During both morning worship services, children through second grade are invited to continue their worship elsewhere. Little Lambs is for older two-year-olds, three-year-olds and those four-year-olds not likely to attend kindergarten the next year. This group serves as a transition between nursery and the other children’s worship groups. We also offer two children’s worship groups for children who are in preschool through second grade.

These children have opportunities to meet with God and to work with the stories of God. The stories are told simply, using wooden figures, felt underlays, a “desert box” filled with sand and gold-covered parable boxes. Children are introduced to the seasons and colors of the church year.

“Signing,” the hand alphabet for hearing-impaired people, is used for some portions of the worship. A time is given for the children to respond in their own ways, during which art supplies, books, and puzzles are available, along with the story materials. Periodically, a “feast” is included in the time of worship, usually a drink and a small cookie.

During the fall (Trinity season) we use many of the major Old Testament stories. As the new year begins in Advent, we follow the stories and major events of the life of Christ, our Good Shepherd.

We want our children to leam to do worship, so they are better equipped to worship with the larger body of Christ’s followers as they grow.

Preparation for Communion Classes

Twice a year, Jack Roeda leads a class attended by the young person who wishes to partake of communion elements with his or her parent(s). Standing with one’s family and receiving the bread and wine from one’s parent(s) is seen as an intermediate step between a child’s baptism and the lime that he or she stands before the congregation to make profession of faith.

Family Communion

These celebrations, scheduled the second Sunday of every other month, remind us that Church of the Servant is an extended family of worshippers. Children rejoin their own family for communion. Those who haven’t yet taken the preparation for communion class stand in front of their parents in the circle and receive a spoken blessing from a council member.