Children’s Ministry

GUMC invites and encourages children to attend worship. While we hope for appropriate behavior, we do not mind the noise (and possible commotion) that comes with having young children in worship. Children are part of this faith familyand are welcome in worship. To help in this transition, try some or all of the following:
1. Bring your child to church on a day other than Sunday morning.
Go on a tour of the church facility and locate the sanctuary, the Sunday school rooms, the gym (for Prism service), as well as the bathrooms. If you are a traditional worship attender, let your child explore the sanctuary, see how it feels to sit in the pew, and leaf through the Bibles and hymnals. Look around the chancel area (front of sanctuary) and talk about what will happen during the service. If you attend Prism, take a tour of the Owings Life Enrichment Center. Look at the bleachers
and padded chairs. Discuss how there will be refreshment tables and room in the back for movement/fidgeting.
2. Take home a worship bulletin and go through the service at home.
Show your child that there are times to sit, to stand, to sing, to pray, and to listen. Help your child learn the Lord’s Prayer and practice it at home. Prepare offering envelopes and let your child put money in the envelope; explain why the offering is important. You may even encourage “playing church” at home.
3. Read the Bible and pray at home.
If you have not done so, purchase an age-appropriate Bible for your child and read the stories. Let your child handle the Bible and encourage questions. You can explain that the Bible is where we learn God’s story and how we are part of that story. If you let prayer be a part of your everyday life, not just something you do at church, your child will understand its importance.
4. Sit near an aisle, near an exit.
If your child needs to go to the bathroom or is feeling overly stimulated or having a disruptive day, don’t be embarrassed. Walk your child out of the sanctuary or the gym until he/she can work off a little energy, and then come back in. This is much easier if you don’t have to crawl across a row of other people in the pew/row of chairs! Little ones like to sit up front so they can see more easily. We have a room with a live stream of the traditional service available in the Hamilton Nursery if you need to sit in there for a few minutes. For Prism services, if your child is fidgety and needs to move around, feel free to take them towards the back of the gym. There is plenty of space for movement and it won’t be a distraction for others!
5. Be prepared with a worship notebook or bag.
Our church provides materials for children to use during worship, but you are welcome to bring your own. Worship bags are in the white cabinet to the left of the sanctuary doors in the narthex. We also have children’s bulletins on the table outside both sanctuary entrances. We also have worship activity bags at Prism! These can be found on a table inside the gym doors. Ask an usher if you need help finding one. Coloring pages or blank paper for doodling are great to have in your bag. Coloring and doodling is not disrespectful, and can actually help your child listen more attentively. Encourage your child to draw pictures of the sermon or songs. Please, no markers – they may stain the pews or padded chairs in our worship spaces.
6. Teach basic church etiquette.
Speak to people before and after worship and teach your child how to greet others. If your child is shy, don’t force it, but practice at home and let your child see you greeting others. Meeting other people and taking care of the church facility helps a child feel that “this is my church!”
7. Get to know the ministers.
Introduce your child to the minister after worship and participate in other church activities so that the minister becomes a familiar face.
8. Don’t give up!
It may take a while for your child to become comfortable in worship. The best way for this to happen is to attend worship on a regular basis. There may be days when it doesn’t go well, but don’t let this stop you from coming the following week. Practice may not make perfect, but it helps a lot!