Home Sweet Simple Home
Our Church Bags
I am still thinking a lot on family-centered worship or a better term I’ve heard used lately- family integrated worship.There are people who ask- “How do you get your children to sit through a service without a problem?” or “How do you keep the occupied and out of trouble?”
First off, may I say that my children are not saints, at one time or another I believe all of them have tried to crawl under the pews and “get away”. There have been incidents of a little tyke taking off on a dead run during a service or someone speaking *loudly* when they should be whispering and there was that time Mr. Conductor climbed under my skirt. And I have had a few complaints about my children’s behavior during a service (some founded and others not). But I’d have to say that over all my children know how to behave in church.
This didn’t happen overnight but through diligence (and more than a smattering of patience on our part as parents) and a few trips out to the lobby for a “talk”. Some parents share how they “practice” church at home- teaching their children to sit quietly and such. While I have never personally done this I think it’s a great idea.
Our greatest tool is a “church bag”. Each of our children has had a bag of quiet, appropriate toys and such that is only opened at church. And each bag has always had a small bible in it so that the children can “practice” looking up scripture themselves. My children wouldn’t dream of going to church without their bibles- it’s as important to them as making sure they’re wearing shoes. Let me give you an example of what is in Mr. Conductor’s church bag: Crayola Color Wonder small pad and 3 markers (wonderful invention- they only color on that special paper- not on clothes or pews!), pieces of paper and sticker sheets, a couple of tractors, 3 little bendy dolls (pipe cleaners) in a small bag, geometric cardboard shapes with holes and colored string (for “sewing”) and of course, his bible. After a couple of Sundays I take some things out and switch them for others and some Sundays we allow him to take a few of his little magnetic trains in his bag. He is 3 years old and is expected to put the toys down when we stand up to sing and when we pray- which he usually complies with.
Maiden no longer carries a church bag- instead she has a very nice cover for her bible, in which she can store paper and pencils. That’s all she needs. Sassafras’s bag has her bible, a pad of paper and colored pencils. She is seven now and no longer needs as much distraction as we expect her to be more involved in the service.
Leave a Comment
{ Last Page } { Page 483 of 1515 } { Next Page }
About Me
-Bilbo Baggins
Home
My Profile
Archives
Friends
My Photo Album
View my page on Homeschool Hackers
Links
Gift Baskets From MichiganThe Sparrow's Nest
Pleasant View Schoolhouse
My brother's business blog
Homeschool Buyers Co-op
Categories
101 Things I Love About My HusbandA Year of Abundance
Check This Out
Christmas and Advent
Clean Heart-Clean Home
Crafty Goodness
Everyday Things
Family Life
Financial Bliss
Gift Giving
God is Good
His Help Meet
Holidays
Homekeeping
Homeschooling
in Everything Give Thanks
In the Garden
Leftovers
Menus
One Thousand Gifts List
Proverbs 31 Woman
Quotes and Such
Recipes
The Vitamin Experiment
Thinking Out Loud
Thursday 13
Works for Me
The Wagner Clan
My Husband (DH)-Mr. Steady
My rock and biggest supporter. The glue that keeps the family sane. He is like deep, deep water- it takes a lot to see a ripple.
DD11- Our Maiden in Waiting- By the world's standard she's a 'tween'. By ours and the Lord's- this is the time of her years of preparation. She is eagerly learning what it means to keep a home and daily becomes more and more of a helper to her Mama.
DD8- Sassafras My Sassy middle child. She holds her own so sweetly and has such an empathetic heart. While real Sassafras is used for flavoring- She is that added spice of flavor to our family.
DS4- Mr. Conductor- The train aficionado in the family. He likes to think he's in charge and often is! He's also the biggest Oreo fiend in the family.
Recent Entries
The Meeting- downloadBeing Available.
Amy Update
Still Waiting
Prayer requested
Friends Here on the Homestead
HSBPublisherjenig
tnschaffer
FaithfulAcres
livin4Him6
CountryLiving
belovedlamb
quiverfull
NewHarvestHomestead
quiverfullacres
lancelotacres
CatherineAnn
countrydreamn
wannabeone
annre
kayinpa
mccrjill
TheRusticCottage
KimMC
sunnyflowers
TheLandIsCalling
tioga12
micandme
smmagers
urbanhome
VTLinda
peachyfiglet
heritagehill
MyThreeDaughters
AmyJoBellclapper
oldpathsfamilyfarm
bonnycow
TChannel4
jimnjill
shekinah
erisarei
jwells
happymama
deedee06
robertsroost
Darcy
jocelyndixon
PattyMarie
BlueApple
Skylark
Sita
naturalmama
a1health
DakotaSoaplady
cindy
countryheart
2sonsMom
ibuwolf
digbugsgirl
imspecl
hcorbin
Roberta
rashel
Rhen
jennikl9
solodeogloria
CaraDD
paschalhome
Southernangel
hmsteader71
1ladybeale
fcusick
wstoller
keeperofmyhome
TammyLynn
erkopp98
jojatek89
beccasue1029
1Teakettlelavendar
