Bournagain

We’re on the road again, now in Auckland visiting friends, family and various church groups. Our planned Sunday morning meeting was moved to Sunday evening, and when we realised we had a free morning with friends, we decided to stay at home and be church rather than go to church. Had a lovely time just discussing a few passages of Scripture that have been meaningful for us recently, and praying together.

We decided to leave it open so that the children could participate or not, depending on what they were happiest with. This is one of the issues that comes up with the whole house-church idea – what do you do with the children? In this case, the younger ones just played quietly, and the older ones sat and listened, just joining in for the prayer.

Not having Sunday School might seem like heresy in some quarters, but I think it’s only a problem if we believe that Sunday mornings are the only time that children get any spiritual input. If that is happening just as a regular part of family life, when we gather together as believers we can be quite relaxed about how much the children are involved. As long as they know they are welcome, that their participation is welcomed to the level they feel comfortable with, they benefit. Simply observing the natural way that their parents share their life of faith with friends is of value. Some of the adult discussion may be over their heads, but some of it will take root and perhaps be discussed at a later stage around the family meal table. It was lovely having the children join us, rather than being “sent out” as is normally the case.