One of the goals of Northminster’s children’s ministry is to help our children understand that they are valued members of the family of faith as children, not just some time in the future when they become adults. During our recent Elementary Service Day, children in 1st through 6th grade had the opportunity to put that calling into practice. Each year, our Children’s Ministries holds two service days, one on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day which focuses on ministry beyond our walls, and one during the summer, which focuses on ministry within our walls.
For this summer Service Day, the children gathered after worship to care for our church by sharpening pencils in the sanctuary and wiping down all the chairs in the Great Hall. They then took their service outdoors, washing the furniture on the back porch of the
Youth House and picking up litter as they walked from Northminster to Sal and Mookie’s. These tasks may seem small, but they gave our children a chance to experience what it means to care for the people and places around them and to see that they have something meaningful to contribute.
Elementary Service Day reflects a central part of our approach to children’s ministry. Through service, they take ownership of their own faith and particularly the part of their faith that calls them embrace the world with the love of God. Just as we worship, learn, and grow together, we also seek opportunities to serve together. We are grateful for these children and the joyful spirit they brought to the day. And, of course, we celebrated a job well done with ice cream before heading home!
