Family-friendly Worship

I’ve been thinking recently about ways to plan and create the worship experience so families can worship together. Here are some ideas:

 Organize flexible seating so families can sit together comfortably on chairs, large floor pillows, quilts spread on the floor with soft toys for very young children, etc.

 Sit near the front of the sanctuary so your children can see everything.

 Allow young children to bring a favorite stuffed animal or a Bible storybook.

 Use children’s artwork on worship bulletin covers.

 Use a children’s worship activity bulletin that helps children follow the service.

 Use worship/bags filled with activities connected to the theme of worship that help children follow along.

 Help children memorize the Lord’s Prayer so that they can join in with congregation.

 Use sign language or hand & body motions with The Lord’s Prayer and invite children to learn and/or lead it.

 Help children memorize creeds and frequent responses used in your worship service.

 Allow children to “pray in motion” — include solo or group liturgical dance in your worship.

 Invite children to illustrate hymns and then use the artwork on overhead or power point while singing in worship.

 Invite children’s choirs to share their gift of music.

 Place some rhythm instruments in the front of your worship space and invite children to use them as appropriate.

 Use readers’ theater, speakers’ choir, simple skits to give scripture.

 Try a card choir with pictures, colors, words to accompany the Scripture reading.

 Make banner to help tell the Scripture story; carry it in at the start of the service; use of colors and symbols is child-friendly, too!

 Use three dimensional concrete symbols that connect to the theme or season of your worship. [bread, tree, crown of thorns, vine, key, scroll, coat w/many colors, dove, rock, water, fruit, lily, etc.] Let children carry them in to your worship space.

 Encourage children to stand up [if appropriate even on the seats so they can see] when the congregation stands—this stretches muscles and promotes participation.

 Help children participate in the offering by making sure they have something to contribute—no matter how small. When the offering plate is passed, allow children to help pass it to the next person.

Worship that engages sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, movement, emotion, and a sense of sacred time and space, are worship experiences that are more likely to be family-friendly.