children

suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. -- Mk 10:14.

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real live preacher has a wonderful thread up today on the dignity of children. it was precious as children are precious.

i am wondering what your churches do to incorporate children into the service? our pastor used to bring the little ones up to the sanctuary during the Gospel and read from a special lectionary at the 9:30 mass. then he would gather them around the altar for just prior to the consecration of the Host - so they could get an up close and personal view of what was going on. this was all quite heartwarming and when he'd have a question and answer session after the Gospel, the children were very open and full of wit with their responses.

this year, unfortunately, they are all being sequestered out for religious ed (sunday school) during the liturgy of the Word and are brought back to their parents about 1/2 hour later. they don't participate any longer in the mass and it makes me sad that this aspect has been done away with. it has long been suggested that the 8th graders who are making thier confirmation be given the role of lector or ushers during this particular mass, but it was vetoed. now there is a *teen* mass once a month, but i am sorry - this doesn't incorporate them into the church family, it says "you are separate from us and different."

i don't like cry rooms, either. if we are baptising babies with the intention of praying for them and having them be part of the family, why go to the cry room because they are expressing themselves? bring 'em out and throw the key away. how are they going to know they are in a special place where Jesus is or know how to behave if we keep putting them elsewhere?

just wondering what, if anything, your church/parish does for kids and would you want to see it changed?