Worship and Wonder bags

The Church of Ireland Board for Ministry with Children and Families is delighted to reveal our new “Worship and Wonder” bags.

Along with our recently launched Child–friendly and Accessible version of the Book of Common Prayer, these bags help children to feel welcomed and valued in our

churches.

These are not “distraction tools” nor are they bags to make the children “keep quiet”. They are created to help children engage with worship in ways that are age–appropriate. Children are spiritual just as much as adults, but as with all aspects of life they express and explore their faith in ways that are different to adults, so it is important that as a family church encourage and enable them to do so.

We have sheets in your sample bags that you can download from our website and you might like to think about other items you could add, potentially changing what

it is in them during the different seasons.

The bags and books themselves are left in the church and only the activity sheets are taken away by the family.

Some ideas for additional items to include in the bags:

A wooden holding/prayer cross

Ribbons

Finger puppets

Small sensory toys