CHILDREN RECEIVING COMMUNION

Visitors often notice that our congregation is full of children of all ages, from babies through young adults. We are blessed beyond measure to have them as part of our community.

Visitors also notice that most of our children receive communion along with every one else, starting at a very young age.

Several principles inform our approach to children at communion:

• Receiving communion is an act we spend our entire lives learning to “understand”; Chronological age is neither a barrier nor an automatic gateway to this evolving understanding
• Children are full members of our faith community
• Children learn by experience
• The Episcopal Church teaches that baptism is complete initiation
• In our experience, children often exhibit a profound understanding of receiving communion, inspiring and teaching the adults
• Communion is included in some way in every year of our church school curriculum

Top 8 Reasons Why Children are Welcomed in Our Church
Adapted from a list created by Tracey E. Herzer

8. Repeated exposure to the sights, sounds and symbols of Eucharist help form all Christians.
7. Children actually LIKE sitting in those usually-empty front row seats so they can see and hear what's going on.
6. Practice Makes Perfect - Teaching young children to enjoy and participate in the service helps them become active and receptive worshipping adults.
5. We all experience the Eucharist as a mystery... you don't have to be able to explain it in order to benefit from it.
4. Children have their own unique relationships with God. Being in church helps them learn how to pray, sing, worship and otherwise strengthen that relationship.
3. Sunday services make great family-togetherness time. Use the quiet space for extra hand-holding or snuggling time that may get lost during a busy week.
2. Children teach us what absolute joy looks like - and what better place to experience that than in church?

and the Number One reason why Children are Welcomed in our Church:

1. The Circle of God's family is incomplete without them!

Adapted, used by permission: National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors (NAECED) www.naeced.org