I can't ever remember a time as a kid when I didn't have to go to both church and Sunday School on a Sunday morning. I guess I don't really know if my parents took us to church as young babies, but I do remember eating raisins in the pew and going to preschool Sunday school.
I am just really curious, so if you have an opinion or experience about this, please feel free to comment. I really just don't know what to think about the topic of kids and church, because what I thought was normal isn't normal to everyone else and I'm starting to explore all possibilities.
The question is . . . Is it important to have children in church or is it appropriate to only have them in Sunday School? Is there a grey area? Is there a point where kids are just too young to be in church? Or is it important to have them in both church and Sunday School?
I've always made an effort to have our girls in both Sunday School and church. However, I do realize that there are times when sending kids to the nursery during church is the only sane option for me. I am always on my own in the church pew and had both our girls in the nursery when they could go. But, I did make an effort to have them in church for as long as we could both stand it on a Sunday morning--it was kind of like taking baby steps to teach them how to sit in church. I would have them in church for about the first 20 minutes--long enough to get through the children's message and then they'd go to the nursery. Gradually, we worked up to both girls being able to sit through the whole church service, although it requires a lot of effort on my part to keep things under control:)
Here in New York, the band led service (which is the one that the kids enjoy and behave in) is during Sunday School. I usually send them to Sunday School and then we stay for church, but it's a whole lot of work for me and I am fast forwarding to when the baby arrives. I totally see how easy it would be to send the kids to Sunday School, go to church during that time, and then all go home.
But . . . I do want them to learn what worship is and how to sit in church. I guess I just don't know if I am expecting them to start learning too early. I think I might be in the minority, but I really don't know. If you have any thoughts or experience here, I'd love to hear it!
1 comment:
Just catching up and thought I'd share.
This is a very hard thing for me. I grew up going to Sunday School then to church. Adult church, not kid church. I learned early what was expected, stood up when adults did, and sat quietly.
NOW, we do have "children's church" during "adult" church and the nursery available. But, we usually try to keep Jeremy with us until he is just too much of a distraction to us and/or others.
I am concerned that if you go to "fun" children's church, then magically at 3rd grade you are too old and have to go to adult church, the transition with not be easy at all.
It's a hard choice. I also don't want him missing out on what the other kids are doing either though...
My true feeling is that families need to worship together if possible.
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