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The Rite Place: Whenever you talk to children about God, all listen
I watched and waited as Chris picked up the paten (plate) with the bread and started breaking the bread into small pieces. He then took his place by the chalice bearer (person with the wine) and placed the bread in the receiver’s hands and said, "The Body of Christ, the Bread of Heaven." It was a holy moment and it was the moment when I knew that the service we had started just a few months before was working.
At Grace Episcopal Church in Oak Park, Illinois, liturgy is at the heart of all we do. We, like many others, find that when you speak directly to children, everyone listens. In our "Rite Place: Kids Do Church. Adults Do Too" service, the teaching, the songs and the prayers are aimed at the hearts and minds of our youngest worshippers and their families and others who are drawn to a contemporary and yet traditional service.
Our Rite Place service was started in fall 2008 after our strategic plan charged us with the vision to reach out to those who might not be coming to church. We landed on the community who often are looking to get back into church: families with children.
Throughout the last two years it has grown from 47 on the first day to a high of 125 on feast days. Why? There is nothing more profound than watching children drawn to the music and the prayers and to helping at the altar. Just as powerful is watching adults (of all ages and with and without children) who come because they want that kind of personal interaction with children.
In our Gothic church we use the entire space to set the mood and flow of this new service. We gather by the baptismal font to learn the songs of the day and are led by the young cross bearer to the crossing where we hear the Word of God and break bread together. Wearing aprons to symbolize servant ministry, the children set the table with the deacon, wash their hands with the presider, lift the bread and the wine and share with the adults in giving the Body and Blood of Christ to the gathered community.
Here are a few thoughts collected from a recent liturgy survey:
"An amazing community has formed around the 9 a.m. service. This has been a source of support and joy for many young families. I like how we all welcome visitors to that service and make sure everyone feels at home. The service has a great feel to it and has done a lot to make kids feel a sense of comfort and ownership at church."
"I love the 9 a.m. service. It is so beautiful to watch the children fully understand what is going on. I have seen toddlers toddle to the altar, watching with great delight. I think it is so important to introduce these concepts at such an early age."
In thinking about making a video of Grace one person wrote:
"I would highlight the inclusion of the children in a service … I think worship plays such a pivotal role in their development. When children feel they belong, they will keep coming back."
That they will keep coming back is spot on. Whether they come to the service geared towards children or the more traditional 10:30 a.m. service, they keep coming back. I cannot wait to see the impact of our new service on the participant's faith journey. I am guessing sitting in the pews and watching adults being the primary liturgists will not cut it for these growing children. The questions they bring to us and will bring to us about God are and will continue to be profound.
Grace has found a service that invites the mystery of God to children in a way that is profound. Thank you to St. Columba's, Washington, D.C., which unknowingly gave us the idea of starting a service that is geared towards younger children and their households. We have truly taken the vision and created one that works with our architectural space and our community.
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