Worship Being our children's role model in worship

taught by Sunday school teachers. However, from the example I shared above, this need not be the case.

For most of the Church's history, children were expected to worship together with their parents, and parents were the primary instructors and role models from whom children learnt about worship. This went back as far as Moses' time, when God himself commanded Israelite parents to "impress them (God's commandments) on your children" (Deut 6:7 NIV).

"Please rise for the Scripture reading."

A familiar voice then started on the passage. However, after a few verses, I heard a little voice that seemed to come from the same pulpit, but there was no one to be seen. A second later, I recognised that it was the voice of the lectionary reader’s eight-year-old son.

A father had asked his young son to join him in leading a segment of the worship service. How brilliant!

Witnessing a father and son lead in Scripture reading was not only heartwarming, but possibly also a moment of great significance to the children in the congregation. My own three-year-old daughter, who usually prefers having the Bible read to her, stood up later that evening during Bible-reading time and started to read the evening's devotional verse after me. She proudly declared her aspiration to be like the "Gor Gor" (older brother) she saw in church that morning. Since then, reading a verse a day aloud has become a daily habit at home.

More often than not, we parents think negatively about involving children in our worship services. We think our children will disturb the peace, distract the congregation and disrupt the flow of the service. Hence, we promptly usher them to the cry room or Children's Ministry class, leaving them to be

Perhaps it is timely for pastors, worship leaders and parents to consider the following:

How can the church help parents assume their role as the primary instructors of their children on matters relating to the worship of God?

• How can we encourage children to worship—and lead in worship—together with their families?

These are questions that can help open one's mind to the great number of possibilities in this area. Some ideas I have come across include:

• Informing parents one week ahead of time what the week's worship service would be about, so parents—as primary instructors—can begin the instruction at home first.

Providing worksheets about the day's worship service that have ageappropriate content pertaining to the service itself.

Planning the children's ministry curriculum with closer reference to the sermon calendar.

As we model worship for our children, they will in turn model worship for the younger ones, sometimes sooner than we expect!

27 May (Saturday), 1.00–4.00 p.m.

Asian Pastoral Institute, 20 Aljunied Road, S389805 Register via https://www.bible.org.sg/soulcare

$40 per person

This session on self-care is centred on The Mental Health "Second Pandemic": How did the Stress of Living through the Covid-19 Pandemic Impact Mental Wellness in the Community? Speakers Dr Steven Tham Chee Kin and Ms Alice Tan Guong Khim, will share on:

• Understanding how economic hardship, health issues, psychological stress, and social isolation interacted to impact mental wellness

Understanding the links between thoughts, behaviours and emotions

Self-assessment of thinking biases and negative beliefs that increase the risk of poor mental health

Learning practical steps to alter one's biased and negative thinking and beliefs

Co-organised by Sower Institute™ for Biblical Discipleship

27 May (Saturday), 6.00–10.00 p.m. (includes time for dinner)

Mixed format with physical and virtual activities.

A mission kit will be delivered to your home near mission day

Details and registration via https://events.family.org.sg/the-select-mission-1114/ $115 per parent-tween pair (each registration comes with a Mission Kit)

This once-in-a-lifetime programme brings you on an interactive and guided adventure with your tween (11–14 years old) as you build deeper connections and share unforgettable memories together through fun-filled mission activities. You will be recruited as Secret Agents in the first night edition of #TheSelect to restore relationships in the city!

Organised by Focus on the Family Singapore

25 July–31 October (Tuesdays), 7.30–9.30 p.m.

Hybrid format: Zoom and Cru Centre, 18 Verdun Road #03-01

Register by 11 July via https://www.cru.org/sg/en/train-and-grow/ the-significance-project/man-of-impact.html

$43.90 for MOI Participant Guide

Do you desire to be a man of God? This discipleship course consists of 8 fortnightly sessions, facilitated primarily via Zoom with up to three face-to-face sessions. It incorporates life-coaching methods along with facilitators and personal peer coaches to help you discover your personal mission. Begin your journey of living a life of purpose, significance and impact in God's power.

Organised by Cru Singapore