HCLC Mission Statement
Holy Communion Lutheran Church
6220 Portsmouth Blvd, Portsmouth VA 23701
Call: 757-488-2604
Holy Communion Lutheran Church Children's Page
Worshipping with Children
We welcome the presence of children in our worship because as Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” (Matthew 19:14) Including children in worship is important and necessary for the life of our community of faith!
We also recognize that the worship experience is new for children; there is sometimes an adjustment period in “getting them used to” being in worship. The best advice: let them be involved! Here are some tips to help in that task!
Tips for Parents:
•
Allow enough time to get settled and have bathroom visits before the service begins.
Allow enough time to get settled and have bathroom visits before the service begins.•Sit towards the front of the worship space! While this may seem counter-intuitive, children who can see easily will be more engaged in what’s going on. You can always sit at the end of a row so that you can make an easy exit if necessary.
Sit towards the front of the worship space! While this may seem counter-intuitive, children who can see easily will be more engaged in what’s going on. You can always sit at the end of a row so that you can make an easy exit if necessary.•Introduce your children to people nearby.
Introduce your children to people nearby.•Make sure your child has a bulletin (especially if they are readers). Another way is to share the bulletin with them, helping them identify different parts of the service and follow along with you.
Make sure your child has a bulletin (especially if they are readers). Another way is to share the bulletin with them, helping them identify different parts of the service and follow along with you. •Have them find the hymn numbers in the hymnal, and let them hold it as you sing together.
Have them find the hymn numbers in the hymnal, and let them hold it as you sing together.•Encourage children to participate in sharing their own offering! Give them something to put in the plate, which models being thankful and faithful giving back to God (stewardship). Even just a penny or two is more than enough! (Read Mark 12:42-43)
Encourage children to participate in sharing their own offering! Give them something to put in the plate, which models being thankful and faithful giving back to God (stewardship). Even just a penny or two is more than enough! (Read Mark 12:42-43)•Children learn worship etiquette by participation – feel free to whisper to your child to teach. Explain why we’re quiet during prayer, for example. Share with your child your own positive feelings (what’s meaningful) about the worship service.
Children learn worship etiquette by participation – feel free to whisper to your child to teach. Explain why we’re quiet during prayer, for example. Share with your child your own positive feelings (what’s meaningful) about the worship service.•Remember, it’s hard for children to sit for a long time. Allow children to sit or kneel on the floor and use the pew as a desk if necessary. Feel free to bring other resources in to help keep your child occupied as you worship together.
Remember, it’s hard for children to sit for a long time. Allow children to sit or kneel on the floor and use the pew as a desk if necessary. Feel free to bring other resources in to help keep your child occupied as you worship together.•Participating in communion together – whether they can receive it or simply get a blessing – is important for both them and you! If you feel your child is ready to receive communion, and you would like to take part in a first communion class, please let Pastor know!
Participating in communion together – whether they can receive it or simply get a blessing – is important for both them and you! If you feel your child is ready to receive communion, and you would like to take part in a first communion class, please let Pastor know!•Talk about worship on the drive home; ask them about what they heard or learned during worship…and what they liked or had a question about!
Talk about worship on the drive home; ask them about what they heard or learned during worship…and what they liked or had a question about!•Talk about prayer concerns and pray for those with them throughout the week. You can do that at bedtime, or in the car on the way home!
Talk about prayer concerns and pray for those with them throughout the week. You can do that at bedtime, or in the car on the way home! •If you feel your child is getting too disruptive, feel free to take them out of worship that day – and try again next week! Another strategy is to keep them in worship for shorter periods of time initially, and then lengthening the time each week.
If you feel your child is getting too disruptive, feel free to take them out of worship that day – and try again next week! Another strategy is to keep them in worship for shorter periods of time initially, and then lengthening the time each week.•And, as parents, you may have questions about the worship service yourself – please do not hesitate to ask another person present or Pastor!
And, as parents, you may have questions about the worship service yourself – please do not hesitate to ask another person present or Pastor!Acknowledgement goes to Incarnation Lutheran Church in Shoreview, MN in sharing their own tips, which helped in generating our own tips for worship!
