We are excited to announce that Southminster Presbyterian Church has been awarded a $1,000 Quick Wins grant from Columbia Theological Seminary’s Wonder of Worship program. Funded through the Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative, this grant is designed to help congregations enhance the worship experiences of children and nurture their spiritual lives. Southminster is one of 80 congregations across denominations selected to receive this grant in the current round.

Dr. Kathy L. Dawson, project director for the Wonder of Worship program, shared that the goal of these grants is to inspire creativity in congregations as they explore new ways to engage children in worship. “Churches in the first round of these grants have proposed many creative ways of using this money, from building worship training resources to hiring consultants to aid in writing more child-friendly liturgy. Some are renovating cry rooms to enhance family participation in the service, and others are developing programs for child leadership of worship. I’ve been amazed by the creativity in our partner churches so far,” said Dr. Dawson.

At Southminster, we plan to use this grant to implement several quick and meaningful changes that will enhance children’s participation in worship. Some of these initiatives include:

1. Improving Wayfinding Signage – We will install new signs directing families to child-friendly areas, such as spaces with changing tables and the Prayground, to ensure everyone feels welcome and can easily access what they need.
2. Purchasing Children’s Bibles – To encourage spiritual engagement for children, we’ll provide children’s Bibles in the sanctuary, especially near the Prayground, so that young worshippers can follow along with scripture in a format suited for them.
3. Creating a Family Worship Guide – A guide with tips and tricks for families will be developed to help parents and guardians teach their children about worship. This resource will equip families with practical tools to worship together meaningfully.
4. Increased Participation in Worship – We will explore new ways for children to take part in worship, including involvement in music and other service elements, so that they can feel more connected to the life of the church.
5. Intergenerational Worship Activity – One of our planned activities will involve creating a liturgical banner, where children and adults can collaborate, fostering a deeper sense of community and shared worship experiences.

This grant is a wonderful opportunity for our congregation to continue building a worship environment that is inclusive, welcoming, and spiritually enriching for children. “Children are not just the church of tomorrow; they are fully part of the church today. We’re grateful to receive this grant, which will allow us to help kids experience worship in deeper ways, and also teach us how to follow their lead. Our community will be richer for it,” said Southminster Pastor, Rev. TJ Remaley.

Stay tuned for more updates on how these initiatives will be integrated into our worship life!