What kind of activities do you do with your church??

[AlwaysTheMummy]

I joined church last week and so far have signed up for our lunch this Sunday and also a trip to the local theatre to watch a pantomine.

I was just wondering what activities everyone else did?

I have 2 young children and would like them to get involved with the church, like volunteering or trips away.

Thanks for all the suggestions. DS is sweet, and we feed him during the sermon endlessly. He sometimes sings his own tunes.

I agree with having to learn to behave in a "school"-type environment. He is just too young yet. He is happiest when the children come in after Sunday school. He instantly joins them, and we go out to the front of the church with them.

The only thing is, he cannot contain himself when his godmother is in church. He just has to shout and tell everyone that he loves her and her husband to bits.

That sounds wonderful, and how lovely that he recognises her and it's his godmother at his church. Ours are all far-flung and it's hard to catch up with them.

I agree with raisins, and books and pencils. I would draw all over the service sheet if I didn't have a note book with me. Or we had a soft toy who would do actions and very quiet acrobatics or point out the words on the page (even when child couldn't read). If I had a book with simple drawings I would copy them, and child would follow my drawing and (hopefully) recognise one picture against the other. (And then try to draw the thing him or herself.) It does mean you don't have always a lot of time to focus and concentrate yourself but what you are doing being there is still worship - your presence alone stands for that - and although you may not always feel you get a lot out of the prayer time or the sermon because you are possibly distracted, that's okay. That time will come and whatever you have heard is still words of worship and words which you can take with you. Everyone else in the church isn't concentrating on every word either, I can guarantee it

Gingercat - my daughter will be 3 in December and I worry taking her to anywhere like that, the more you try to shoosh her the louder she is. But I just thought well it'll teach her in time, when and where to be quiet.

I went along to church for the first time last week by myself and everyone who spoke to me was really looking forward to meeting my kids this week, although when they asked their names I had to quietly say Damian, my son, I just hope they don't call out his name during service, it wont go down too well lol.

St Damian and his twin Cosmas are early Christian martyrs.

our last vicar was called Fr Damian, so I wouldn't worry on that one

One other suggestion that works to keep DS (3 in Nov) quiet (as well as endless raisins & colouring in) is lacing cards.

He still has a habit of shouting out something embarrassing(to me)/amusing(to everyone else) at some point during the service though...