Some of my earliest church memories are from my grandparents’ tiny congregation in a small Idaho town. They met in a small building where the main floor held the service and the basement was the scene of many a potluck lunch, which to my brother and me was the only reason to go. We were always so disappointed on the Sundays that church would dismiss and we would head out to the car . . . not to the basement!
The church body was made up of an older generation, and I only remember two or three other children ever attending. My grandpa was one of three other men who shared in the pastoring and preaching responsibilities. I have clear memories of him in his suit, standing up front and sharing from his Bible. Grandma is in my memories as well, sometimes leading the congregation in hymns from the organ, and always wearing a hat. I loved that about her. As for me, I always started out on my chair next to my parents but usually ended up on the floor playing with cars with my brother or coloring. As most children do, I thought it was just so boring! Especially because the sermons were not geared toward a younger crowd. They were very King James and serious.
As we move out of the current pandemic and the lockdown of our lives, we find ourselves in a place of taking it a step at a time getting back to the new normal. Gathering again at church is not as simple as just opening the doors to business as usual. So we find ourselves together again, but in a different way. We have invited our children into the adult service with us as we move toward reopening our Kingdom Kids classes. For those in my age group and above, we may all have similar memories as I shared earlier. There was not always children’s church when we were growing up. We know what it was like to have to sit and listen quietly.
The kids of today have been gifted with a different experience: a church time that is focused on reaching them at their level. I love the way my kids have been taught here at Petra – that they have been able to worship with other kids and learn from teachers who care about them. Now, as we find ourselves in this stage of limbo, what should it look like?
An instant reaction is to make what I’ve heard called “busy bags.” Let’s give the kids enough stuff to do so that they just sit quietly, don’t disturb the other grown-ups, and maybe parents can get something out of the service. What an easy solution, right? But is it the best solution?
As I’ve been reading and learning, I’m hearing a call for the return to worshipping as a family. Not by doing away with children’s church completely; the benefits of teaching kids on their level are significant. But what if we created time in church for families to worship and learn together? What is the benefit of our kids seeing the grown-ups in their lives raising their hands in worship, or bowing their heads in prayer? How much more connected are children going to feel to their church if they are known and greeted regularly by other adults? I truly believe that this will play a part in keeping them connected to the body as they get older. Psalm 145:4 says, “Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.”
We have an opportunity in this time to reach our children in a new way. These coming weeks can be an opportunity to impact the young lives we find in the row ahead of us. Can the younger children be distracting at times? Yes, of course. But instead of letting it annoy or upset us, we can choose to pray for that child specifically, that even though they don’t necessarily understand all that is being said, that the seeds of faith would still be planted firmly in that young heart. Encourage that mother or father when you bump into them after the service to continue in their high calling of raising that rowdy three-year-old!
The children of Petra Church are not just the future of the church, they are part of the present church! They are a part of this body that is shuffling along slowly together to regain what has been lost these last two months. Let us embrace this time together – this time of some more kid-friendly worship songs, shorter sermons with kid references, and a bit of noise and distraction. Ask God how he would want to use you, what mighty acts your generation can share about with the children of Petra.
I may not remember what my grandfather ever preached on those Sundays . . . or what hymns my grandmother sang. But what I do have is the knowledge in my heart that I was raised by people who loved Jesus, and that has impacted me to this day. That knowledge is imprinted on my heart and in my mind. Their influence will always be a part of who I am and how I live. But how much more of an impact would it have made if we as kids had been brought into the morning as part of that small body? Can we be a piece of the memory held by Petra’s kids? Let’s help grow these kids in their faith together!
Tags: church, worship, families, intergenerational
