And Jesus took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, ?Whoever receives one such
child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.        Mark 9:36-37

Worship for Children at Christ Church

One of the most essential gifts we can give, as we minister together to children, is to receive children in his name as we worship. What can we do to welcome children and their families? We can nurture Jesus' little ones and their families by:

• Extending a smile and spirit of welcome to families of small ones
• Learning the names of children and their families
• Offering a helping hand if you see that a family might need assistance
• Making sure children can see what?s going on
• Teaching children to participate in the liturgy with a hearty "Amen,"
• "And with thy spirit," or "Thanks be to God."
• Helping children to hold hymnals or prayer books at the appropriate times
• Encouraging children, as they draw, to illustrate what they experience in church
• Checking the bulletin announcements for children's ministry or church-school program opportunities

Nursery/Preschool care is available during the Sunday morning and evening worship services. Children are welcome at all points during our worship. During these liturgies parents are encouraged to bring their children to the altar for Holy Communion or a blessing from one of the clergy.

In addition, we offer two other worship opportunities for our children which are described below.

Discovery Eucharist
Join us for a worship service especially designed for families with younger members.

The Discovery Service is a special worship service designed for children from birth to eight years old. This service incorporates the traditions of Episcopal worship while holding the attention of our younger audience. It is shorter than a Rite II Eucharist but still includes important elements such as the Creeds, Children's Sermon, and Communion and music for our younger parishioners. It begins at 11:15 AM each Sunday in All Saints' Hall.

Children are encouraged to participate in many aspects of the service. They lead the processional by bringing the cross, flags, and the "Jesus Book." Our young ministers also assist the clergy with their stoles, light the candles and help prepare the sacraments for Communion. You can sign your young minister up to participate by contacting Anne Cullen at cullena@christchurchcharlotte.org or 704-714-6944 and Lindsay Wayman at waymanl@christchurchcharlotte.org or 704-714-6971. 

It's a perfect opportunity to start the tradition of worship at a young age!

Godly Play
Godly Play is a creative way to teach the stories of the Bible to children. Before the story begins, we teach the children to be still and listen for God. We help them understand that getting ready is something only you can do; no one can help you get ready. We wait patiently until everyone is ready, then we begin the storytelling process and the children are invited to enter into the story. After the story, the children are led into a time of wondering. Wondering is a huge piece of the Godly Play puzzle. This allows the children to connect to the stories and apply them to their lives. The storyteller leads wondering questions like, "I wonder where you are in the story..." and "I wonder what your favorite part is..." to get the children actively thinking about the story.

After our time of wondering, the children enjoy a feast which gives us an opportunity to discuss the Holy Eucharist. Our feast consists of water and a small snack, usually vanilla wafers or graham crackers. Time permitting, the children are invited to create an art response. During this time, children are given water based art supplies to respond to the story in whatever way they choose.

During the announcements in church, children are escorted to join their parents and the community for communion.

Children should arrive between 8:40 and 8:45 AM in the fall. Being on time allows us to begin our worship together and preserves the peaceful, quiet environment of Godly Play.

We offer two rooms for Godly Play: M212 for three and four year olds and M213 for five year olds and up.

If you have questions about Godly Play or would like to volunteer to help, please contact Lindsay Wayman at waymanl@christchurchcharlotte.org or 704-714-6971.