St John’s spreads joy with their children’s Christmas service

The second Sunday in Advent is set aside in Emerald as the St John’s Sunday School Christmas program, a time which brings together extended families of all stages in life to hear the story of Jesus’ birth – told by its youngest members.

Sunday schoolers from five to 11 years old step up to lead the entire morning worship: something that impressed visiting Finnish locum pastor Peter Laihia. “In many congregations, children do the Christmas skit, but this is the first time I [have seen] the whole service done by them. And I loved it.”

Children’s ministry leader Rebecca Grant said that the St John’s event was originally designed to give the congregation’s hard-working pastor “a Sunday off”, but it has become far more than that, drawing together regular and occasional worshippers for a morning that begins with worship and ends with a shared lunch and a waterslide to stay cool under the cicada-filled trees of the church grounds.

Landon (age 6) says, “I liked the slip and slide!”

For a far-flung congregation which normally sees about 20 people gathering for worship on Sundays, the presence of 14 children leading worship drew a congregation of more than 60. One family journeyed more than 100 kilometres from Clermont to attend the final rehearsal and be part of Sunday’s service.

“It means different things to different families,” Rebecca said. “Some come for the Christmas story, some for the fellowship and some just for the opportunity to participate.

“We focus on the community connection, making this an event that welcomes regular attendees as well as visitors to celebrate the birth of Jesus,” she said.

Rehearsals are limited and liturgy is a little basic, but everyone is encouraged to participate with older children helping the younger ones and everyone takes a turn to use the microphone (essential to be able to speak over the sound of cicadas.)

“Mary” recceives a visit from an angel, in Emerald.

“Over time the format has varied a bit, but the Christmas story is always central,” Rebecca said. “We keep it simple – the script is emailed out so that those who can only make it for one or even no rehearsals can still take part.”

“They are our little evangelists, proclaiming the Good News, probably not even realising it,” Pastor Laihia said.

Images courtesy of Alison Kajewski and Rebecca Grant. Used with permission.