Children's Sunday 2024 is on Saturday, June 8, 2024: Has anyone led children's Sunday chapel or services?

Saturday, June 8, 2024 is Children's Sunday 2024. Sunday School Lessons - Great Bible lessons for kids‎ Pick, Download, Teach. Easy!

Has anyone led children’s Sunday chapel or services?

Yes, I've lead children church, and taught Sunday School.

Children worship just like adults, and in my view should be empowered to take leadership of their worship....that can range from letting 2 year olds raise their hands to pick the song (yeah. 9 times out of 10 they'll pick "Jesus loves me", and that's ok. At that age familiar is comforting) to older children not only picking songs but leading them or even designing the whole service. I also believe in allowing the children to teach each other. The adult can act as a faciliator, able to pick up any topics lag and help with keeping order.

Also, when it comes to prayer--the concerns of children are different from the concerns of adults. Little children are concerned about things like the boo-boo they got last week, or what they are going to have for dinner----it's ok for them to bring those concerns to the Lord....even if its the same boo-boo 8 weeks running. Even if we think they are just wanting attention, whats wrong with wanting attention :)

The other issue I believe children's church ministers need to be aware of, is that children's church is ministry. While its one of the most enjoyable ministries in the church, its not a game. Given the child abuse statistics in the US, the UK, Canada etc, there will be children in your group who go home and get beaten, burned etc. Given hunger statistics in the US, there are children in your group who will go home and not have dinner. There will be children experiencing poverty and all the other challenges we forget about when teach children's church. So, in my view, the starting point for any children's minister, is prayer for the children.....and preparation. Make sure you've got snack, so that no child goes that day without food, make sure your church has a clothing ministry, make sure you have a system in place to address child abuse (from experience I can tell you there's nothing worse than seeing an iron burn on a child, and not having an immediate answer of what to do.)

Yes, the mentor I have treasured the most was my Sunday School teacher after I got bumped from children's church. It was decided that I needed more indepth study, so I was put with the adult Sunday school class.....and my teacher allowed me to contribute just like everyone else in the class. In fact, when he went on vacation he let me teach in his place.....and the class members showed lots of patience with me. He really taught me the value of the Scripture: What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

So the long and the short is that I hope children learn in childrens churches that they are important to God and important to their church families.

i need help with children’s church?

i need help with children's church?

How long are you with them? I am a Sunday school teacher for preschool age and kinder children. There are in the classroom for about an hour and a half - and here's what we do...

Free play (let them do puzzles, blocks, etc) for about 20 minutes.

We do a candle lighting - it's a ritual at our church - and we do it in the classrooms too. It only takes about 5 minutes - and we let the kids blow out the candles.

Then - we do the "name game" - going around the room we ask each child their name and then chant "Johnny Johnny you're so cool - we're glad you're at Sunday School" - then we jump in the air and say - "Yay! Johnny!" Another 5 minutes.

Then we talk about the virtue the kids are learning about that day. For example if it's "bravery" - (or anything!) I use the puppets to show examples of a puppet being brave - or not being brave. Like they might need to be brave and tell their parent that they broke a vase while playing - or whatever. - 5 minutes

After that we sing a song (I write a piggy back song - a song to the tune of a well known song - and give it words about the virtue. We sing it - and let children share about how they use the virtue in between each time we sing it. - About 10 minutes.

Story time is usually two books that go along with the virtue. That's 15 minutes.

Then - a craft - 20 minutes.

And if they finish their craft with time leftover - they are allowed to do free play while waiting for their parents.

What is the teacher to student ratio? If you are trying to handle more than 8 or 9 kids on your own - ask for a Teacher's assistant. It's really not safe for you to be handling more kids than that on your own.

Hope that helps.

New Children’s Museum Discount?

New Children's Museum Discount?

The New Children's museum is pretty nice, but it's not cheap. They used to have free admission on the second Sunday of each month, But it's a bit of a secret:

Holidays also on this date Saturday, June 8, 2024...