Aged three years Ella already knows some of the key differences and similarities between the great church traditions. She can tell a Methodist church from a Moravian church and ours she calls, “My Church.” The one thing she knows every church has is a nursery. To her it is a playroom. The haven of toys to get about the real business of being at church: play.
We had our community Lenten service at Trinity UMC tonight. We don’t know where the nursery is there. Lo and behold! Ella actually sat with us and was good! I wonder if there is a connection.
I have long wondered about nurseries. I hold to ideals that long to have my children next to me in worship. I want them to know that they too are valuable members of the community of faith. They minister as well as receive ministry in each service. Or at least that is what I imagine. In reality the last couple of Lenten services in particular have been extremely difficult. Ella and Foster would not sit with us, and our attempts to rein them in resulted in tantrums.
Have I been wrong these last few years? When I would tell people that I think kids should be in the service with the adults, I got looks and comments to the effect of “just wait when you have kids you’ll feel differently.”
I do… Now I don’t know what to do. How do I instill in Ella and Foster that they are to participate in the service when Elaine (or me when I’m not up front) can’t participate because they distract her.
