We, in the CRE, are certainly in the minority when considering the question of children in worship. With children’s church curriculum abounding in typical evangelical and presbyterian churches, our message seems to be only a drop in the vast ocean of paedo-church’dom. Yet, the CREC has been consistent in rejecting popular trends. We are not large, but our message resonates with many.
We are a family-friendly church, but we are primarily a church-friendly family. Our children are with us throughout our Lord’s Day worship. They are not dismissed before the sermon, they are made for the sermon (for as such is the kingdom of God). They move a little, while uttering heavenly language; then they take mommy’s bulletin and sing along as joyfully as the big boys in front. They cannot say supra-lapsarianism, but they can express more joy than than most. After the Lord’s Supper, they are the first ones to stand and their arms stretch out high as the Gloria Patri is sung. They, the least in our midst, are more precious than gold. They enliven our liturgy; they are most God-like at times. Yes, we keep them with us, because they belong with us; they are part of us…the one holy, catholic, and apostolic church of infants and old.
