You may be familiar with the space in our sanctuary with books, small tables, colouring supplies, and rocking chairs. If not, it’s about time you heard about the family-friendly area!
At Islington, we want everyone to experience welcome, including that there is space for them during worship. The family-friendly area is a relaxed area in the sanctuary where little ones can crawl around, children can colour, read, and wonder while participating in worship, and parents and caregivers can be present during services knowing their children are just as welcome in the space as they are.
While our Ministry Team has been committed to providing Toddler Ministry on the lower level, we’ve noticed that most families with babies and toddlers are choosing to stay together in worship. We welcome and support this. We have reinvigorated the family-friendly area on Sunday mornings so parents and caregivers have space to worship with their families together.
Here is how you can help:
Say hello! Greeting families, especially those new to Islington, is an amazing first step anyone can offer. You can let families know they are welcome to sit in the pews, worship in the family friendly area, or take their children ages four and up downstairs to participate in Godly Play. You can also let families know that the Welcome Team has pew bags available that are filled with colouring supplies for them to take to their seat.
Have grace for the noise! Sometimes, it may be hard to worship when children around you are restless, dropping crayons, laughing, and running around the Transept. Know that your grace, patience, and unconditional love towards children and families is going to be the reason they find a home here. And who knows? If you get curious and ask children about how they are participating in worship, you might be surprised by what you hear.
Praise in unity! Recognizing the gift of having young ones around from whom we can learn is something worth celebrating! Seize the opportunity to worship together and find your own child-like spirit as you participate in praising the Creator.
Perhaps the next time you are in worship, you may choose to sit a little closer to the family-friendly area. You may learn something new, offer a hand to a parent or caregiver, or get to read a story with a young one. Thank you for your support of our family ministries!