Connecting Sunday School and Worship

In a recent conversation with children’s ministry leaders, the topic of involving children in worship came up. Everyone around the table was convinced that children who are part of the worship service need to feel engaged in what’s happening. Some had begun working with the worship team to involve more children in playing instruments and singing. Others were incorporating rhythm instruments and movement like shaker eggs and worship flags or ribbons for children (and others) to use during worship.

One idea from Lisa Buffinga of Mayfair CRC stood out. From time to time she offers options to children at the beginning of the Sunday school hour. These options (two or more to choose from) are large or small projects that involve kids in creating or practicing for something that will become part of a worship service. It may be a prayer to write or share, designing a bulletin cover for a particular season, preparing a scripture memory passage to teach the congregation, a song to sing, or a banner to display.

As Lisa described it the possibilities seemed endless! Granted, it would be hard to dedicate 15 minutes at the beginning of each Sunday school class to work on worship options, but what if we spent just 15 minutes every month leading up to special seasons of the church year? Or created something special to contribute in worship every few weeks? What would it mean to kids to see their gifts at work incorporated into corporate worship? C I wonder how many other churches are finding ways to connect Sunday school with worship. Please share what’s happening in your church!