Telling the truth in all-age services

When I started going to church, other mothers were always asking me if I wanted to volunteer for kids’ church. I always said: ‘No, not for me,’ for so many reasons.

Firstly, I didn’t feel I could teach children about something I had in no way got my own head around. Secondly, once you volunteer for kids’ church, you never leave, and if you are reliable you always end up covering for others and doing way more than one Sunday a month. Thirdly, I never saw them asking men to do it, which I found sexist and refused to be a part of. Fourthly, my heart is for the worship element of the Sunday church service, and I didn’t want to miss out on that.

As time has gone on, my reasons have changed. I am still wary of getting stuck helping out in this way, but also, as my faith grows and changes, I am not always sure how to discuss parts of the Christian faith with my own child, let alone other children.

I somehow do end up getting invited to participate in all-age services. These services are supposed to involve young people leading the whole church. I feel that there should be more emphasis on older folk interacting with the younger, passing on wisdom and encouragement, while the younger folk offer their own interpretations. Normally these services involve more accessible teaching, with videos and interaction. I get invited because I have a sort innate Blue Peter-style delivery, which is well suited to children. …

Commitment-Phobe is a new Christian

___

This is an extract from an article that was published in the April 2018 edition of  Reform

Subscribe to Reform