Young Children and Worship

by Sonja M. Stewart, Jerome W. Berryman

Sonja Stewart and Jerome Berryman have taken the needs of children into account and devised an exciting method for introducing three- to seven-year-olds to the wonder of worship. Their approach, which integrates religious education and worship, has been presented at numerous workshops and training sessions. Based on the authors' experiences, the methods described here will be invaluable to teachers helping children understand and appreciate worship.

Genres: Childrens, Religion, Nonfiction, Theology

214 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Dorine · Rating 5 out of 5]

You'll need this workbook to run a successful Worship and Wonder program for children. It's working amazingly well for us. Everyone feels fulfilled, including the storytellers. It's very detailed, including placement of the figures and accessories, so anyone can successfully do bible storytelling for children with a little practice.

I find it so easy after months of doing this, that I can now pick a story and learn the words and actions within a couple days.

This workbook will continue to be my right arm for some time. Excellent program that brings the bible alive better than anything I've experienced. Can be easily adapted for adult instruction, and should be, as it teaches with a simplicity that adds meaning to what we know.

Highly recommend checking this out if you need a program for children. We average 8 to 15 children and they're very animated with these stories. The "I wonder" questions bring some fun and surprising answers.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I volunteered to help with Sunday school at my church, and this is the book we're supposed to use. I'll withhold final judgment til after I've used it, but, whoa. I think I'm in trouble.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the involvement of children in a worship experience and may use some of the ideas from this book to do more of that in our church. 80% of the book is scripts (directions and word for word what you are to say in Sunday school class) and templates (for the "props" used) for telling Bible stories as part of worship. The stories are dynamic and ask good questions, but are not interactive and don't involve the children in the ways I would expect for a method I had heard was based on Montessori teaching methods.

[Don Metz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This program based on Marie Montessori’s approach is excellent. It is engaging with young children in helping them discover what church is and the love Jesus provides. The stories are great and if used as the book suggests will help guide and support children as they discover the love of Jesus.

[Rachel Ruis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does a great job to include children and works. The wonder questions are great but I wish the author would have answered the I wonder questions more gospel centered and less wishy washy

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The version I have is from 1989. I first read it 14 years ago and it still inspires me. If you are involved in Children's Worship at your church, I highly recommend this book. After the initial set up of our program 14 years ago, I'm proud to say that we've never needed more materials. What a wonderful blessing to any church who is budget conscious in these tough economic times. I led our program for 7 years and was recently asked to step back into the program to train some of the newer storytellers and greeters. So thankful to have found this little book and to have had a successful program for so long.

You might also like Leading Children in Worship- Bible Stories and Lesson Plans by Helene G Zwyghuizen.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous, fabulous book for children's Christian education. This book, I'd say, is a precursor Jerome Berryman's Godly Play, Montessori-based principals teaching children about the gifts God has given us. I, along with a few others, are setting up the Godly Play program at an Episcopal church plant in my neighborhood. I am so excited about this program! I set up a few of the stories on our dining room table in preparation for this week's service and my four-year-old spent an hour or so every day just exploring the materials, truly "Godly play!"

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our church is going to use this program for our children's experience. I think by reading this first and then attending a training, I'll be ready to dive in. I'm not sure I would feel confident enough to try to teach this after just reading the book.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

An essential perspective on worship with children. Wish I had been able to read it all before it went back (inter-library loan). I would LOVE to see it adapted to LDS scripture stories.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best resource I have seen so far for introducing children to the structure of worship and scripture - includes lesson plans and patterns

[Claire Dillashaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Key introduction to Godly Play and thorough guide from the founders.