Children's Chapel
Children’s Chapel is offered at the 10:30 a.m. service year round for children 4K through 2nd grade. Please note that it is not offered at the 8:00 a.m. or 5:00 p.m. services.
What happens in Chapel?
We use this time to teach our children about colors of the liturgical season, feast days, and special events. If there is a baptism scheduled, children return to the church in order to view the sacrament of Holy Baptism. In chapel, children serve as “Junior Acolytes” to light and extinguish our altar candles. We talk about the purpose of having candles, and how they are to remind us of Christ’s presence, and his being the light of the world.
Music is a part of worship. There is usually some opening song that involves hand motions. “Jesus Loves Me” is one of our favorites and children have been taught to use sign language to convey the words of this song. We use several songs throughout our worship time.
We then select two children to serve as “Junior Ushers” and take up our offerings. (Our funds are used as means of outreach, such as supporting Simon the Loving Lion through Children’s Hospital or other ministry options.)
Classic Bible stories are presented on large, brightly illustrated story cards. Children hear a roughly chronological history of God’s people (Creation through the Day of Pentecost and the early church).
We offer our prayers—prayers of intercession, confession and thanksgiving. We end our formal worship time with an enthusiastic passing of the Peace. Then we sing songs until it’s time to return to church.
Children receive their own bulletin which contains activities to complete once they have returned to the Worship Service. The children return to the Service at the passing of the peace.
How to prepare your child for chapel…
- Talk about Children’s Chapel with your children before they are old enough to attend. Children’s Chapel is a very special time and place. You may want to visit Children’s Chapel with your children prior to their attending as a participant.
- If your children seem apprehensive about attending, come with them. (After doing this a couple of times, your children will be ready to attend by themselves.)
- We recommend that you don’t “force” children to come to Chapel. Their unhappiness often prevents their having a positive experience.
- Send some change with your children for collection. This gives them an opportunity to participate in the offering and learn how their funds help support our outside ministries.
- Children shouldn’t bring toys or dolls to chapel. They learn and have fun when they’re giving worship their full attention.
- Parents are assigned a Sunday during the school year as a Children’s Chapel helper. This schedule is mailed out or you can see below. There are no Children’s Chapel helpers assigned during the summer months. Please feel free to assist us during this time whenever you are available.
