Worshipping together- starting something new this Sunday.
In 2 weeks time we are launching our 2 meetings at Kerith Bracknell…
but there was one major theme from our original conversations post lockdown about the church we wanted to be, and we feel we have an opportunity to make a change now and dovetail it into the 2-meeting switch around….
We so missed the joy of worshipping together as intergenerational community and realised we wanted to maximise this in our new post lockdown Kerith Bracknell. Due to our site layout we often don’t meet families all together as they drop off and pick up from our Kids building which is nearer the car park.
The parents miss time to see each other and interact as families in the Kerith Centre and the children don't get to experience corporate worship. Hence, we’ve been missing out on the blessing of the children worshipping alongside us as well as for them to see worshipping adults around them. We desire that both young and old get to observe, learn and be encouraged by each other!
So... in discussion with the Kerith Kids and our safeguarding team we would like to trial inviting everyone to start worshipping together in the meetings (both 9:30 and 11:30) for the first half of worship (approx. 15 mins in) before parents drop off their children.
Why are we doing this?
We want parents to be able to spend time in the Kerith Centre with their families, as the intergenerational interactions are so precious for discipleship as church family. We’ve been learning that 'we don't pass wisdom down — we pass it around.'
It’s great discipleship for us all to have young and old interacting together and it's easier to do this before the meeting as at pick up time K2 is so close to the car park it’s harder to come back over.
We acknowledge that:
It'll be messy, the worship leaders are going to have to negotiate keeping people engaged during the exodus 15 mins in!
It means moving the New to Kerith area into place once the meeting has started.
It means parents having to keep an eye on their kids during worship rather than have the whole session hands free- and they potentially miss some of the meeting content dropping off ( although this shouldn’t be too time consuming).
Therefore, we’re calling this a trial and will give it a term to see if we can settle into this new pattern. Our heart is to create space to be CHURCH FAMILY together, and as such, we acknowledge that any family gathering is messy and will need some fine-tuning!
Practical bits:
We want to start THIS SUNDAY (Sept 1st) - so we can iron out issues for the 8th Sept when we go to 2 meetings.
Registration computers will be set up by the Kids administrator in the New to Kerith area for families to register their children before worship. Youth will be registered in the balcony lounge by the blue sofas.
Everyone then worships together and then families head over to drop their kids when a slide on the screen indicates.
Why
Because we feel God is doing something around Intergenerational worship across this nation in this season, and we are passionate that our next generation of children and youth grow up in the Lord and lead our church in years to come!
Jo Foster - our Kerith Children’s Champion recently reminded Pelumi and I of these brilliant truths.
God-centered worship is supremely important in family life and in the life of the church.
1, Authentic Worship Witnesses
If children see adults beaming with joy as they sing praises to God how would it impact them? We should be modelling for children the tremendous value adults put on joyful reverence in the presence of Almighty God!
Millions and millions of children never see their parents sing, let alone sing songs to a great God with joy. We are giving the children opportunity to see their parents and other grownups model worship.
2. Worship: More than Fun
Experience shows that children hear and remember remarkable things. The content of the songs (and other parts of the service such as the welcome, host team etc) gives parents an unparalleled opportunity to teach their children the great truths of the faith.
In Worship there is a sense of solemnity and awe which children should experience in the presence of God. We should aim to awaken them to the greatness and majesty of God, not just his tenderness and familiarity.
Looking forward to starting this off this Sunday!