Children’s Worship curriculum teaching through the order of our worship service

What are the elements of worship in our service? What is the Invocation, Confession, Absolution, Thanksgiving, and Passing the Peace to name a few? Our curriculum explores each element to draw children into worship by explaining what we do in the service, what promises we are grabbing hold of and what are we hearing from our God. Learning how songs, prayers, Scripture and preaching fit together on Sundays helps kids grow in their understanding of faith and worship and connects them more deeply with the body of Christ.

  • Lesson units cover each element of our service (e.g. Adoration, Confession, The Lord's Supper). Read the curriculum overview.

  • The Story of Worship expresses worship as our conversation with God and is a teaching model that links the lesson units together. Watch the Story of Worship video with hand motions.

  • Children are grouped into an older and younger class with teaching tailored to each group.  

  • Bible stories and story vignettes help children relate God’s truths to their own lives.

  • Music -- children lift up their voices and become familiar with songs from our service that represent each part of worship. Listen to the songs playlist on Spotify.

  • Art -- children complete collaborative projects for each unit as a creative expression of worship

 

Our companion Parent Guide supplements our curriculum and allows families to connect at home with what children are learning in class. (When printing choose double-sided, flipped on the short end.)

 

The two-year rotation of our curriculum allows the children to repeat each theme, covering it in greater depth the second time through. See the alternating year on I Believe: The Apostles' Creed.

STORY OF WORSHIP ORIGINAL ARTWORK GALLERY
Gather to Worship<br>(Call to Worship)
Gather to Worship
(Call to Worship)

Represents God’s glory (colored tissue paper) shining through the children (self portraits on vellum) gathered together in worship. 

Give Us Eyes to See (Invocation)
Give Us Eyes to See (Invocation)

Painted “eyes” remind us that in God’s presence there is no darkness—He is our light, and He alone helps us to see clearly.

We Love You Lord (Adoration)
We Love You Lord (Adoration)

Heart-shaped Valentines for God are filled with words and drawings expressing our love for Him. Our praise is rooted in His love for us. 

Our Tears (Confession)
Our Tears (Confession)

Salt-resist watercolor art represents our tears of sorrow as we say, “I am sorry,” and confess the sin in our hearts to God. 

On the Cross (Absolution)
On the Cross (Absolution)

A wooden cross painted with our names represents Jesus’ sacrifice for each of us and our white handprints remind us our sins have been washed away. 

Gold and Silver (Offering)
Gold and Silver (Offering)

Pictures drawn with Sharpie on gold and silver craft foil represent the things we offer back to God in recognition that all we have comes from Him. 

Ask God (Supplication)
Ask God (Supplication)

Jesus teaches us to pray in The Lord’s Prayer.  In this mobile, our folded handprints offer up written and drawn prayers to God. 

Broken (Lamentation)
Broken (Lamentation)

Mosaics made with colored pasta and clay represent the brokenness of our world and remind us that one day, God will make all things new. 

Woven Together (Peace)
Woven Together (Peace)

Colorful fabrics woven together using yarn and paper plates represent the Holy Spirit’s work binding us to Christ and to one another as His Church. 

Pressed Into Our Hearts (Scripture/Sermon)
Pressed Into Our Hearts (Scripture/Sermon)

Stories and truths learned from the Bible were engraved on styrofoam plates and printed to show God’s word shaping our hearts and minds.

View the gallery as a printable a PDF.

 

This curriculum is based on materials used by permission from Trinity Presbyterian Church (Charlottesville, VA) that were enhanced and substantially expanded at CTK.