My view
What new parents look for in a church By Katrina Hay
W
ithout chil- dren it was challenging
to find a spiritual home. As a new par- ent, the task is more daunting. There are
factors I never considered and should be shared. Children must be invited into the spiritual conversation and valued as unique community mem- bers. I’m not an expert, but I am a mother of twin toddlers. In worship, value experience over
formality. Families want children to experience worship, engaging music and a children’s message. Let children be part of the worship and let them offer their gifts, talents and leadership. Forgive them the occasional restless- ness—we parents are doing our best. In the social space, invite children
to your table. High chairs and booster seats allow them to be part of the con- versation, creating a lasting bond to the church family. In the nursery, connect to wor-
ship. When we can’t stay in the sanc- tuary, a speaker, window or video would help us know when to come in for special moments (communion, to share God’s peace or to make a joyful noise). In message and Sunday school, for-
ward thinking is critical. Parents hear the message from the perspective of their children. Children (and all of us) exist in a changing, diverse environ- ment. As they grow, they meet people from other faiths, they ask questions, investigate, doubt. The legacy of education in our Lutheran tradition is wonderful. We can’t predict what challenges they will face, but we can give them tools and a sophisticated
At Lakeridge Lutheran Church, Seattle, this year’s alternative vacation Bible school event was “ukulele camp,” attended by 13 from age 2 to 90. The church’s music director, Marissa Tanimura, lived in Hawaii for many years and brought her love of the ukulele to Lakeridge for this multigenerational event, said Scott Kramer, pastor. By the end of the fi rst day they were playing “This Little Light of Mine,” and on the last day they collaborated in writing their own song, he said .
Ukulele camp
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faith that can answer simple questions yet provide deeper wisdom and the beauty of uncertainty. The church can carry them through hard times, but it could also pose conflict. To prepare, it must be able to adapt to their chang- ing needs and curious minds or it might be left behind as they search for something more authentic. I was once a child in a church—
Trinity Lutheran in Tulelake, Calif. I felt respected, remembered. Mem- bers would ask me what book I was
reading. The sanctuary felt like a sanctuary for me. The congrega- tion organized attendance to Camp Lutherwood, where I later counseled and became a program director. The church was my “village.” I pray that the church will be a village for my children and all children.
Author bio: Hay is an associate profes- sor of physics at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash., and a member of Agnus Dei Lutheran Church, Gig Harbor, Wash.
October 2014 49
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