Whole Families in Worship Together
January 31, 2023
Dear CPC Family,
What makes Corona Presbyterian Church distinct from many other churches in Corona? There is certainly more than one correct answer to this question! But the one I want to highlight today is this: CPC encourages children of all ages, as much as possible, to be present in the worship service … for the whole worship service.
We don’t ever want our distinctives to breed pride or a sense of superiority. And, in fact, this particular distinctive can be an understandable hurdle to visitors. To avoid pride and to overcome that hurdle, it’s important to understand why we value whole families, including children, worshiping together.
The Bible on Children in Worship
Consider the following passages:
Genesis 17:7: “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”
Deuteronomy 6:6-7: “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Psalm 148:11-14: “Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.”
Matthew 19:14: “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’”
Acts 2:39: “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Underlying the command to teach our children about our covenant Lord is the covenant promise itself: God welcomes—even calls—us along with our children into the benefits of the covenant of grace!
Applying the Bible
Here’s how our OPC Book of Church Order summarizes and applies this biblical teaching:
“In public worship, God's people draw near to their God unitedly as his covenant people, the body of Christ. For this reason, the covenant children should be present so far as possible, as well as adults. Because God makes his covenant with believers and their children, families should be taught and encouraged to sit together as families.” (Directory for Public Worship, I.B.4.a)
We don’t dismiss our children to a “kid’s church” or other similar class because the whole worship service—from beginning to end—is for all of us together. Does that mean that they’ll understand or fully appreciate everything that happens? No. We shouldn’t use one Sunday to measure the impact of public worship on our children. We should, rather, think cumulatively. What about 18 years of Sundays? Those roughly 936 Lord’s Days would immerse our children in the rhythms, words, and actions of public worship. More than that, God’s Word will never return void but will always accomplish His purposes—including his purposes in bringing our children to Christ and rooting them in the Christian faith for life (Isaiah 55:10-11).
Do you realize that the baby who cries during the congregational prayer could be a future ruling elder at Corona Presbyterian Church? The toddler who drops her crayons every 10 seconds might one day be a missionary you pray for and support? Our task, by God’s grace, is to patiently, faithfully, and prayerfully raise up the future generations of the church of Jesus Christ. What an amazing privilege!
Practical Considerations
A Word for Everyone: every member of Corona Presbyterian Church has a role to play in welcoming kids into worship. What that looks like, of course, will depend on your relationship with each family and their children. But everyone can do something! Here’s a great article with practical (tiny!) tips that all of us can put into practice.
A Word for Parents: you need to hear that active and sometimes noisy kids in worship with us is a great blessing to the church. Yes, it’s good to teach our children to sit quietly and listen attentively … but remember that a 2 year old (or insert any age) is a 2 year old. Noise is ok. Your Pastor can roll with the punches and so can everybody else!
Another Word for Parents: it can help kids pay attention if they have a better idea of what happens when we worship. Consider explaining to them some of the elements of our worship, learning some of our best-loved hymns as a family, or asking age appropriate questions about the service/sermon as you drive home. Even seemingly small things (like a pre-reader holding his own hymnal) can make a huge difference.
Many very good things take time—and the great good that comes from having children in worship is no exception. But let’s trust the Lord, adjust our expectations, and pray that he might do his good work in us and our children as we worship.
In the Father’s Love,
Pastor Andrew