Top 10 Reasons Why Children are Welcomed in our Church
10. Repeated exposure to the sights, sounds and symbols of Eucharist help form all Christians.
9. Children actually LIKE sitting in those usually-empty front row seats so they can see and hear what's going on.
8. It would be expensive to repaint all those signs to read "The Episcopal Church Only Welcomes Adults"
7. Practice Makes Perfect - Teaching young children to enjoy and participate in the service helps them become active and receptive worshipping adults.
6. There are no pop quizzes at the communion rail! We all experience the Eucharist as a mystery... you don't have to be able to explain it in order to benefit from it.
5. Children have their own unique relationship with God. Being in church helps them learn how to pray, sing, worship and otherwise stregthen that relationship.
4. If children aren't in church, who are the candy-unwrapping, restless, coughing, whispering adults going to blame for the noise?
3. Sunday services make great family-togetherness time. Use the quiet space for extra hand-holding or snuggling time that may get lost during a busy week.
2. Children teach us what absolute joy looks like - and what better place to experience that than church?
1. ...and the Number One reason why children are welcomed in our church: The Circle of God's family is incomplete without them!
Tracey E. Herzer, President, 2007
National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors