Five steps to including children in worship

 Our children are a part of the family of God. As part of the family of God, children need to participate in worship. Jesus calls us to worship, to come together as a family and Jesus made a point of not excluding children. If children sit back and play while their parents worship the message is that worship is only for adults.

The first step in involving children in worship is to require or encourage your child to follow the physical actions of worship. Stand when the congregation stands, sit when the congregation sits, kneel when the congregation kneels. At this point there is no need to read the prayers,  just follow the the actions of worship. Kindergarten is just the right time to start this.

 Second, share your prayer book, bible and hymnal with your child. Hold the books at his or her reading level.Trace under the words with your finger so that they can see where the congregation or clergy is on the page. At first it is too fast and too complicated for them to read along, just give them the opportunity to see what is happening. They will drift and lose interest, but when they look back they can see that there is a system to all this talking.

The third step is  a continuation of the second. Keep reading, keep showing them where we are, but now ask them to find the hymns just before time to sing a hymn. Hymns are first because the numbers are big and easy to read.

 Fourth, introduce the bulletin. This may taking some chatting before or after the service though it also can be accomplished by pointing to the page number indicated in the bulletin and then turning to that page in the appropriate book. Point at the bulletin, point at the page number in the book  over and over and eventually it will sink in.

  Finally, begin to just hand them the right book at the right time all the while pointing at page number listed in the bulletin. Hymnal before the procession, prayer book for the collect, bible for the readings, hymnal for the gospel procession, prayer book for the prayers and the creed  and on and on all while standing, sitting, and kneeling at the right time. It is a lot to figure out. It will take time and patience.

    In being attentive to the worship experience and mentoring our children to an understanding of the mechanics of worship, we teach them that it is very important to us. We model what we want. We set the expectation of participation. Our actions will teach them that worship isn't just for the grown ups it is for all of us and we are all joined as one body of Christ.