Mark and I have been blessed to have been in family integrated churches (where children are encouraged to be in the worship services rather than sent out to children’s church or the nursery) since before we were a family. Worshiping together as a family has always been a privilege and a blessing to us. It is a wonderful thing to be in the middle of a worship service and to look down the pew at all those little people looking up at the pastor (or playing with their shoes) and then to be able to come home and discuss the sermon with the children.
This morning with 11 month old Nicholas on my lap and 2 year old Colby beside me, I enjoyed this scene. Nicholas has tired of sitting quietly and looking around so I give him one of his quiet toys. Colby eyes the toy longingly. Nicholas, being the selfless little Christian that he is (ha) offers the toy to Colby. “No, no Dicowas, look at pastor,” whispers Colby pointing toward the pulpit.
If you are interested in how we teach our little ones to sit quietly in church check out this discussion and scroll down. I answer that specific question a little more than half way down the page.
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Hi, I'm Kimberly. 
WOW. Amazing. I think we do great to keep my 3 year old still.
Ya know, I find it harder though because we arent family integrated in our church. Most all babies go to the nursery. So whenever mine get wiggly or loud I feel like they need to immediately go out.
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Kimberly Reply:
April 6th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
You are doing well to keep your 3 year old still. It is harder to be in a church where there are no other small children in the service. There will be some noise as the children are learning to sit quietly and it helps to be in an atmosphere where that is understood. It is also nice for your children to not be the only ones in the service.
Keep up the good work.
Blessings,
Kimberly
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How CUTE! Aren’t kids just amaizing! It is moments like that that just make your heart leap and swell a few sizes.
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That is adorable!
We don’t have many family integrated churches in our area. That is amazing that you have that kind of support you need to bring your children into church with you!
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That is so cute.We have a family service every Sunday. We love it. During the fall season hey take the 4,5,6 yr olds out for seperate worship and song, then the preist will call all the other children up to carpets neat the alter to discuss the readings and gospel reading sometimes even having them act out key parts. I have learned so much mor that I learned in catholic school. lol. I need to get a bible and really start reading it. I haven’t always been very religious, I just try to keep god in my life.
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[...] Our little ones sit through worship services and family worship from the time that they are born. [...]
[...] we homeschool and are members of a family integrated church, our kids aren’t often in large groups of age-segregated [...]