Children and Church
At Campbelltown Anglican Churches, we believe children are full members of our church who need to be taught and instructed in the Christian faith like all the adults. To this end, we welcome children at all of our church services and we seek to ensure that they are given opportunities to participate in our gatherings and to be taught in ways appropriate to their age.
We want to see children participating in all parts of church life and we would like to give the children in our church community the opportunity to share the Lord’s Supper.
The parents or carers of children are best placed to decide whether they are ready to share in the Lord’s supper; but as a guideline, where a child is keen and their parents or carers are content that they understand the Gospel and that they understand that the Lord’s Supper is a sign of Jesus death and resurrection, the child may share with the congregation in the Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s Supper for Children at Church at Ten
At most of our congregations, children already share in the Lord’s Supper. At Church at Ten, due to the structure of the service, this is not possible. However, starting in October 2017, we are going to give an opportunity for children to share in the Lord’s Supper with the congregation. We will use our “family spot” to have a slightly longer time with all the children in church when we will share the Lord’s Supper together. Afterwards, the children will go out to their programs and the service will continue for the adults.
What should you do now?
I would suggest three things:
- If you have children in your care, please consider whether the children you bring are ready to share the Lord’s Supper. Do they have an understanding of the Gospel? Do they know Jesus died for them? Are they showing trust in God? If you answer yes to these questions, then those children are ready to share the Lord’s Supper.
- Have a conversation with the children you bring to church who are ready to share the Lord’s Supper about what it means and how we do it. We will share the Lord’s Supper as we usually do at Church at Ten. Focus on the Lord’s Supper being a sign or symbol of Jesus’ death that helps us remember it and encourage each other because of it. Taking the Lord’s Supper is not the way to be saved.
- Come ready on October 22 to share the Lord’s Supper with all the children in your care who are ready!
If you have questions about this, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I would only be too pleased to talk through it all with you and to help you.
Nigel Fortescue
October 2017