Children Can Experience God Too!

Today's title is the caption that is on our sign out by the road in front of our church building.  This Sunday we launch a new format into our order of worship service entitled: Children @ Worship.  This approach will be more intentional to help our children (and youth and adults) to understand the concepts of worship; and that children have the same capacity to worship and experience God as youth and adults do.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14).  Children @ Worship will purposely create a space within the time of our Sunday morning order of service for everyone, through the eyes, ears, actions and hearts of children, to experience God on a childlike level.  After all, the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

I find that there is almost a command to be intentional toward this end.  Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."  Change is the key here!  We don't do a very good job to intentionally help children understand worship; and if they can't understand worship, it will be much more difficult for them to fully experience the holy presence of God.

We are here (youth and adults at worship) for the children, and not just for ourselves.  According to Matthew 19:14, to simply send children off to do something else so adults won't be disturbed during worship is not an acceptable thing to do.  Children have the same capacity to experience God and should be given the opportunity to do so.  Children @ Worship will hopefully accomplish this at New Life Worship Center.

If you are interested in this new approach to include as part of your morning (or evening) worship service check out Young Children and Worship by Sonja Stewart and Jerome Berryman.

Please pray for God's blessing on this effort.  We are trying a six week trial run for the purpose of evaluating before making a full implementation.

Blessings,

-Leo