Yes! Our children worship with us.
We do not shuffle them off to kiddie church or Sunday school. Your children are welcome, too, and you’re in good company. We have many babies and children in our parish.
If you want to raise your children in the Church, then they have to be IN THE CHURCH. The entire spiritual culture of the Orthodox faith is necessary formation for everyone, whether 40 days old, 40 years old, or 40 years a senior citizen. We are forming the process of their spiritual life, not providing programs that keep them busy and distracted.
Don’t worry if your child wiggles and squirms a bit. God put the wiggle in them, don’t try to get it out! Unless your child is making more noise than our priest and choir, stay put. When they need a little more room, just walk them to the back, so that they can still see and hear what’s going on.
It can be a sacrifice to raise children in the Church, and we know it, but if your child doesn’t learn to incline his/her heart in worship, and turn aside from distraction from a young age, how in the world will they survive as an older Christian in a world which is designed to distract them?
Relax. We’re here to help you raise saints.
