count on you to welcome them. Perhaps you will say hello to a 5-year-old or make sure the child seated behind you can still see the screen when everyone is standing. Perhaps you will offer a friendly word of encouragement to the parent seated by you or pick up a stuffed animal that gets dropped.
With limited attention spans, though, children will be invited to worship catered to their age after the first two songs at the 9:30 service and after the Gloria Patri at the 11:00 service. I’ll be waiting for them in the back of the sanctuary, and we will walk down to Bullington Hall together for a Bible story, crafts, games, and more fun. At the end of the service, the children can be picked up in Bullington Hall.
See you on Sunday,
Kathy Minor
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