Teaching Children To Worship With Adults

In many worship traditions, children are encouraged or expected to participate in corporate worship with adults. This article suggests ways in which children can be taught the meaning, structure, and significance of worship. "Let's sit here so I can see. " "I like to sing this song. " "Am I a child of the covenant'?" Children are heard more frequently now during corporate worship on Sunday. Catholic and Protestant churches alike are enjoying greater participation in worship by children under twelve years old. More of them are coming to worship and staying for much or all of the service. The presence of children in worship indicates adult interest and acceptance; our Christian churches may be moving toward genuinely intergenerational worshiping communities. Along with the blessings that come with the joyful inclusion of children in worship has also come some confusion of practice. Adults worry that children, many of them preschool age, are not able to follow the flow of worship o…