Over the next year, SojournKids will be experimenting with something that we’re calling Creative Worship Sundays. The project is partially funded by a grant from the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship. On six selected Sundays, our children’s worship service will be integrated with a visual art project. The children will all gather together for a time of singing and teaching, and then break up into age-appropriate classes to work on a creative art project designed by a Sojourn artist. The liturgy, songs, lesson, and art project will all be integrated. The rhythm of the whole Sunday will reinforce the biblical revelation/response paradigm where our creativity finds its proper place as a thoughtful response to what God has spoken to us through his word. Sojourn pastors, musicians, liturgists, children’s teachers, and artists are preparing the lessons collaboratively. The first Creative Worship Sunday will be on Sunday, December 6th, and it will be a celebration of advent. Over the next few days I’ll be posting previews of what the children will study on this Sunday.
My 8 year old grandaughter, Christian Ploetner (she may be listed as Christian Palmer) has been attending Sojourn Gathered for kids, for a little over a year. I’ve asked her about giving her offering, but she tells me no one takes up an offering and she doesn’t know where to put it. Also, she accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and was baptized last summer. She has asked me several times about why no one offers to give her communion. Has she missed participating in these or are these two Christian experiences not offered to kids…if not, why?
I’d love to talk with you more about your comment on the blog. We do not offer communion in our children’s ministry. We reserve communion for children that have become church members. I’d love to talk with you more about our church membership process for kids. With regard to giving, you are right. We haven’t given kids a chance to give before either, but this will be changing soon. In the month of April, we’ll be teaching kids about stewardship for an entire month then giving them a regular opportunity to give. Thanks for bringing up these issues. Hopefully we can talk soon.