Dear K-6th Grade Parent,
If you are new to our church you may be wondering, what is going on with kids in the service? Did no one show up to help, or what? Actually, having kids in service is a very intentional and purposeful way to help them become disciples of Jesus. The following is information that will help you understand not only what we’re trying to accomplish, but also why.
If you have any questions about this please ask!
Worship Service
On Sunday’s everyone (except 7-12 graders) are together for the first half of the service and on the first Sunday of every month everyone in kindergarten or older stays together for the full service. Why?
- It is important for our entire “body” to participate together during worship. We believe this will help unify us by giving everyone a common experience with which they can relate and provides for consistency throughout the entire life of our congregation.
- It allows for the young to provide their joy, energy, and wonder, the elders to provide their wisdom, experience, and model of faithfulness, while parents provide their example, pass on their experience, and raise their families in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. Worshiping together, and especially with their parents, serves as children’s primary model for learning how to worship. We don’t want to miss giving you this opportunity or hinder our kids development.
- Experiences along with the examples of those they love and respect lays a foundation in children’s lives that will always be with them. Having them sing alongside you, allowing them to hear what God is doing through Ministry Minutes, participating in prayer and learning the Lords Prayer, worshiping and watching others do so through the giving of tithes and offerings, and being blessed every week as they leave, are like scoops of cement, that over time and with consistency expand their foundation in Christ to a reality they will never walk away from. We strongly believe that a child that has been meaningfully involved in worship through childhood, adolescents, and late teen years, is more likely to continue worshiping with the Body of Christ in their early adult years.
- Most weeks, your children will leave halfway through the service for two major reasons: First, it allows Pastor Steve to teach you and the other adults at your level. Second, it allows us to tailor the children’s lessons to their unique learning styles and needs. One of the “extra” benefits is that it allows you a few moments of uninterrupted time to focus completely on your relationship with God.
- Failing to acclimate children into the church body during their most formative years frequently results in a disconnection that shows up as they grow. Keeping children in the service, usually on the first Sunday of the month when communion is served, helps them to be acclimated into participating for an entire service, and gives families an opportunity to participate in communion together. It is our hope that this removes some of their feelings of disconnect and helps them as they transition into Jr. High, High School, college, and early adulthood.
We have a tool to help you lead your child into an understanding of what Communion is all about if you’d like some help. It’s fairly simple to use, it just take a little time. It provides scripture to read through, questions for your child to answer, and provides you with how LJCC would answer those question. - We are also committed to involving the children in helping to lead various parts of worship. While this is an area we are still very much working on trying to expand and improve, we have had kids reading scripture, and praying. If you see any portion of the service your child would enjoy participating in – even preaching - please let me know. Our commitment is not only to have them present, but to help them know they have an important role to play in our church body, even in its leading. On top of all this, their participation also forces us to be “real” in our worship planning. “Unless you become like a child, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
I know it can be difficult at times to have your kids in the service with you, both for you and for them. I wish I could eliminate that, but since I can’t, let me encourage you to stay with it. Hard things are often the most profitable in the long run! I am convinced that being with you and acclimating into the bigger church body is crucial to their spiritual development and growth as disciples of Jesus.
In Him,
Charles Molenkamp
Director of Children’s Ministry
858-558-9020 ext. 208
Charles@ljcommunitychurch.org
Back to Children's Minsitry page