Ministries > Children
Raise them up
The most effective way to learn a language or way of life is through immersion. We learn to speak by imitating how, when, and why the words around us are used. Children and youth at DaySpring learn the Christian vocabulary and the ways of the Church by experiencing them in the life of the Christian community, especially as that life is expressed in worship.
Several important things take place in worship that involve children. Each week, children are invited to come forward for a brief lesson intended specifically for them. Older children and youth typically collect the offerings and chime the hour. In the process, children learn they are valued enough to be the focus of an important moment in worship and respected enough to be given responsibility for leading the congregation in a central aspect of its worship.
Participating in our liturgy of worship is instructive and formative for children and young people. Children, young people, and adults all lead in various parts of worship, emphasizing the priesthood of all believers.
In the classroom
Age-specific classes on Sunday mornings provide instruction in the basic stories of the Bible and the basic Christian grammar for speaking about God and our lives. We seek to provide children with developmentally-appropriate activities that engage several senses and stimulate learning. Our younger children participate in "Godly Play," an experiential curriculum that focuses on Biblical stories, liturgical symbols, and imaginative play.