All Age Services

We love all the fun of an all-age service. We can worship alongside every age, have lots of fun and enjoy the big room feel of celebrating all together. But it can also, at times, feel messy and even hard if you see your kids aren't able to engage with what is happening and that can often stop you from engaging. Here are 5 ways you can help build a framework for them so you and them can both look forward to, participate in and enjoy all-age services together.

1. Let them know in advance. Get them excited about being with you in the adult service, help them feel prepared by telling them about it. You can explain that during family services, all the groups will be together like a big happy family in the adult worship room. There's pretty much always these 4 elements in some order: 1. Snacks :) 2. Worship. 3. Teaching from the Bible 4. Prayer ministry and then we often do worship and snacks again!
There's often also some fun surprises like maybe a game or a tunnel to run through and sometimes there are parts of the service where kids can go up or do things in their own age groups. If that does happen, it's always ok for parents to go up with them so they never have to worry. Having an idea of what to expect, will help prepare them to see each stage of the service through.
2. Bring what would help them engage. What helps your children focus and learn at home? Your kids might love stickers, bring some along and draw a picture of a cross for them to put stickers in. Maybe they love music, they can bring their favourite instruments to worship God with, bring their sensory blankets or ear muffs. You know your kids best, come ready with the equipment that you can use to help them participate in and understand what is happening.
3. Frame what is happening. In everyday life, you do this for your kids by explaining everything! Why you go to work, why they can't touch the oven, why they need a coat outside, why vegetables are good for us etc. So, you are the most equipped person to frame what Church looks like and why to your kids.
Help them look around the room and see what is happening. For example, during worship you can see how different people worship God, some with hands raised, some closing their eyes, others are on their knees or dancing around or clapping. These are all beautiful ways that people talk to God and tell him they love him. Just like we give hugs to each other, these people are reaching up to God like a big hug.
4. Join in with them. Enjoy the vibrance and variety of having all ages together. If your child wants to dance and wiggle, do it with them. If they enjoy colouring, colour with them while you listen to the talk. Bring your Bibles and find the story together, while they read it in their version, you can read it in yours.
5. Invite them to join in with what the Lord is doing. Lay hands on and pray for someone together, find the passage being preached on in their Bible and follow along together. Invite them to put their hands out if they want God to come and fill them up’. Ask God what he is doing in your kids lives and partner with Him to see them meet with him!