I wrote this once, and when I clicked on Post Now, I got an error and lost it. So here it goes again!
We started this fall including worship as one of our six workshops (our rotation ss is K thru 5th). We had skeptical (horrified) parents at first, but it has exceeded our expectations.
The class that rotates into worship (instead of a workshop) on a given week meets with their shepherds in our gathering place at the beginning of the service. They get their nametags and line up. The shepherds lead them to the front pew during the opening hymn, when the congregation is standing and singing (very little distraction or disruption).
I prepare worksheets for the class, to help them focus on the service. Depending on which class it is, they may have word finds, crossword puzzles, circle words from the scripture reading, etc. The younger kids get coloring sheets. The older kids get questions from the sermon or the reading.
All the concerns that were voiced have been calmed. The children sit in the front, so they know their parents can see them, which cuts down on the intentionally naughty behavior. But it turns out that the kids really enjoy being there. Unfortunately, most of them rarely attend worship, since we have Sunday School at the same time. So this is kind of a novelty for them. The pastors will often engage them during the sermon, since they are right there (who can resist all those beaming faces?)
We ask for volunteers from the kindergarten and 1st grade parents, so sit in or near the front pew, just in case. But we have not had any problems with "bad" behavior from any of the classes. They only have "worship" workshop every six weeks, so hopefully the novelty won't wear off.
One week I forgot to make up one of the worksheets, so I instructed the kids to draw a picture of the pastor while he was preaching. That was priceless!
Anyway, I recommend worship as a workshop, especially if you have it at the same time as sunday school.
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