Adventures in Children’s Ministry!

The other day I was reading a blog post about raising children of faith and one sentence leapt off the screen at me,  the author wrote,

“The hassle of bringing kids to church sometimes has me wondering whether it is worth it…Without great music, contemplative lighting or an eloquent preacher, I often find myself making to-do lists: groceries to buy; errands to run. It is easier for me to mentally search the fridge for tonight’s dinner than concentrate on the good news of the day. Attending church with my children, I sometimes forget to seek God at all.”

At the church I attended as a child with my family, the Sunday school classes were held between services. For us kids that meant sitting through a what-seemed-like-forever church service on a hard wooden pew and usually in a pair of scratchy tights and uncomfortable shoes. It was understandably hard for the squirmy, six-year old me to stay focused. For parents at Granite Springs that same lack of focus isn’t something we have to worry about. Knowing our kids are being cared for by loving volunteers allows parents to stay present and worship without the distraction of having, well, a squirmy kid who hasn’t quite perfected her “church whisper” on the chair next to them.

Whether you drop off your infant at the nursery, take your preschool kiddo to Busy Builders before the service, or have older children that participate in the first half of church and then are dismissed to their respective classes, the Children’s Ministry programs at Granite Springs allow parents the chance to absorb the sermon, take communion, and connect spiritually. The number paging system that immediately and effectively notifies me if I have to check on my child and  knowing that the Children’s Ministry team is prepared to accommodate children with specific needs, whether it’s a food allergy or a medical condition, provides that extra reassurance that lets me relax and focus on what’s important.

The squirmy six-year old me learned to cherish my time in church, and the ability to fully participate in the service without having to dodge worship-folder paper airplanes or respond to the 15th inquiry of “How many more minutes until I can get a cookie?” is made possible by the Children’s Ministry program. I also know my kids are getting their own chance to worship, hear a Bible story, or learn a new verse,  and having both our needs met is just one way Granite Springs supports and serves families.