During the morning worship services, young children through second grade are invited to continue their worship elsewhere. We want our children to learn to do worship, so that they are better equipped to worship with the larger body of Christ’s followers as they grow.

Little Lambs

Little Lambs is for older 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, and those 4-year-olds not likely to attend kindergarten the next year. This group includes play time, circle time with singing and a brief Bible story, and a snack. Little Lambs serves as a transition between nursery and the other children’s worship groups.

Children’s Worship

We offer children’s worship groups for children who are in preschool through first grade. These children have opportunities to meet with God and to work with the stories of God. The stories are told simply, using wooden figures, felt underlays, a “desert box” filled with sand, and gold-covered parable boxes. Other features of children’s worship:

  • Children are introduced to the seasons and colors of the church year. During the fall (Trinity season), we use many of the major Old Testament stories. As the new church year begins in Advent, we follow the stories and major events of the life of Christ, our Good Shepherd.
  • Each week, time is given for the children to respond to the story in their own ways. Art supplies, books, and puzzles are available, along with the story materials.
  • “Signing,” the hand alphabet for hearing-impaired people, is used for some portions of the children’s worship.
  • Periodically, a “feast” is included in the time of worship, usually a drink and a small cookie.

Preparation for Communion Class

About twice a year, senior pastor Jack Roeda leads a class for children who wish to partake of communion elements with their parent(s). Standing with one’s family and receiving the bread and wine from one’s parent(s) is seen as an intermediate step between a child’s baptism and the time that he or she stands before the congregation to make profession of faith.

Family Communion

These celebrations, scheduled on the second Sunday of every other month, remind us that Church of the Servant is an extended family of worshippers. Children rejoin their family in time for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Those who haven’t yet taken the preparation for communion class stand in front of their parents in the circle and receive a spoken blessing from a council member.