In the elementary years, one of the main goals we have for our Grace kids is that they sit in and participate with the church body in corporate worship.  However, we understand that all children are ready for this at different ages and stages, and so beginning in first grade we encourage parents to begin this transition in some way, shape, or form.   Some kids may be ready to sit in church for the duration at first grade.  We provide follow-along clipboards at the info desk each week for kids to use to aid them in their focus and understanding during the worship service.  Others may not be ready for this yet, and that’s okay.  That is why we also offer “Worshipers in Training” during the school year for 1st-4th grade students.

Think of worship to be like riding a bike.  All kids learn to ride a bike at different ages and stages, but if your middle schooler still doesn’t know how to ride a bike it becomes a little weird.  So, as your child enters these elementary years we want to come alongside of you in helping your family and your child reach the goal of being a participatory member of the full corporate worship service sometime before they finish fourth grade.  For some kids this will come easy and they can do it now.  If that’s your kid – wonderful!  Other kids are going to need some “training wheels” for awhile and that’s what our Worshipers in Training (WIT) ministry is for.  If that’s your child – that’s great too!  What we ask from you as parents is that you use these years to think intentionally and prayerfully about how best to get your child to reach this goal during this stage of their development.

Worshipers in Training, just like training wheels, is meant to train your child in worshiping together with other believers.  Students in WIT attend the first part of the worship service with their family.  Before the reading of the Word and the sermon, the WIT students are dismissed to their classroom where they will spend the duration of the service time singing, learning, studying, praying, as they explore the idea of worship and the components of a worship service in a way that is more directly tailored to their developmental stage. W.I.T. is offered most Sundays throughout the school year (Sunday after Labor Day to Sunday before Memorial Day) with the exception of certain holidays.

Again, we realize that all students are ready to make the transition to sitting in church for the full service at different times.  What we want you as parents to continually do throughout these coming years is to assess and reassess how you can help your child reach this goal.   WIT is a great tool for those who need it, but just like training wheels, it’s important that we use it to train  and not as a “crutch” because going to the next step seems scary or difficult.   We encourage you to try different things throughout the next four years.  Don’t be afraid to fail.  You might have your kid with you in church and it might be a disaster.  That’s okay!  Every one of us, regardless of age, is growing in how we worship and there is grace for all of us!  You might have your kids in WIT for a season and then choose a season, such as Advent to try being in the service for a time.  Throughout these next years we will be reminding you to be discussing, thinking through, and praying through guiding your child through this transition and pointing you to resources for help.

We see a biblical pattern for this.  In Scripture it is assumed that children were a part of the gathered congregation and the teaching to it (Exodus 13:14; Joshua 8:35; Joel 2:15-16; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20)

• We want to train kids to be a part of the congregation, showing them, this is what we do as a family and as a church family.  We do not want to effectively raise “unchurched” kids.  It is good for them to see their parents and others worship the Lord.  We want the full worship service experience to be something familiar and normal to them rather than strange.  The statistics of the next generation walking away from the faith after leaving the house are discouraging and it’s conceivable that “sending kids to their rooms” rather than incorporating them into what they will experience as an adult could be a major cause of this trend.  We encourage all of our adult congregation participants to teach by example in how we pray, sing, and listen – because we understand that much of the Christian faith is “caught” as much as it is taught.
• The Word of God is powerful!  It will reach your child’s heart in ways that we, nor they, will even recognize.  The cumulative effect of Christ-centered expository preaching and gospel-centered doctrinally-rich songs is incalculable.  If your child sat in every worship service from the time he entered kindergarten until he graduated from high school he’d sit under roughly 650 messages!  “Faith comes from hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).  We expect more from your kids because we know how much they can absorb if they are exposed to it.  As they are exposed to God’s Word, trust Him to do His work.
• In sitting through the complete service your child is able to better understand how the gospel is displayed in the ordinances of communion and baptism.  (Though we’d caution having them fully participate in either of these symbols until they can clearly articulate their testimony and demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit dwelling within them – just as we would with any teen or adult).
• In sitting through the service, they will be able to experience a sense of awe, in a way not as likely to happen in Sunday School, as they are exposed to hearing the whole counsel of God taught and learn with us through a book of the Bible – chapter by chapter.
• Family life today is hectic!  In our age of family fragmentation, sitting together under the teaching of God’s Word provides togetherness and shared communication around the most important topic of all.
• We are a church family and we want all the generations to be able to interact together.  By having your child sit in the service and interact with those of older (and younger possibly) ages, you help them better understand that the family of God does not have generational boundaries.
• They can teach us!  You’ll be surprised what your child picks up from the sermons and may ask you about!  Similarly, feel free to use the provided children’s worship guides to learn alongside your child.  We have some fun ideas to incorporate our children into the service and welcome them as well as remind us all that we too are to come to Jesus like a child (Matthew 18:3).
• It eases the transition for children who will soon be sitting through the entire service for the whole year.  For our 5th graders – this will be what is expected of them both in Blaze and in September when they “age out” of Sunday School.  For the 3rd and 4th graders it allows them to practice and be trained in this experience for the future when they reach 6th grade.

Sunday morning worship begins on Saturday night.  Have plans for breakfast and what clothes your child will be wearing communicated and prepared the night before.

• Fully engage in corporate worship.  Sing.  Read.  Listen.  Follow along in your Bible. Take Notes.  You are modeling for your child what an active worship participant does. 
• Feel free to quietly explain parts of the service to your children.  Remember our worship guides and order of service is available online each Friday!  Talk a look ahead and see what you might want to prepare your child for.  Read through the passage ahead of time with them.  Familiarize your family with the songs we will be singing so that your children can better follow along.
• Follow-up with the sermon at home. These 5 questions can be used each week as something for your child to listen for and then for you to discuss together at home.  Help your child (and tune your own ears) to listen for the answers and then discuss them at home.  The 5 questions are similar to those in your child’s Sunday School curriculum. 

They are:

1. 1. What does this passage say about God?
   2. What does this passage teach me about myself?
   3. How does this passage help you to know and love God/Jesus more?
   4. How would you sum up this passage in your own words?  Who is one person you can share this passage with and what would you want them to learn about God from it?
   5. Understanding all of the above, what is one practical step I can take this week to grow in my trust, love, obedience to and/or glorifying of Jesus Christ?  Who is one person I will ask to hold me accountable in doing this?

•  Contrary to what might be your gut reaction – sit towards the front!  This enables your child to easily see everything and eliminates things that might distract them during the service. 
• Have them use the restroom and get a drink before the service so that they aren’t asking to do it during the service.
•  Relax!  We understand there will be wiggles.  It will be an adjustment for all of us at first, but it will get easier with training and time.  Remember, it is not an unrealistic expectation for the average 6-10 year old to sit for 90 minutes.
• Ask your own questions on the way home and encourage your kids to come up with questions to ask you about the sermon.  This will keep both of you focused on what is being taught and will lead to some good discussions.
• Be sure to grab a children’s follow along sheet for your child on your way into the sanctuary.  These are designed to help them better follow along with the service.  You can find them at the information desk.
• Pray for your kids!  Ask God to use the sermons to grab your children’s affections for Jesus and draw them to Him!

·        Persevere!  It’s not easy – but remember, nothing worth doing is.