Durring worship, our younger children are invited to participate in a worship experience specifically designed to teach and lead them into creating their own relationships with God, all by themselves. This program is called "Worship and Wonder" and is based on the curriculum created by Children and Worship founded by Doctor Stewart of the Disciples Church.
What EXACTLY Is Worship and Wonder?
Worship and Wonder is a montessori infulenced program which offers children the opportunity to hear Bible stories told using multi-sensory tools and then to form responses to the stories out of their own life experiences. Children learn the meaning of church tratiditons and learn to prepare for participation in the church's worship traditions and practices. This program is often effective with children that have learning disabilities, physical handicaps and attention deficit probles. It can also be used effectively with adults.
Children learn to prepare themselves and quiet their minds in order to enter into worship and relationship with God, they learn how to talk with God and they learn stories from the Bible in a way that they can understand and interact with. Children also are given the opportunity to choose the ways in which they interact with the stories and so learn self esteme and character building skills such as sharing and respect for others.
Click Here for our 08/09 schedule
What People Are Say about their experiences with Worship and Wonder: (taken from Disciples Home Mission Pamphlet)
"The other day while riding in the car, my child said to me, "Mom please be quiet, I'm talking to God." After a few moments she said, "Ok, I'm through now." Another parent reported a similar story, on several occasions she has observed her child "...Talking with God.""
"My stepson remembered the story that had been told in the worship center and retold it, word for word, on the way home from church."
"We have two boys, who tend to act out from time to time. They now work together during response time. They have even been observed reminding each other to stay in the story."
"I have worked with children in our church for a very long time and have never before had elementary age children ask for a Bible and then go off and read it on their own. Since beginning Children Worship and Wonder this happens on a regular basis."
How You, as a parent or a congregation member, can learn more & participate:
You can check out more about the program by visiting the Children and Worship website at www.childrenandworship.org where you can learn more about the experiences that churches are having using this program.
If you want to learn even more or experience a Worship and Wonder service, you can borrow a copy of Young Children and Worship from Susan or ask to sit in on a service as a visitor.
If you are moved by the experience of working with children and seeing how they worship, contact our office about volunteering to work in the program. We have several levels of volunteering, allowing to you participate at any level you feel comfortable and to learn more about the program along the way.
***Most quotes and resources on this page come, with permission, from the Worship and Wonder training packets and handouts produced by the Disciples Home Mission.***