Children's Worship

Luke 18:16: But Jesus called them to him, saying,
"Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God."

We welcome you and your child in worship! We encourage you to reference these tips below to help involve your child in the worship of our God.

Children learn how to participate in worship by being in worship. However, many parents worry about how their child will behave or whether he/she is absorbing anything that happens. Following are a few tips to help you help your child feel comfortable in worship:

• Relax! God put the wiggle in children—don't feel you have to suppress it in God's house.
• Pick up a worship kit for your child in the baskets outside the Sanctuary.
• Save the Children's Bulletin your child received when entering the Sanctuary for use during the sermon.
• Use a gentle touch: an arm around your child's shoulder or your hand in his/hers gives reassurance and appropriate attention.
• Explain quietly the parts of the service.
• Help your child find the pages in the hymnal. Use the book marks in the worship kit. As you sing, move your finger along the words to help your child learn how to read a hymn.
• Sing the hymns, pray and voice the responses. Children learn good behavior in church by copying yours.
• Encourage them to come to children's sermon and ask them to participate in the message.
• Allow your child to help pass the offering plate and put money into it.
• Following the service, ask your child how he or she experienced God in worship today. This helps set the expectation that we do encounter God in worship.
• Always remember that the way we welcome children in church directly affects the way they respond to church, God, and Christ. Let them know that they are at home here at First United Methodist Church.

Additionally, we offer the following:
 

Worship Kits are small bags of activities provided during each worship service. They can be picked up near the Children's Chapel Table in the Narthex (outside the Sanctuary). Please return the Worship Kit to the basket following the worship service.

Children's Worship Bulletins are specially designed for children and are available from the ushers upon entry to the Sanctuary. They offer special activities for children that supplement the lectionary scripture texts for the day.

Live Video Broadcast of the 8:30 and 11 a.m. worship is available in W120 (Bride's Room) for those who need to soothe young children.

Nursery (infants to age two): Our church community recognizes the importance of the loving, caring environment you desire for your child during worship. Silent pagers are provided for parents, and a positive-identity system is in place.
Infants (C101) • Walkers (C102) • Talkers (C104)

Wee Worship (age three as of Sept. 1) (C114) offers worship activities for young children during the 11 a.m. service.

Children’s Chapel (age four as of Sept. 1– kindergarten) is a child-friendly worship during the 11 a.m. service. Following  the Children's Sermon, children meet workers outside the Sanctuary. Sign in at the table in the Narthex before worship and get a nametag for your child. Pick up your child in C116 following worship.

Children’s Choir (grades kindergarten - 5) are offered during the 8:30 and 11 a.m. worship services. Following the Children's Sermon, children meet choir directors outside the Sanctuary and attend rehearsal. Visit the Children's Choir page for more information.  

PALS (People Assisting with Love and Support) is our ministry to children and families with special needs. Volunteers assist families with children who have special needs during Sunday school and the 11 a.m. worship. Parents bring their children to our PALS room (C111) to check in. The children are taken to their Sunday School classroom with their PALS. The PALS provide assistance and guidance for the children so that their families may attend Sunday school or worship.

More Worship Opportunities for Elementary Children:

Kindergarten Worship Unit
During the spring semester, the Kindergarten Sunday School class will participate in a twelve-week study about worship, following the Children Worship! Curriculum. During this time, the children will learn what worship means, the different parts of the worship service, special hymns, and participate in their own worship time. Information is provided for parents to help reinforce this learning during worship. The study culminates in a special family worship time on a Sunday morning during Sunday School with a family fellowship activity to follow the 11 a.m. worship service.

Acolytes
Students in grades 4–6 have the opportunity to participate in the worship service by serving as an Acolyte. Acolytes carry the cross and the light into worship and assist in Holy Communion and Baptisms. Training sessions are held in August or early September.

Children's Worship Services
Throughout the year elementary children will participate in planning, and leading special services for children, usually scheduled during the Sunday School hour. Parents are always invited to participate.