By Tiffany Kirkland

Jesus said in Matthew, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them.”

I was quoted in a recent article in The Tennessean about the importance of welcoming children in our worship services. I talked about the wonderful opportunity we have as a congregation and as families to be present with the children and to talk to them about why we do what we do during worship. Delia Halverson, a well-known Christian educator and writer says, “Our attitude of acceptance of children in the worship service makes a difference in whether learning takes place.” I agree with this statement.

I remember sitting next to my mother each Sunday morning during worship. Even though I did not always understand what was being said I still participated in the singing and bowed my head to pray and felt I was a part of worship. The children in our community here at West End have this opportunity as well. As members of this church and of God’s family, we have a responsibility to be present with our children and nurture them as they grow, modeling for them and teaching them how to worship—how to follow along in a bulletin, say the people’s responses out loud, look up and sing hymns, recite prayers, listen attentively, when to stand, when to bow one’s head, the importance of offerings, how to greet one another and how to care for one another in the pews. Remember, common ground we all share is that of having a childhood.

Making children of God – of all ages – feel welcome in worship is a priority at West End. In response to the article written in The Tennessean about children in worship, a West End member responded with the following:

“I said to my husband, you know, that was the one thing I was worried about at West End before I came -- I remembered it from when I attended years ago as very "high church," and I was concerned I would not feel all of my children [10, 4, 4 months] were not welcome in worship. I was proved wrong the first Sunday I visited, and we have continued to feel welcome every time they join me in worship.”

Let’s keep up this good work, as Jesus modeled for us.