Top 10 Reasons why Children are Welcomed in Church
Tracey E. Herzer,
National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors -
- Repeated exposure to the sights, sounds and symbols of Eucharist help form all Christians.
- Children actually like sitting in those usually-empty front row seats so they can see and hear what’s going on.
- It would be expensive to repaint all those signs to read "The Episcopal Church Only Welcomes Adults."
- Practice Makes Perfect. Teaching young children to enjoy and participate in the service helps them become active and receptive worshiping adults.
- There are no pop quizzes at the communion rail! We all experience the Eucharist as a mystery... you don’t have to be able to explain it in order to benefit from it.
- Children have their own unique relationship with God. Being in church helps them learn how to pray, sing, worship and otherwise strengthen that relationship.
- If children aren’t in church, who are the candy-unwrapping, restless, coughing, whispering adults going to blame for the noise?
- Sunday services make great family togetherness time. Use the quiet space for extra hand holding or snuggling time that may get lost during the busy week.
- Children teach us what absolute joy looks like, and what better place to experience that than in church?
- The #1 reason why children are welcomed in our church: The Circle of God’s Family is incomplete without them!
Last Published: February 26, 2010 12:14 PM
