I love seeing children participate in worship! Whether it’s waving the palm fronds for a Palm Sunday processional or coming to the front for the Children’s Message, or performing a skit, or reading Scripture, it just makes me happy to see them.
In the two small Baptist churches I grew up in, children played an important role in worship. We helped with the offering and we had a great youth and children’s choir that sang every Sunday. My friends and I knew that our participation was valued by the adults in the congregation. We also realized that we were worshipping the Lord in our own unique way.
Once a year we had a Children and Youth Sunday which was a very special occasion. The entire worship service was led by the young people from the music to the sermon.
These early experiences in worship leadership helped me understand how important a child’s participation can be in their faith formation. I daresay each of the children at Bethel and Jackson Line Baptist churches (who are now in their fifties and sixties) are grateful for the opportunities afforded them to have a role in worship.
Ashley Danyea, a Christian musician and educator, in her blog, offers four reasons she believes that children’s participation in worship is an important ministry of the church. They are:
Inviting: Welcoming children (and their parents) into the church and into worship is one of the greatest, most sincere ways to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Inclusive: Creating a place for children in worship and giving them opportunities to participate offers a message of inclusivity and acceptance and gives children responsibility, ownership, and a renewed sense of belonging.
Intergenerational: Inviting children to participate in worship gives them a unique opportunity to serve alongside older teens, young adults, middle age members, and seniors, creating a new sense of community for all.
Inspiring:Watching children lead worship — through song, word, and action — is inspiring to all involved. Everyone benefits.
Sylva First Baptist Church values children and provides many opportunities for their spiritual growth. Taking a leadership role in worship is an integral part of this growth. Thank you, First Baptist, for recognizing this and encouraging our children in this way!