Purpose-Driven Pew Games (Part 2)

Our look at church "games" continues...

Guesstures
Words and concepts used in church are almost a foreign language to many of us (especially children). Allow your child to whisper to you when he hears an unfamiliar word. After a quick explanation, write down the word to talk about later. When the pastor talks about something your child is familiar with, point it out to him. For example, if your family likes VeggieTales and the minister talks about facing problems, you might whisper, "That's just like 'Dave and the Giant Pickle.'" Whisper praise when he's listening well. After church, talk with him about ways to apply what he's heard to his own life.

Bonus Points: During the week, encourage your child and his friends to "play church." Let them be in charge as you take the role of parishioner. This is a great way to see what your child thinks church is all about and clear up any misconceptions he might have. Your conversations become a natural extension of the sermon.

Win, Lose, or Draw
Bring a sheet of paper and a crayon or marker and help your child take "notes" during the service. She can start with simple pictures of what she sees and hears, moving to words as she gets older. If your child is very young and needs help drawing, take some time before the service to draw stick figures to represent the pastor and any other "players" in the service. If the Scripture readings are based on a Bible story your child knows, such as Daniel or Noah, draw the people and animals from the story.
After church, ask your child to tell you about her pictures and write down what she says. You might even save these "worship notes" in a special scrapbook.

Bonus Points: During the week, prepare listening guides with your child. Find pictures of words he'll probably hear during the service: church, cross, Bible, Jesus. You can find these kinds of pictures in computer clip art, church-related publications and stickers from a Christian bookstore.

(from article "Purpose-Driven Pew Games" by Barb Jenista and Sue Miholer, 2006 Christianity Today.)

Purpose-Driven Pew Games

**Our next few postings will continue to focus on ideas for keeping kids interested in the church service. **

Combine a squirrelly child with an early morning and an hour-plus service and it's no wonder a young child can have a hard time paying attention during church. You've probably tried distracting your child with toys, bribing him with snacks, even threatening him with a look that says, "Be quiet right now or you'll spend the rest of your life in your room."

But helping your child enjoy church doesn't have to be difficult. With a few creative worship-related
activities up your sleeve, you can encourage your wiggly one to pay attention to the service and even understand what's happening.

Here are our first "games" to try...

Go to the Head of the Class
To limit distractions, help your child choose a seat near the front of the church, with a good view of the altar and pulpit. This allows him to watch the musicians and feel "up close and personal" with the pastor. Before the service starts, talk about the different parts of the church—the altar, the pulpit, the baptismal area, the communion rail, or anything else that might be interesting to your child. Encourage your child to notice how the pastor uses these different parts of the church during the service.

Bonus Points: During the week, take a field trip to the church. Introduce your child to the pastor and other members of the worship team. Let him explore the equipment and different vantage points in the sanctuary. This cuts down on the squirming involved in a visual exploration of the sanctuary during the service itself.


The Ungame
Buy a notebook for every family member and let everyone personalize his or her own notebook. Tell
your kids they can use their notebooks to record sermon notes, write word lists, and note questions
they might have about the service or sermon. Then, before your family leaves for church, have your
children write out one question you'd like them to answer in their notebooks: "How does the music
make you feel?" "What are three things you enjoy about church?" "If you could ask the pastor one
question about today's sermon, what would it be?"

Bonus Points: During the week, use everyone's notes to review the message. Talk about ways you
can apply what you've learned and discuss questions or misconceptions.

(from article Purpose-Driven Pew Games by Barb Jenista and Sue Miholer, 2006 Christianity Today.)

Stay tuned...more to come!!