Family & Children
What is Children Worship & Wonder?
An exciting way of approaching faith formation with children is the best way to describe Children
Worship & Wonder. In Children Worship & Wonder children have the opportunity to hear Bible
stories and form responses out of their own life experiences. They learn the meaning of church
traditions and participate in worship practices (Young Children and Worship, Introduction).
Children Worship & Wonder is a Montessori influence program and is often effective with children
who have attention deficit problems. It can be used with children as young as three years old. It
can be either a children’s church or children’s church school program.
Significant training is required to learn this approach and use it effectively. It takes commitment in
both time and financial resources. It is important to recognize that many Children Worship &
Wonder story tellers give witness to a deepening faith and greater joy in teaching.
Patterns for all materials are provided in the book, Young Children and Worship, by Sonja Stewart
and Jerome Berryman. Materials can be made or purchased and will last many years.
Why might my church want to consider this program?
Children Worship & Wonder is helpful to congregations who:
- Are experiencing low church school attendance.
- Are concerned that young children are not learning the stories of God.
- Have programs for children during “adult” worship but they are not programs which provide developmentally appropriate worship opportunities for children.
- Have problems with current “children’s church,” such as children acting out, difficulty recruiting
volunteers, lack of program consistency, lack of resources.
Questions for consideration:
- If churches do not provide children with safe, quiet places to explore their relationship with God,
who will?
- If churches do not encourage children to listen to the still small voice, which comes from inside
of them, who will?
- If churches are not willing to make real commitments to children in time, personnel, money,
energy, and space, can they demand other institutions do so?
Characteristics of programs like Children Worship & Wonder:
- Respect of Children. This program recognizes children as spiritual beings, who already have a
relationship with God. In Children Worship & Wonder children are not seen as empty vessels for
us (adults) to fill with our understanding of God. Adults are guides who offer space, tools, and
language which help children deepen their already existing relationship with God. In Children
Worship & Wonder we trust, that given the opportunity, children will bring their own life
experiences to the stories of God and will receive what they need.
- Encouragement of Imagination. There is not enough time and space in today’s world for children to use their wonderful imaginations. Television, videos, computer games rarely encourage
children to call upon their own creative possibilities. There are too few places for children to learn
about the gifts of quiet and solitude. Churches are uniquely equipped to offer these gifts.
- Developmentally Appropriate. Children Worship & Wonder allows children to use all of their
senses and motor skills. It includes lots of repetition and lots of ritual which children love.
- Children Learn about God while Being in God’s Presence.* Children Worship & Wonder is
worship. It is a chance for adults and children to worship together in a way that is meaningful for
both.
- Numbers do not Matter. This program can be done with one child or twenty children.
*These are the words of Sonja Stewart, Young Children and Worship.
For additional information contact:
Kaye Edwards (434) 832-1119
