Why are Sunday mornings the hardest morning of the week? We get up Monday – Friday at a similar time. We manage to get dressed, make lunches, pack backpacks and still get to school on time. But Sundays – getting out the door is SO hard! Shoes are lost, wars are fought over clothes, and the car needs gas. There is almost always a meltdown, and the children sometimes have problems too. ;) Then we get to church and worry that our wiggly and constantly curious children will bother those around us. With all of the effort, it is impossible to concentrate on the service. By noon on Sunday, we can be ready for a good nap!
So why even bother? Is the Sunday craziness worth all the effort? I am a mother of 3 girls who has had my fair share of Sunday morning battles, and I believe it is. I believe this because worship is the very thing for which we were created. Over and over again, God teaches the Israelites how to worship him. Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray and worship, then commands them to go teach others. The angels in heaven are said to sing praise and worship constantly. If our two greatest commandments are to love God with our whole being and love our neighbors as ourselves, then worship in community is exactly what we are called to do.
And we as parents have the responsibility and pleasure of teaching our children to worship, just as God taught the Israelites. We teach them through instruction and practice, just like they learn baseball, soccer, gymnastics, ballet, or any other activity. Our Episcopal liturgy is beautiful, rhythmic, and constant – it is something the children can learn to follow from an early age. As we pray together, and worship together, we form the foundation for our beliefs. We build into our souls a rhythm that can sustain us. We equip ourselves with words and prayers that will carry us when we are not able to come up with our own words of prayer.
Teaching children to worship is a primary responsibility of Christian parents. Fortunately, we do not do this alone. The beloved community of Good Shepherd is beside us, in front of us, and behind us helping us every time we are present in church. The Family Worship service once a month helps us all to be more comfortable worshipping together, and to learn more about how our liturgy is at the core of our tradition, and a cornerstone of our faith. The book, Parenting in the Pew, is an excellent resource to help us all in this endeavor. Our Facebook Parenting in the Pew group is a place where we will explore these joys and challenges together.
I’m looking forward to this year of prayer and exploration together!
So why even bother? Is the Sunday craziness worth all the effort? I am a mother of 3 girls who has had my fair share of Sunday morning battles, and I believe it is. I believe this because worship is the very thing for which we were created. Over and over again, God teaches the Israelites how to worship him. Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray and worship, then commands them to go teach others. The angels in heaven are said to sing praise and worship constantly. If our two greatest commandments are to love God with our whole being and love our neighbors as ourselves, then worship in community is exactly what we are called to do.
And we as parents have the responsibility and pleasure of teaching our children to worship, just as God taught the Israelites. We teach them through instruction and practice, just like they learn baseball, soccer, gymnastics, ballet, or any other activity. Our Episcopal liturgy is beautiful, rhythmic, and constant – it is something the children can learn to follow from an early age. As we pray together, and worship together, we form the foundation for our beliefs. We build into our souls a rhythm that can sustain us. We equip ourselves with words and prayers that will carry us when we are not able to come up with our own words of prayer.
Teaching children to worship is a primary responsibility of Christian parents. Fortunately, we do not do this alone. The beloved community of Good Shepherd is beside us, in front of us, and behind us helping us every time we are present in church. The Family Worship service once a month helps us all to be more comfortable worshipping together, and to learn more about how our liturgy is at the core of our tradition, and a cornerstone of our faith. The book, Parenting in the Pew, is an excellent resource to help us all in this endeavor. Our Facebook Parenting in the Pew group is a place where we will explore these joys and challenges together.
I’m looking forward to this year of prayer and exploration together!