Every Sunday morning, children begin worship in the sanctuary with their families. On the second through the fourth Sundays of the month, children are invited to Kids Worship in our education hallway after the children’s message. Kids Worship is an interactive and engaging time where kids experience God’s love through music, Bible stories, and activities. In Kids Worship, we teach through Godly Play.
Godly Play is a Christian based curriculum using the concepts of Montessori learning where children listen to, wonder about, and respond to stories from the Bible. Through story-telling, guided questioning, and creative response, Godly Play helps children develop their own understanding of Biblical stories and how the stories apply to their lives. The Godly Play environment is a safe space that encourages children to ask questions, make connections, and have conversations that are developmentally appropriate to their individual spiritual journeys.
Research shows how important it is for children to experience and participate in worship. One way that Good Shepherd offers space for children to be in worship is our Kids’ Corner. On the first Sunday of the month, the children remain in worship during the entire service. They are invited to join Miss Renée after Children’s Message in the Kids’ Corner to participate in quiet activities like reading books, coloring, crosswords, prayer stations, etc. A rug on the floor in the front right corner of our worship space. It is amazing what children will just “pick up” as they attend “big church.” On the remaining Sundays in the month, children are invited to come to worship until Children’s Message and then attend Kids Worship.
We are blessed that Good Shepherd is a congregation that loves children and values children in worship!
