<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If I only had the nerve\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n
I would lead a children\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time where I would tell the children to come to the chancel, as I normally do. Then I would tell them, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You know I really have to use the restroom. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll back really soon. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t tell anyone I left. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sure I won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t miss anything.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Then I would exit. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I would then have someone else come and talk to the children about something (haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t figured that one out yet). Then I would come back and ask the children what I missed and what happened. I would then tell the children, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll do my best to use the restroom before worship so that I can be a part of it and not miss anything. Would you be willing to do the same?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Of course, some of them may say no or something completely unrelated!) <\/p>\n
As you can see, we have an issue with children leaving the service \u00e2\u20ac\u0153to go to the bathroom.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d And while, it would be interesting to do the above scenario, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think it is the best approach or appropriate for worship. Instead what I will end up doing is a number of things<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tTalk to the children one-on-one about using the restroom prior to the service. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve already done this with one child. I said something like, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Can we work on this?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She has been doing well since then.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tEncourage parents to take the children to the restroom prior to the service
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tEncourage Sunday school teachers to remind the children to go after Sunday school
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tHave a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Children in Worship\u00e2\u20ac\u009d tidbit each month on our Children and Youth Bulletin Board
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tHave a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Children in Worship\u00e2\u20ac\u009d tidbit each month in a Christian Education or church newsletter<\/p>\n
Of course the issue isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really about children going to the restroom during worship. The bigger issue here is teaching our children, their parents, and even other adults about children being in worship. It can be easy to assume that they already know these things, but that is where we err. Just because a church has children in worship, doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t mean they know how to do so. Just like other things, being intentional is the key. Now, how each church is intentional varies based upon that particular church. <\/p>\n
Will we have fewer children leaving the service, particularly during the sermon, to go to the bathroom? Maybe; maybe not. But, at least we trying to be intentional in our part to teach not only our children, but also our parents and other adults about children in worship.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If I only had the nerve\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 I would lead a children\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time where I would tell the children to come to the chancel, as I normally do. Then I would tell them, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You know I really have to use the … Continue reading