Children’s Ministry at Redeemer
We value worshipping together as a family and cherish the participation of our youngest members.
If you’ve stayed in a Redeemer service until the Eucharist, you’ll have noticed that our congregation about doubles when the children rejoin us in the sanctuary after their programming upstairs. This participation signals to them that they are full members and that this is as much their church as any grownup’s. Research has shown that including kids as full participants in the church, through intergenerational relationships, teaching, space for doubt and partnerships with families increases the likelihood that children will remain in the church when they graduate high school.
On Sunday, we offer Nursery for infant & toddlers, 2-3yr olds, PreK & K, and Children’s Chapel for 1st & 2nd graders.
Participation in the Service
Each week during the Eucharist children are invited to join us. Many parents choose to keep kids with them for the entire service (which we are totally fine with!). We encourage even the smallest worshippers to see themselves as a part of the greater body. They should watch and hear parents sing and pray. Children should have questions about what we are doing in the liturgy, and we should be prepared to explain. Their questions should not be seen as unnecessary confusion, but as opportunities for teaching. This has always been received as an important part of the formation of Christian children. Furthermore, we encourage all children upon entering 3rd grade to participate as acolytes—to recognize that they have a very important function in the life of our church.
We value our youth and children being in the sanctuary, rather than segmenting our population. This allows them to see themselves as a part of the whole. It is our hope that they will be hugged, high-fived, prayed with, prayed for and acknowledged by all ages—every Sunday! It is easy to conclude that a primary reason for the departure of youth is the difficult transition of segmented teens and children into ‘big’ church. They often are disoriented and want to go back to ‘their’ church.
Nursery
We offer Nursery care during the service for infants and toddlers through the age of 2. Our littlest worshippers are cared for in a clean, safe, loving environment by our volunteer parishioners. There are opportunities to play as well as to engage in age-appropriate singing and reading activities that begin to acclimate them to the rhythms of our worship.
Twos & Threes
We continue spiritual formation into the classroom for children aged 2 and 3. In this class, children read a story, have a responsive art time (usually coloring), and then sing the Doxology together. When these children reenter the Naev with their parents, they often help sing the Doxology loudly for all to hear.
PreK & K
At the age of 4, our toddlers transition into our PreK & K class of 4-5 year olds. The goal of this class is to give basic training to our little ones so that when they join worship in its entirety they can more fully participate. We use a curriculum called, God’s Big Story (GBS) which helps kids come to hear many of the stories in the bible and see how they all tell the story of who God is. GBS uses a hands on approach to teach the Bible, makes space for contemplation and communion with the Holy Spirit and instructs about the church calendar and the sacraments, and implements liturgy into their weekly time together.
To read more about God’s Big Story, visit their site.
Children's Chapel
Children ages 6-8 are welcome to participate in Children’s Chapel. This class grew out of a recognized need to help kids learn what happens during Mass, how to move our bodies in prayerful postures, and more. With the help of two leaders, children lead themselves through their own Mass. They light the Christ candle, prepare the altar, read the 4 scripture passages, and everything in between.
It is at this age that we really want to help teach children that they are full participants in our Worship hour. This class is a great transition from PreK & K (structured) to sitting with their parents in Mass OR becoming an acolyte torchbearer.
Buddy Program
We recognize that many families might experience the hesitation to attend church knowing their child might be “too much” or not fit in with the classroom and sanctuary model of church. At Redeemer, we want to be a church that welcomes families for all children. One way we can be the church for all children is to offer an adult buddy to work with a child 1 on 1. Children that might benefit from an adult buddy during the Worship Hour could be neurodivergent, have a physical ailment (sight, handicap, etc), or have experienced trauma that presents as PTSD. If you are curious to learn more and/or attend Redeemer with these services in mind, please email Kenda Mullert.
We take safety seriously.
Each year, all our children’s ministry volunteers attend a mandatory training that is tailored towards best practices for creating an environment that is safe and flourishing for our children. As a church and diocese, we aim to have very high standards for how we program our children’s ministry and the volunteers associated. This is because we love our kids. We love their innocence. And we want to honor their childishness by protecting it. Our children’s childlikeness is as sacred as it is vulnerable. And we seek to protect this vulnerability without exception. We do this by requiring background checks, trainings in sexual abuse awareness, active shooter, first aid, and more.
Baptism
Our children are baptized, and thus acknowledged as full members of the church. We should commit to helping them see themselves as such. At each child’s baptism adults take vows to nurture their faith—we weekly recommit to this as we dip our fingers into the water of our baptism. After baptisms we celebrate! We want to acknowledge and celebrate a new member into our family at Redeemer. Listen to our podcast episode about infant baptism here.
First Communion
Once a child is born into God’s family through Baptism, that child is welcome to participate in Holy Communion. The invitation to the supper of the Lord comes by grace and not by understanding or achievement. Children have the opportunity to receive their First Communion on 2 Sundays of the year, the Sunday after Pentecost and the Sunday after All Saints.
How do I know if my child is ready for Communion?
Has your child asked?
Have you asked your child if he/she wants Communion?
Does your child imitate your actions when you receive Communion?
Does your child watch what you do during Communion?
Has your child put his/her hands out to receive?
If you would like to start the process of preparing your child for First Communion, download this worksheet and email Kenda at kenda@redeemerasheville.com to talk more!
Spiritual Formation Hour
Every Sunday morning at 9:30. Our goal is to focus on who God is—and thus learn who we are in Him. Our children and youth will gain their Christian identity through Catechism, which runs concurrently with adult classes. As we have observed, the studies have shown that traditionally in the American church, a young Christian’s understanding of the faith has centered on morality—doing good, but beyond that, there is a lack of clarity. Therefore, we hope to shape the whole of their lives around the whole of the gospel.
Family Worship at Home
My Prayer Book
Below is a little page to print out for your small children to create a "My Prayer Book" of the morning and evening songs found in the Family Prayer liturgies. The idea is to print it, cut it in half (they are two to a page), color in the day/night pictures, and then paste it inside a cover made of construction paper, brown paper bag, cardstock, cereal box, etc. (Decorate it, make it pretty, prolong the art time if you so desire.) These can be used during family prayer time, or any morning or evening time!
Prayer Table
We recommend clearing a small space like a table, a stool, a shelf—it doesn't have to be fancy—and putting a candle or small electric light there that is used during prayer time. It is very helpful to have a focal point. The children in the Pre-K/K classroom at church will also recognize the candle as the symbol of Christ's presence with us during worship. See the graphic below for ideas of what to include on your prayer table.
