Mark 10:14 (Jesus) said to them. “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.”

This is part of our mandate as Christians, and especially as Presbyterians, to nurture our children in their faith and help them to grow in their understanding of God’s love. So, as you look around the sanctuary you will see that children are a part of our worshipping community.

Children belong in worship!

Infants: Infants can also “feel” the special atmosphere of worship – through music, the sounds of prayers, and presence of people surrounding them. Letting them be a part of worship in the sanctuary, even if only for 5 or 10 minutes (until they are restless) is an important experience for them. Begin good spiritual practices like singing hymns, and praying with them.

The younger child: Parents and others may wonder about the wisdom of including young children in worship. After all, young children have rather limited attention spans, unending energy, and a growing curiosity about everything...an unlikely combination with people who are trying to be reflective, and spend time in prayer. Nevertheless, here are several things parents can do to make a child’s experience (and their own) more relaxed and worshipful. Parents can help them in these ways:

• Arrive in time to find a good place to sit. A place near the front often helps them to see.
• Make sure your child’s physical needs are met before worship begins.
• Exhibit joy and enthusiasm in your own worship. You are your child’s greatest role model! Sing, pray, read, and listen like you mean it!
• As you arrive, pick up a worship kit in the narthex that has drawing supplies for your child.
• Prepare your child ahead of time for worship for what to expect and how best to behave.
• Decide together ahead of time on signals that can be used without talking which communicate both positive and negative feedback.
• During the worship service answer questions that need an immediate answer in a quiet whisper.
• Encourage your children to stand and sit at the appropriate times – this helps with wiggles too.
• If you do need to exit the sanctuary, do so at an appropriate time (NOT during the scripture reading, prayers or anthems, please).
• Send an occasional smile their way – worship should be a great occasion to share God’s love with your children.
• Stay for fellowship time – sometimes the cookie and chats after church make a big impression about the welcome-ness of church to a child!
• Help them find the page numbers of hymns to be ready to sing.
• Help them give an offering even if it is a small amount. This teaches sharing early.
• Practice – children often enjoy playing “church” at home.
• Answer any questions your child might have after worship.

Please see important notes about the “Children’s Worship” program designed specifically for young children. Children participating in this program attend the 11:00 A.M. sanctuary worship for about half the time and then participate in this special worship experience during the remainder of the service time.

The older child: may have a greater capacity for attentive listening, an increasing ability to read, and the ability to organize and memorize information. They usually know when to sit and stand. They can bow during prayers, can find hymns in the hymnal, and follow along with the words to songs and readings. If they are coming to worship regularly, it may surprise you that they have already memorized the Apostle’s Creed or Lord’s Prayer. They are eager to discover readable words in the bulletin and are beginning to apply reading skills to matters of faith. Parents can help them in these ways:

• Help them follow their bulletin, read the scripture lesson, and follow along as the reading is made.
• Again, show your interest and give positive reinforcement that they are trying and doing well.
• These children may also surprise us by asking deep questions of faith after the service! Support their questions! Help answer them or find the answers with help from your church staff or during Education Hour (Sunday School).

We must remember that bringing children to worship may be a real test. So are many other facets of good parenting which we manage to get through. We must remember that baptized children are members of Christ’s church, and they must be among the people who worship God.

They might not participate just the way adults do, but they are growing in understanding and learning to take their places in the church family. Our satisfaction comes in later years when we see them stand in our midst with a faith of their own.

Other opportunities for children:

We are pleased to provide a safe and loving nursery for infants and toddlers (to age 4) during worship, carefully attended by at least two adult church members.

In addition to this our church provides a special experiential worship program called “Children’s Worship” for young children age 3 to 7 years old. This program is only held during a portion of the 11:00 A.M. worship (except during celebration of Holy Communion). Children participating in Children’s Worship are a part of the sanctuary worship first, and then are led by the Children’s Worship leaders to this special opportunity for a continued worship time in an age-appropriate setting. Orientation for children and their parents is an important part of this experience. Please see the Director of Christian Education for more information.

Worship Education classes are also offered on an occasional basis for children graduating out of the Children’s Worship program, specifically designed to help children better understand and appreciate their full-time worship in the sanctuary.

Children have several opportunities to help with worship leadership: as acolytes, ushers, choir members (cherub and children’s choir) occasional liturgists, and participants in special worship services, are but some.

Our denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA), endorses and encourages the participation of baptized children in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, once instruction is given by parents and/or others in the church. When you know Holy Communion (also called The Lord’s Supper or Eucharist) will be happening, talk with them about its meaning and importance. Occasional Sacraments Education classes are offered by our church to help with this instruction.

Children are welcome and encouraged to be in worship at Carolina Beach Presbyterian Church. Worship is God-centered praise and adoration. Children giggle, squirm, and swing their legs, simply because they are children. But they can also sing, pray, and give with us. Children learn worship by worshiping with the congregation Sunday after Sunday.

This pamphlet is written to suggest that we adults should try to understand/accept a child’s restlessness in worship, trusting that they are also learning:

• that they belong to Christ and are welcome in Christ’s Church.
• memorable, shared experiences of Christian community from which they may draw when they are older.
• that they are enriched by the beauty of music, art, prayers, and offerings as expressions of praise and as human responses to God.
• as they hear stories from the Bible read and interpreted, and they begin to see Christian worship as one place where God may speak to them.
• as they witness the drama of baptism and communion as signs of God’s kindness and love.

What the congregation can do:

Be supportive of parents. Let them know you appreciate having them at church. Tell them what a joy it is to have their children as part of our congregation. Reading this brochure may help us all understand a little better.