Worship As Response

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WorshipasResponseWhatareworshipstations?WorshipresponsestationsgivekidstheopportunitytoworshipGodcorporatelyandindividually.Inadditiontostimulatinggodlyworshipandpraise,responsestationsalsospirituallyaffirmwhothekidsareinChrist,furtherdevelopingtheirawarenessthattheytooareapartofGod’sstory.HowdoIleadintoatimeofworshipasresponse?

• Aftertheteachingportionofyourtimetogether,letthechildrenknowtherewillbeapause(5-10min.forelementarystudents,3-5minforpreschoolers).ThisisanintentionaltimeforthechildrentorespondtothetruthaboutGod’sWord.

• InstructthechildrentotakeafewminutestopauseandconsiderwhatGod

mightbesayingtothem.Givethempermissiontovisittheresponsestationsthatyouhavepreparedaheadoftime.

• Onechurchreportsgreatsuccessbychoosingaparticularworshipsong(about

4-5min.)asthesignalthatitisresponsetime.

• Trytocreateanatmospherewithoutexpectations(otherthanrespect)andyoumaybeamazedbywhatGoddoeswithandthroughthechildrenthatyouserve.

HowdoIcreatearesponsestation?Thereareendlessdesignsforcreatingspacesthatencourageandsupportspiritualformationandresponse.Herearetwoeasyexamplesyoucanadjusttofityourministrycontext.

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PrayerWall

Theprayerwallphysicallyrepresentstheprayersofthefaithcommunity.

• Kidsandparentswriteordrawprayerrequestsonstickynotesorsmallsquaresofcoloredpaperandsecurethemtoacorkboard,magnetboard,whiteboard,orothermemoboard.

• Anotheroption:Usingasimpleframe,smallnails,andstring,createawebeffect(seephotobelow)andhavekidstiestripsofclothorpiecesofribbontothewebtorepresenttheirprayers.Usecolorsoffabricorribbonstocorrespondtodifferenttypesofprayers—forexample,prayersforyourchurch,prayersforyourcity,etc.

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Journaling

Ajournalingstationisadedicatedspacewherechildrencanexpresstheirthoughtsandprayersbydrawingorwritinginjournalsornotebooks.

Afewtips:

• Trynottoover-complicatethings.Theprimarygoalisgivingkidsaspacetoreflectandrespond.

• Provideavarietyofage-appropriatepensandpencils(markers,etc.)togivekidstheopportunitytobecreativewiththeirjournaling.

• Pillowsandappropriatelightingcanbehelpfulaskidstakesometimetoreflect.

• Compositionbooksworkwellforthisstationandarereadilyavailable.