Children's Day

I serve a church that values ministry to children. One Sunday each May is designated to celebrate what God is doing in this ministry. May is chosen because it is well into the church year and there is an abundance of energy as schools close and summer approaches. We celebrate before families scatter during summer.

Planning
A fun, exciting time in our church family, the Children’s Day date is chosen during annual calendar planning so the church staff is informed and involved from the start.

Promotion
We promote Children’s Day through a full-page insert in our church’s weekly publication. For that insert, we include children’s creative writing, a schedule of summer events, and inspiration and encouragement for others to join the ministry. We use the theme information from LifeWay’s planning guide to help tie it all together.

Celebration Activities

• Our Children’s Day begins with an open house for parents of four-year-olds through grade 6. Parents and caregivers visit their child’s room and talk with Sunday School teachers. Light refreshments are served in the lobby of the children’s area.
• Children are actively involved in worship. Some hand out orders of worship and greet those coming to worship. A child leads in prayer. The children’s choir sings special music. Children who play instruments are included. Children’s leaders or parents share testimonies.
• Leaders are recognized with a show of appreciation. It is a wonderful time for the entire church to catch a glimpse of the people who benefit from the children’s ministry.
• Children are baptized. The pastor shares with the congregation a letter each child who is baptized has written to God, completing the sentence “I am excited about my baptism because….”
• The pastor’s sermon reflects the Children’s Day theme. Our morning service concludes with a baby dedication, a special time that allows our congregation to renew its commitment to families. It encourages all of us to be responsible not only for helping the next generation hear the good news of Jesus Christ, but also for living in such a way as to not be a stumbling block for little ones.
• That night the children’s choirs present their spring concert. It is a wonderful way to end the day.

Children benefit because they sense they are valued. Parents are pleased to belong to a church that supports them as parents and believes children are a gift from God. The church body is blessed to see that God is at work in their church with the next generation. Celebrate children sometime this year. Your church will be glad you did!