Hope Church is excited that once again we will be gathering and worshiping together as a family during the month of July. The Gatherings have been designated as a MOSAIC with ministry for children birth – kindergarten in the Early Childhood Center, and children grade 1 and above are with the adults in the gathering. I can just imagine the smile on God’s face as people from age six to eighty-six are all together singing out their praises to our Lord and Savior!
We value intergenerational worship services. MOSAICS at Hope Church are times of purposeful intergenerational worship. Several times a year, as an entire church family, we join a Biblical tradition which dates back to the Old Testament times: the generations worshiping and learning together. Doing so emphasizes the unity of the church body and that character is formed in community - the young learn from the old that have become seasoned with the experiences of life, and the old learn from the young with their new exploration of life.
Parents model. Parents teach their children by their own example the meaning and value of worship. A child seeing how Mom or Dad bows their heads in earnest prayer during the prelude, or seeing how they sing praise to God with joy in their faces, and how they listen hungrily to His Word – those are all images that enables a child to catch the spirit of their parents meeting the living God.
Children Absorb. Children absorb a tremendous amount that is of value. The music and words become familiar. The message of the music begins to sink in. Even if they do not understand the entire sermon, experience shows that children hear and remember remarkable things. The content of the prayers and songs and sermons gives you, the parent, an opportunity to teach your child the great truths of your faith. Following the service ask questions, explain things, and share what was meaningful to you. Doing this will greatly increase your child’s desire to listen.
What I can do to make this a positive experience for the entire family.