Ministry Principle Verse:
So Jesus grew both in height and in wisdom, and he was loved by God and by all who knew him.
Luke 2:52 (New Living Translation)
Rationale:
Children are a work in progress, possessing a natural curiosity and desire to understand the world about them. Their discovery of the world leads to an acknowledgement of a great Designer/Creator God. Within a Christian context, this acknowledgement of God also includes an introduction to Jesus, the one “who holds all creation together” (Col. 1:17).
The primary goal of childhood is to discover, gain and appropriate the tools necessary for a healthy maturity. Self-care skills lead to eventual autonomy. Cognitive development prepares the way for gaining knowledge. Emotional nurturing provides the foundation upon which healthy socialization will continue throughout one’s life. While the pages of Scripture are dark as to the exact nature of Jesus’ childhood, Luke makes a point to acknowledge that Jesus himself appeared to meet and exceed these key developmental milestones. The result was a person who understood his purpose and destiny. It is the goal that this ministry to children would also allow children an opportunity to acknowledge they are the imago Dei-ones created in the image of their Creator, gifted with talents and skills both natural and spiritual which will bring glory to God.
Therefore, the Children’s Ministry of San Ramon Presbyterian Church’s mission and vision can be encapsulated in the following statement: Living, loving and learning in Jesus.
Living in Jesus
Children as Members of the Church
On the other hand, children derive some benefit from their baptism, when, being ingrafted into the body of the church, they are made an object of greater interest to the other members. Then when they have grown up, they are thereby strongly urged to an earnest desire of serving God, who has received them as sons by the formal symbol of adoption, before, from nonage, they were able to recognize him as their Father.
Institutes 4.16.9
The introduction of the young child to the Church local begins with the practice of baptism and/or dedication. While paedobaptism is a topic of some debate amongst reformed traditions, Scripture provides a firm foundation for the practice of baptizing infants/young children found in the illustration of circumcision as a symbol of the covenant between God and humanity. Circumcision in this aspect is a means by which grace and mercy is extended to the child by the covenant entered into by the parents until such a time as the child acknowledges this covenant for themselves. Whether a family chooses to initiate a child into the life of the household of faith by baptism or dedication, the act of presenting and committing a child to God in front of the community illustrates an important concept, the young child is an active member of the faith community possessing gifts and talents to both learn and serve the community and the Kingdom of God at large.
The belief of children as members ultimately defines how a ministry to children is achieved. For a child to thoroughly understand their current and eventual role in the local faith community and the Body of Christ at large, exposure and acceptance of children at gatherings must be emphasized. A child learns of the importance of worship not by having it explained but by experiencing the act of worship itself. Therefore SRPC Kids places a high priority upon the inclusion of children within a variety of worship contexts – both corporate and developmentally unique to the young child. Exposure of children to “body life” provides natural moments of understanding more fully their own relationship with God. This exposure to corporate worship moments include (but are not limited) to:
Baptisms and Dedications of infants and children
Participation in corporate worship both through music, prayer and ministry
Participation in sacramental life of the body (Baptism and Lord’s Supper when appropriate)
Ministering to the local faith community through service to the local body and the local community (offering of music, dance, leading in corporate prayer, assisting in ministry tasks such as greeting, collection of offering, participation in Building Bridges service events)
Age appropriate worship experiences such as Wonders of Worship
Baptisms and Dedications
Children will be encouraged to gather in front for dedications and baptisms of infants and children, allowing them to become better acquainted with the symbols and practices of the experience. Exposure to experiences such as these allow a child to develop within themselves an appreciation of their own spiritual journey, while exposing them to key rites of passages of the spiritual journey.
Corporate Worship
The ability to worship both in music and movement is an important part of child development. It is through the use of all senses that a deeper connection to the mystery and wonder of God develops. Children are encouraged to worship God as they feel comfortable during the worship service. Their time in the larger community communicates a message that they are a part of the church now not just when they are older.
Sacramental Participation
Participation in the sacramental life of the church connects a child to the fact that they are welcomed and hold an important role in the faith community. Exposure to sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper provide a means by which children experience the fullness of discipleship. As a child begins to understand and desire to participate in sacraments, all means should be made to instruct, encourage and involve the young child in this aspect of their faith development.
SRPC Kids will offer to both parents and children opportunities to come together specifically for instruction in Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. For children presented in dedication, opportunities for formal baptism instruction will begin in the Spring of their third grade year; for instruction in the Lord’s Supper, opportunities for instruction will begin in their fourth grade year, with the goal of all fifth graders participating in the Lord’s Supper by Spring of their fifth grade year as a “spiritual rite of passage.”
Ministering to the local community
SRPC Kids is committed to developing within the young child an acknowledgement of one’s developing natural and spiritual gifts. Opportunities to contribute to a worship experience include presenting music and dance for worship, leading in the reading of Scripture and corporate prayer, serving within the service as appropriate. This provides children with a sense of importance as well as reminding the larger community of the ability of children to minister to adults.
Age Appropriate Worship Experiences
SRPC Kids is fortunate to have creative and enthusiastic adults who are committed to providing children with their own opportunities for corporate worship on a monthly basis. This allows the young child to be ministered to in a larger group setting while building within them an understanding of the importance and excitement of worship.
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