As we enter this new millennium, we are afforded a chance to examine what we have done in the past and make evaluations for the future. This is certainly true as we look at worship in our congregations. As we look to the future, I believe the church is called to make worship an engaging experience of God's love for people of all ages. We especially need to reach out to the children — to help them know the story of God's love for each of us and to express that relationship with God through worship. As I think about what the new millennium may hold for the church and our children, I think about the challenge before us. During the past quadrennium, the Bishops of the United Methodist Church called us to focus on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of children and of the poor. As we begin a new quadrennium, we continue the Bishop's Initiative on Children and Poverty, expanding our ministry and outreach. Perhaps the new millennium offers a fresh start — a chance to do things right, a chance to witness not only to the adults who haven't heard the good news of Christ, but also to the children. We have a new chance to tell the old, old story in a way that children can hear. Hearing the story of the people of God can help children know where they fit in. It can give them hope when they make mistakes because God is a forgiving God. After all, isn't there a story about a boy who did the wrong things, but his father forgave him anyway (Luke 15:11-32)? Through hearing the words of the Bible, children learn that Jesus considered them to be important people. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs" (Luke 18:16, NRSV). It's time we took seriously the admonition to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy: "Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise." (Deut. 6:6-7, NRSV) Does worship in your church tell children that they are important? Do you find ways to make worship inviting to them? Do you have worship bulletins for children that explain what is happening? Do you provide bookmarks so they can locate and mark hymns early, so they don't end up finding the hymn just when everyone else has finished singing? Do you involve children in more than just the children's sermon? Do children help greet? Do greeters acknowledge children as they come into the sanctuary? Take time to look at worship in your congregation through the eyes of a child. When you do that, do you feel that this church is really a place for you? Because God has called me to a ministry with children, I am frequently in groups of adults who are discussing ways to improve the life circumstances of children, to prevent the increasing violence in children's lives, to educate children, and to help children make good choices in their lives. Many who read the sad stories in the newspapers today say that children are not being taught properly at home, that teachers aren't teaching properly at school, and that children do not show proper respect. While some of that is probably true, I think that, as the church, we have a unique opportunity to change some of what we see. We may not reach every child, but we can certainly make a difference in the lives of many children. Challenge your church members to make a commitment to share the story of the people of God with the children they meet in the halls of their churches, in the aisles of the grocery stores, and in the shadows of their steeples. Children need to know that we belong to a God who sent his only Son so that we might know we are loved and might be forgiven for the wrong choices we make. Is your church willing to reach out to families and provide support through parenting classes and weekday programs? Are children an important part of your church family? Do you welcome the children as Jesus did, or are you ready to turn them away? Remember: We represent the church to the children who worship with us. We cannot rely on the culture in which we live to impart the Christian faith to our children. It's not going to happen. There are too many young people out there now who are suffering because parents and friends left it to someone else to tell them about God and how God wants them to live their lives. Faith is not something we can give to our children in a neat little package. Rather, faith is a journey we take together. Children need our guidance, and we need their openness to the love of God. Children have a strong sense of fairness. How many times have you heard the words, "But that's not fair"? I often respond to my own children with the phrase, "Life's not fair." That's not really enough. By engaging children in worship and in a real relationship with God, we can help bring some fairness to their world. As children today learn about justice and forgiveness in their local churches, they can, in turn, offer that same justice and forgiveness to the world. We can minister boldly through our Christian education program. It is a joyful responsibility to help children know the Bible, not only as the book we read in worship, but also as a story of people who loved God and tried to follow God's will. The Bible is our family album — the record of the family of God — and our guidebook to show us how God wants us to live. We need to be creative, recognizing that Sunday school is not the only time Christian education takes place. Consider offering weekday programs for children and fellowship programs for elementary-age children. Make sure that worship is a part of all you do. Many of the children in our congregations (and probably some of their parents) equate worship with "that long time we spend in the sanctuary on Sunday morning." We have a chance to bring life to worship for children and to help them understand that we can worship under the tree in the courtyard; we can worship as we serve others; and we can worship in the everyday things we do. I was recently working with a group of children at an elementary camp. We had made paper prayer boxes. The children were asked to take four slips of paper and to write some prayer concerns. On one slip, they were to tell what they were thankful for. On another, they were to list something for which they needed God's forgiveness or something for which they needed to forgive someone else. The third slip was for praise. On that slip, they could say how wonderful God is. The fourth slip was for listing people for whom they wanted to pray. It was a simple exercise, but I was moved with the earnestness with which most of them worked. A wonderful little boy told me he was going to use those cards to remind him of things he needed to talk with God about. As we look to the future, we have to seek ways to help the children in our congregations and in our communities develop a relationship with God that is personal and real. During this new millennium, look at ways to invite families to grow in faith together. Consider having a Bible study centered on people who were led by God — Moses, Abraham, David, Ruth, Peter, Paul, Lydia, and Mary. Use worship litanies celebrating how God has been with us. Many of the Psalms (78 and 135, for example) chronicle for the Hebrew people how God has supported, guided, and provided for them. Work with children to create a litany about the times God has led them — personal times (such as "when I thought I didn't have any friends" "when my grandmother died") or corporate times (such as when Jesus was crucified or when the storm flooded the church). These litanies will provide an opportunity for worship, and they will help children and adults remember that God is present in their lives. Worship can be even more exciting and inviting for children (for adults as well) if we incorporate visual and participatory experiences. Visuals, such as banners, slides, altar arrangements, and pictures, engage even those children who do not have strong reading skills. In our history, murals, stained glass windows, and other visuals were used to interpret the stories of the Bible to masses of people who were unable to read. As years have passed, we have gotten away from the use of many visuals in worship, and we have effectively cut off young children from this marvelous way of learning about the Scripture. Dramatic presentations can involve children both as participants and as learners. Children love the opportunity to use motions with music or to learn to sign songs or Bible verses. Reach out to the children and invite them to participate and lead in worship. This is a new day — a day in which we can tell the stories of the Bible, a day in which children are welcome in worship (not just as participants but also as leaders), a day when the church takes seriously the need to support families as they seek to raise their children in Christian homes in a decidedly unChristian environment. Saying "yes" to kids means that children don't have to be in crisis to merit our help. It means we're going to provide an environment where children can grow up spiritually and physically healthy. As we plan for worship and educational experiences in the coming years, let's be sure we're including children in our planning. Let's be in ministry with children, not for children. We may do some things with children only; or we may do some things with adults only, but we really need to plan some of the events with an intergenerational experience so that children will experience being part of the family of God. The ancient story of God and God's love for all people can be fresh and alive for each one of us today. Children are hungering to know about God and Jesus. We have only to reach out and share with all God's children.
Questions for reflection and discussion:
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— Elizabeth Stalder Parr, a friend and advocate of children, serves as a church consultant with the Methodist Home for Children, Macon, Georgia, in the area of children's ministries. She serves as the South Georgia Conference Children's Coordinator. She and her family live in Savannah, Georgia.
Other Millennial Perspective Articles: | The Centrality of Christian Worship | Worship Forming Faith | Hope | The Changing Cultural Look of Worship | Visual Arts | | Advent: Between the Times | Worshiping with Jubilation | Children and 21st Century Worship |
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| Introduction | Preface | Contents | Copyright | | Millennial Perspectives | Worship and Study Resources | | Seven Days of Praise and Prayer |Prayer and Worship for a Jubilee Week | The Last Letter: Revelation’s News | Repairing the World: God's Gift of Jubilee | Hymns | Additional Liturgical Resources | Appendix |
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