Central Abbotsford

If you were at our service last weekend, you would have likely heard me announce at the end, right between my invitation to dessert and our benediction, that this upcoming long weekend is a Family Service – which means, of course, that our Children’s Ministry takes a break. Now, on any given week, we have 30 to 55 kids between 6 months and 5 years at Central Abby. Here’s why I would love to see (and hear!) them all in our worship service this weekend.

Firstly, and most importantly, we want children present because our Saviour wants children present. In a story captured in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the disciples try to prevent some little children from being brought before Jesus. It’s not entirely clear why they wanted this, although presumably they were somewhat concerned about the distraction from the mission that children might post, but His response was to say “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” 

Second, there is something sweet about children being able to witness the adults in their lives worshiping, praying, and singing praises. Lord willing, these children will spend the majority of their lifetime in church in the main gathering, and it is incumbent on the adults of the church (all of them!) to model orderly worship for the children – orderly, joy-filled worship!

Finally, we want to have children in the worship services because we are a family. Both Paul’s letter to the Galatians and the Ephesians (which would have been originally read aloud) have addresses to children included in them, which suggests that it was not out of the ordinary for entire families to be present at the same time to receive instruction in the early church. Families, especially extended families, are not always gathered together in one space. But when they are, it is often (if not almost always) for a special occasion!

Let’s view our Family Service this way! To mark the special occasion, we do have some special features – our kids ministry team has put together a number of kids’ play bags, containing a bunch of engaging toys for little hands to enjoy during the service. If one of yours takes a bag for the service, please return it at the end, so that it can be enjoyed again at our next Family Service!

I hope to see you, and any kids you might be responsible for, this weekend!

In His name,

Eric