Some parents want
to bring their children to church, but are fearful of
disturbing
others. I want to affirm that children are always welcome
at our 10.30 a.m. service at the Church Centre. Bringing
your
children to church is something you can do as a family.
Your
child will soon gain a sense of familiarity with the various
parts of the service, and with this will come a sense of
security and of being loved and cared for by God and
his people.
Let me share with you a few hints to make this hour on Sunday
morning a happy and relaxed time for you and your child.
* By your own attitude show that you are
looking forward to
the service as
something special. If you are tense, this
will
be communicated to your child.
* If both Mum and Dad go to the service,
take it in turns to
deal with a restless
child.
* Accept the fact that both parents will not
be able to concentrate
completely on the
service.
* Church can be a good time for a cuddle -
often this is
valued by the child as a time
when Mum and Dad sit with
him or her.
* If you know your child is likely to be
lively, sit near
the door to the Parish Room
so that you can easily slip
out for
a while
and play with the toys there.
|
|
·
* Be prepared for the odd failure.
Sometimes a child
will be so disruptive
and unhappy that you will have
to give up
and take him or her out. But don’t let
this
put you off - try again.
* Have one or two special books and quiet
toys that only come
out at church time. (A
noisy fire engine or building blocks
are
not a good idea!)
* As your child
gets older encourage him or
her to take part in the children’s
activities during the service. We have a
class especially
for under 5s. You
may
want
to accompany
your child in these
activities for the first couple
of Sundays
until they get used to it.
* Having other friends they know in the
Sunday Club
helps children to settle in
quickly and feel at home,
so why not invite
friends
from toddler group, pre-school or
school to come with
you!
It is worth persevering because familiarity with church
is a gift that you can give to your child which they
will always
remember, and they may someday pass it on to your grandchildren!
|
