Children and the Festival Day

I am of the belief that processions in church are all about festivity, pageantry and parades. Historically, when most Christians couldn't read, perhaps couldn't hear the mass being said in a big gothic church, the folks in the pews had music, banners, colors and parades to communicate to them the joyful experience of Resurrection, which is what we celebrate every Sunday. (Really, that's why church is on Sunday, not because its the weekend, but because its the day of Christ's Resurrection!)

At the Pentecost service Sunday, we made the effort of including children in the procession. Some of these were young children who may not yet read, and are not likely to enjoy sitting through 2 lessons and a sermon. But they were included in the parade at the beginning of the church. They carried banners that they had made. They adapted flexibly to narrowing walkways and too-wide banners. They felt, they experienced the joy of resurrection and that they are a part of it. In other words, it worked!

I also had the experience of sitting with children throughout the whole service. I was able to make use of some of the techniques I had been learning about how to better welcome and engage children in worship (these will be published in the Epiphany Summer Beacon and online soon). I witnessed first-hand that many of the children DO have a deep sense of wonder about church. If we communicate with them during the service what is happening and why-- they remain engaged. They can be encouraged to follow along, to watch or read, and to sing. We easily underestimate their ability to focus or understand, and allow them to do something else instead of engage in worship. In this way we subtly communicate church is for grownups. But if we continually show them how they are part of the actions, like baptisms-- they know themselves to be part of the body of Christ. Of course children can worship, that's why Christ tells us to become like them!