Children’s Worship

A Worship Service for Children in Preschool - Second Grade During the Adult Service

Children’s Chapel is offered during the 9 and 11:15 am services every Sunday. Children, in Preschool through Second Grade, begin their worship experience downstairs in a preschool classroom that is organized by play centers. After 15 minutes of play, children walk in a quiet line led by a Crucifer to our Children’s Chapel for a Service of the Word. The Director of Children’s Ministries, Mary Lea Crawley, leads this service with assistance from adult and teen helpers. Every third Sunday of the month, The Rev. Scot McComas leads the chapel service.

Gathering – Play Time

In the classroom where they gather initially, children can baptize a baby doll, play with the Nativity figures in our Creche, or color and glue materials to make pictures. Most children favor the craft materials that are changed weekly to reflect the liturgical and/or natural season of the year. The tablecloths in the classroom reflect the color of the current liturgical season. This reinforces the liturgical colors for children by giving them a big visual when they enter the room.

Leadership Roles

In an effort to give older children leadership roles, Mary Lea asks the Second Graders to perform the following jobs: Usher, Crucifer, Acolyte, and Song Leader. In addition, one child turns the pages of the Gospel story and another child pours water into a silver cruet to remind the children of their baptismal promise. On most Sundays, children in Second Grade perform these duties, but First Graders help out with these duties, as needed.

Instructed Eucharist

Once a year, the children experience an Instructed Eucharist in the Children’s Chapel. In this service, Father Scot explains the meaning behind the liturgy of the Eucharist, step by step, as it is being conducted. Children receive Communion in the chapel during this special service and do not rejoin parents until Coffee Hour. The Instructed Eucharist usually takes places on a Sunday in October during the 9 am service.