What is a Prayground?
For those with wiggles and happy feet, a Prayground is an engaging place for families to worship together on Sunday mornings. The space is supplied with a rug, quiet toys, books, puzzles, drawing materials, and other tangible ways for children to spend time with God and is available in both the Fellowship Hall for our 9 am Modern Worship and the Sanctuary for our 11 am Traditional Worship. If desired, Nursery care remains available for our littlest ones (age 0-4) during both worship services in Room 224.
How do we use the Prayground?
For younger children, we invite parents to sit in the space with their children. For older children, parents may want to sit in the nearby vicinity, as the prayground will not be staffed by volunteers.
Some children might do well sitting in their seats until a certain part of the service and then moving to the prayground to let their wiggles out or to enhance their engagement. Our hope is that it provides space and tools for families to meaningfully encounter God in worship together.
Why a Prayground instead of Children’s Chapel?
Research shows that children being in communal worship is the strongest indicator for future church participation in adulthood. Worship is one of the basic ways people learn what it means to be a Christian.
Worship gives us a glimpse of God’s great big love here and now. When children participate, they are able to experience God’s vision for us as people of faith.
Being fully present in worship gives more space for children to lead in worship as readers, acolytes, ushers, greeters, as the body of Christ is incomplete without their gifts!