I'd like to hear from those of you who have children's sermons or a "blessing of the children" time, etc., at your church. I've recently started what I call a "Kid's Time," just before the reading of scripture and the sermon, and would like to hear what works for you so that maybe this rookie can get a few ideas. 
My congregation is a small one, with a handful of kids who range in age from 9-12, and then a few babies who are there occasionally. Every once in awhile, we get preschoolers. A typical Sunday, though, would have a "Kid's Time" with a few middle school kids and a baby or two.
So, if it were just the babies, I would have a blessing kind of prayer in recognition of what a special part of our community they are. The older kids, I also want to pray with and for, but they are able to hear more of a message, and sometimes participate in an activity that illustrates a point, etc. The problem is that I never know what I'm going to get until the service starts -- I could have one baby, I could have four older kids, or I could have a complete mix.
So... how do you handle this sort of thing in your services? Do you have a special time for the children? What ages do you get coming forward for it? What sort of things do you do or say during that time? Is it a mini-sermon, a prayer, an activity? Perhaps your experiences will help me to know what to do. I'm sitting here thinking about Palm Sunday and all the possibilities -- and trying to think of something that is equally inclusive of a 3-month-old and a 12-year-old.
Ah, the adventures of small churches!
My congregation is a small one, with a handful of kids who range in age from 9-12, and then a few babies who are there occasionally. Every once in awhile, we get preschoolers. A typical Sunday, though, would have a "Kid's Time" with a few middle school kids and a baby or two.
So, if it were just the babies, I would have a blessing kind of prayer in recognition of what a special part of our community they are. The older kids, I also want to pray with and for, but they are able to hear more of a message, and sometimes participate in an activity that illustrates a point, etc. The problem is that I never know what I'm going to get until the service starts -- I could have one baby, I could have four older kids, or I could have a complete mix.
So... how do you handle this sort of thing in your services? Do you have a special time for the children? What ages do you get coming forward for it? What sort of things do you do or say during that time? Is it a mini-sermon, a prayer, an activity? Perhaps your experiences will help me to know what to do. I'm sitting here thinking about Palm Sunday and all the possibilities -- and trying to think of something that is equally inclusive of a 3-month-old and a 12-year-old.
Ah, the adventures of small churches! 
