Children’s Worship & Wonder (CWW)

In CWW we “talk more slowly”, “walk more softly”, and “listen more carefully” as we have all the time we need.

CWW is a faith formation and worship-centered approach with storytelling, ritual, and fellowship. It is used with children to help them deepen their relationship with God. CWW is for children ages 3 years- 3^rd grade.

You can watch a story below.

When does CWW happen?

During 10:30 AM worship, children sit with their parents or guardians until they are invited forward for the children’s message. Then, children are dismissed to return to their seats or those ages 3 to Grade 3 may attend Worship & Wonder.

Many children are familiar with the building and go to the CWW rooms without parent assistance, led by the Children’s coordinators. Parents are welcome to escort their children to the appropriate room.

You can watch a story below.

What do the children do?

Children are welcomed into a very warm and gentle structure from week to week. Because there is a ritual to this time together the children are free to relax into the space and go deeper into the stories. They can truly enter into a time of listening and talking with God. As children transition from Children’s Worship & Wonder into adult worship, they are familiar with the rhythm and joy of worshiping.

What should my child expect when they enter?

The children come into a special worship space where a storyteller is waiting to greet them. They sit in a circle, surrounded by bible stories made just for them, with all materials at their height. Everything in this special, sacred setting is accessible to the children. The storyteller leads the children in a time of singing and praise.

The whole gathering will hear one of God’s stories (modified from the bible for easy hearing and listening). As the story is finished the children are invited to share in a time of wonder about the story. They are asked “wondering questions” to help them dive deeper into the meaning of the story. Just as adults respond to the hearing of scripture through song, prayer, and thought, the children will respond to God’s Story with “wondering time.” They do crafts, read books, or play with the wooden and tactile objects that represent a story. This helps them express their relationship with God and enter imaginatively into each sacred story.

Is there a snack?

The children share in a food ritual called “The Feast.” It is meant to reflect the Lord’s Supper and prepare children for this important shared element of worship.

If your child has a food allergy, please be sure to communicate that to a Children’s Coordinator ahead of time. You can find staff information here.

Do they engage the bible?

After they respond to the sacred story in a way they choose, the children come back to the circle. Here the storyteller lights the Christ candle and shows the children where the story they heard is found in the Bible. Then as a community they pray together and share in a feast.

How do I pickup my child?

We ask our parents to wait in the hallway and not enter our special place of worship as someone might be talking to God. Once we are finished, we will open the door, call the child’s name, and the child will come to the hallway.