What Are We Doing With Kids?

What are we doing at Artisan Church? (www.artisanchurch.com)

Most of our kids are under 8 years. Sometimes they come to service, sometimes they stay in nursery. Sometimes they help us get ready for service. They come to House Blend and Immersed events (which are usually an opportunity for personal meditation with individual worshipful activities). Sometimes they help design some of those stations.

Most of the nursery time is free, unstructured time. We also try to translate the topic presented in our wild, creative, not quite predicatable gathering into a Bible story and a creative hands- on activity for little people with the option to play, of course. Sometimes they play with play dough and it stays at church. Sometimes they make something to take home. Sometimes they make something to give away: planting seeds, making trail mix... They've made up their own games. They made a wonderfully decorated "Congratulations" banner to hang for our graduates.

We have different volunteers in nursery each week. Most are parents, some are not. We offer ideas for stories and activities that go along with whatever the adults are doing with the option to just keep watch and enjoy the kids. Our resources are parents and other Artisans, a craft box, music tapes, and a well equipped nursery in an already established church building.

But the more interesting stories are the stories parents are telling. . .

What are you doing with kids in your church?

(c) 2005 Margie Hillenbrand