Lift Up Your Hearts - God's Children (children at worship, Lutheran, resources, ELCIC)

Lift Up Your Hearts
God's Children

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God's Children

God's Children: Welcoming Children to Worship is a pastoral essay designed to encourage the thoughtful involvement of children in the worshipping community. Written by pastor André Lavergne [e-mail], with contributions to earlier editions (1992, 1994, 1996) from ELCIC pastors Marty Tuer, Christine Selbstaedt and Judi Harris, God's Children: Welcoming Children to Worship was originally published as a stewardship and worship resource for the community of Trinity Lutheran Church, New Hamburg, Ontario.

God's Children: Teaching Liturgy to Children is a companion essay designed to encourage the careful teaching of liturgy to children. Written by Debbie Lou Ludolph [e-mail], God's Children: Teaching Liturgy to Children is based on a workshop offered at River of Life, the ELCIC's 1998 national worship conference. It largely reflects Ms. Ludolph's experience and teaching of liturgy at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Kitchener, Ontario.

God's Children: Teaching the Lord's Prayer -- A Dance Anthem teaches a form for enacting the Lord's Prayer. Written by Paul F. Bosch [e-mail], God's Children: Teaching the Lord's Prayer -- A Dance Anthem was originally prepared for a children's after-school program at Syracuse University in the early 1970's.

God's Children: Praying for the Child in Our Hands reminds us that we do well to embrace children in our prayers. Written by Nancy Kelly [e-mail], God's Children: Praying for the Child in Our Hands was originally prepared for an ecumenical conference on ministry for and with children.

A Vision of Discipleship

Edited by Clement Mehlman [e-mail], the Fall, 1999 issue of A Vision of Discipleship focused on Baptism and included Towards a Baptismal Ministry for Our Children by the Rev. Don Johnson; Blessing of Parents Who Are Expecting A Child test rite by the Rev. Don Johnson; Welcome and Enrolment of Children As Candidates for Baptism test rite by the Rev. Don Johnson; Baptismal Practice by the Rev. Alan T. Perry.

Web Resources

The following Web-based resources will be helpful to those seeking to nurture children in the worship environment.

The maple leaf indicates a Canadian connection.

Advent, Christmas and Epiphany Online Resources (Lift Up Your Hearts site)
Catechist Magazine (commercial; Peter Li Education Group)
Center for Children and Theology (promotes catechesis after the model of Sofia Cavalletti; Mount Rainier, MD USA)
Children At Worship - Congregations in Bloom (Caroline Fairless et al, Roanoke, VA USA)
Children in the Liturgy (article; Louis Weil et al) from God's Friends: A Journal of Liturgical and Spiritual Practice (St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church, San Francisco, CA USA). See also Including Henry and Holy Food from the same series.
Children in Worship (resources; Presbytery of Kiskiminetas, Presbyterian Church - USA, USA)
Children in Worship: A Guide for Parents and Congregation (St. Edwards Episcopal Church, San Jose, CA USA)
Faith at Home (Barbara Laufersweiler, Oklahoma City, OK USA)
Faith Inkubators (curriculum; Rich Melheim et al, Stillwater, MN USA)
Families Under Construction: Columns (Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman, Lexington, KY USA)
Fridge Art (Domestic-Church.Com; RC family-centered activities which bring the liturgy home)
How can we involve children in worship? (article; Teresa Bowers; ELCA website)
Involving Children in Worship (article; LCMS; Judy Carol Thompson)
Kids Pray the Darndest Things (book primarily for use by parish liturgy committees in RC settings; James O'Regan, Orleans, ON Canada)
Lent, Holy Week and Easter Online Resources (Lift Up Your Hearts site)
Making Room for Children (PDF pamphlet; King of Peace Episcopal Church; Kingsland, GA USA)
Open Wednesdays (RC helps to prepare children for Mass readings; Marie Schoettle, Darien, GA USA)
Sunday School Lessons (ELCA version RCL-based Bible study helps; Judy Haiwick, Long Beach, CA USA)
Treehaus Communications (commercial; RC resources for children; Loveland, OH USA)
Young Person's Guide to the Pipe Organ (American Guild of Organists)