Children and Worship

Child care is provided during both the 8:15 and the 11:00 worship services for infants through children age 4.

When a child reaches the age of 4, it is appropriate that they start to be included in the worship service with the rest of the family. To help with this transition, MPC provides the following:

• Worship bags
  • There are two sets of worship bags in the sanctuary, one for those ages 4-7, and another for those ages 7-12. These bags include special children’s bulletins, coloring pages, crayons, and worship helps for parents.
• Children in Worship Interlude
  • For 4-year-olds and kindergarten students, a special children’s worship interlude is provided. Students leave with a special “shepherd” after the children’s sermon, during the 11:00 worship service, from September through May. This time includes prayer, Bible stories, snack, and some activity time. The children return to the sanctuary at the end of the worship service.
• Children and Worship Classes
  • When a student reaches first grade, he or she is ready for full inclusion in the worship service. Special children and worship classes are held for first and second graders and their parents during the first three weeks of Sunday School each year. On alternate years, these classes feature a) the two sacraments, baptism and communion, and b) the parts of the worship service.