Children in Worship
Jesus said, ‘let the little children come unto me…’
In response to this invitation, here at MPC, children of all ages are welcome in worship. Faces brighten around a baby or little child. Tips for helping children learn how to worship are found in our flier, A Guide to Children in Worship.
Crying infants may be carried to the Nursery, right outside the sanctuary. You are welcome to stay there with your child (audio from the service is piped in), or, if you return to the service, our professional childcare provider, Dawn Flook, and one of our church volunteers will lovingly care for your little one.
If they choose, Kindergarten to 2nd graders may leave after the Time for Young Disciples to go sing with our Director of Children’s Choirs, Betty Hohwieler, who teaches children how to use their God-given talents to the glory of God. Children return to the sanctuary after the sermon.
Children 3rd grade and up stay in worship with their families. Like any other language – math, soccer, or playing the flute – the language of worship is a learned skill. Children who are invited early to share in the joy of worship find comfort with their “church family,” and find greater meaning in their own lives.
If your child needs a stretch break, feel free to walk down the hall past the lounge to the Chapel; the two of you can continue to worship (audio from the service is piped in) until you’re ready to return.
Please follow the link and read our Children in Worship flier, which is also located in the bulletin stand in the narthex just outside of the MPC Sanctuary.
Worship Backpacks
Worship Backpacks are available for children Kindergarten through Grade 5.
If you’re 5-10 years old, there’s a lot to do in worship: stand, sit, pray, sing, pass the Peace of Christ, listen to the choir or handbells, hear scripture read, do Time for Young Disciples, and more. But if you’re 5 years old (or even 10 years old), the sermon can seem like forever! So lean against mom and take a nap, or grab a backpack
In the backpack you’ll find:
- Hymnal and Bible markers to mark pages before the service starts so you can find pages right away during the service
- Blank paper and crayons for coloring (adults like when you draw pictures of the sanctuary, or preacher, or stained glass windows, but you can draw what you like)
- copy of the Lord’s Prayer in big letters, and
- A lesson page that matches the Lectionary scripture verse of the day so you can talk to your parents about what they heard in worship
By the end of the sermon, when you’ve colored and drawn and done the lesson page, it will be time to stand to sing and put your envelope in the offering plate, and by then the service is almost over!
So get your backpack every Sunday. They're in the narthex -- just ask one of our helpful and friendly Deacons.