On August 4th we kicked off this year’s “Preparing for the Pew” class. We have eight kindergarten and first graders going through a class to help transition them from childcare into the worship service with adults. In this class we teach them what we do in a worship service, Who we worship, and why we do what we do. I’m so thankful for all the adults who work to make this class possible. Although the class ends in about eight weeks, these kids (and all the others in service) don’t stop learning about worship after this class, and every one of us has a part to play in the teaching.
Children learn a lot from teaching, but they learn even more by watching. They watch and see how adults behave, act, and participate. They are great imitators. Typically they live their lives in a way that is modeled for them, not just what is taught. When kids observe adults worshiping they see how to behave in a worship setting, how to show reverence, and how to engage in the various aspects of a service. Adults modeling these behaviors serve as a guide for children, showing them what it means to be respectful, attentive and participative during worship.
Yes, sometimes kids rustle and make noise. Yes, sometimes there can be distractions, but as we are called to raise up a generation of little worshipers we can each play a part by modeling what it means to worship Jesus. There are little eyes that watch how you sing, how you pray, and how you pay attention to the sermon. Don’t take lightly the impact that you can have both positively or negatively by the way you participate in worship.