When a family enters the sanctuary, ushers offer younger ones their own worship bulletin AND a dedicated young person’s worship kit of markers, crayons, and crafts. The bulletin includes them as equals and can become a guide to understanding the flow of worship. The worship kit gives them other things to do with their hands and minds should a moment of worship not feel right or comfortable to them yet.
In “big” worship, children and youth are encouraged to accompany other adult leaders of worship and to help in leading prayers or liturgies from the pulpit.
The first scripture reading and lesson is specifically chosen and read for children’s attention and understanding. The children’s moment will be led by one of our pastors, and will usually be just a few verses of the same scripture the main sermon will preach. Afterward, the children are invited to join an adult volunteer and move to the Kids' Korner, or to return to the pews, at the parent’s option.
The Kids Korner time is a unique opportunity mid-worship to give children the opportunity to grow in their knowledge and love of God, self, and others. We teach them beautiful timeless truths that can last a lifetime, without teaching them anything they will need to unlearn later when life gets more complicated and messy.
The 2024-25 curriculum for Kids Korner is from Spirit and Truth Publishing, and shares the open-minded, open-hearted, progressive theology we practice and teach. To find out more about the publisher or curriculum, visit their website:
https://spiritandtruthpublishing.com/narrative-lectionary-resources/
Our goal is to return the children to “big” worship for the hymns and special music, the affirmation of faith (like the Apostles Creed), prayer and Lord’s Prayer, and the offering. These habits of worship will reinforce these faithful practices in the children.
The typical timing and flow of Kids Korner is from 9454-1015am:
5 minutes - snack, introductions, and first event (“Into the Story”, or optional)
5-10 minutes - questions and discussion on the scripture story (“Nuts and Bolts”, “Learning the Story”, or optional)
10-15 minutes - activity, craft, or embodiment (“Living the Story”, or optional)
5 minutes - regather, share offerings from the collection of coins, sending prayer, and give children “@ Home” sheet for parents