CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Core Commitments
These core commitments guide our approach to ministry for children and families:
Children are part of the body of Christ and have a place in the worshiping body (Psalm 8:1-2, Matt. 21:15-16).
Children are full persons and yet inhabit the world in different ways than adults (Mark 10:13-16).
Scripture teaches that parents are the ones primarily responsible for teaching and modeling the faith to their children (Deut. 4:9-10, Deut. 6:4-9, Eph. 6:1-4).
At the same time, the members of our local church have made baptismal vows to support the parents.
Having relationships with people of other generations enriches everyone’s faith and is especially crucial for the continuation of children’s faith into adulthood.
Christ instructs his disciples not to hinder the faith of little children (Matt. 19:13-14), so our ministry efforts should clear the way for children to come to Jesus, rather than clutter it up.
Our approach to children’s ministry
Shoreline CRC is committed to welcoming children in worship. The worship of the Triune God is the chief end of God’s people. None of us fully fathoms what happens in worship, yet the habit of worship forms adults and children alike, through song, Scripture, and prayer. We offer lots of opportunities to help kids learn to worship God alongside the full body of Christ:
Each week, we offer nursery for children 0-2. Children age 3 through 5th grade worship in the sanctuary for the first half of the service, until they are dismissed for children’s church.
On the first week of the month, when we celebrate communion, children’s church is offered only through kindergarten. All children return to the sanctuary for the Lord’s Supper. If they have been baptized, they may receive communion.
We encourage parents to keep their children with them for the full service as soon as practical, teaching and modeling for their children the habits of worship. Communion Sundays ease the transition for upper elementary students.
At the same time, some scaffolding enables children to participate more richly in worship, and relationships with adults help children sense that they belong in a church family. So we also offer a few alternate spaces for children:
Nursery and children’s church are offered for children age 0 through 5th grade. On the first week of the month, only the younger group meets (babies through kindergarten).
You’re always welcome to sit with your child in the Shoreline Kids room (201/202) during the first half of the service if you need a separate space.
We offer programs for children (as well as adults) at Wednesdays at Shoreline, our evening community meal and discipleship hour, held every other week during the school year.
All children in our church are paired with a prayer partner, an older adult who commits to praying for the child and building a relationship through conversation and notes.