Connecting Children in Worship and Prayer leaders gather
The Leadership Team for a new South Carolina Connecting Children in Worship and Prayer ministry held their first meeting last month at the South Carolina United Methodist Conference Office.
Designed to help South Carolina’s United Methodist churches become more fruitful in ministry with children, the ministry is made possible by a $1.1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment.
The conference is collaborating with Messy Church USA, Narrative 4 and the West Virginia Conference UMC via its Portico online learning system.
The 2024-2025 Grant Leadership Team, which is responsible for overseeing the grant, consists of clergy and laity: the Rev. Meg Sweeney Cook, Toni Strawther, Dawn Fairley, Kim Bryant, Carrie Treece, Johanna Meyers, the Rev. Michael Jarrell, the Rev. Christopher Greene, the Rev. Suzanne Walker, Briana Brooks, the Rev. Nona Woodle, Toni Taylor, Evan Barker and the Rev. Millie Nelson Smith.
The group met Jan. 16 to focus on developing relationships, planning, setting expectations and evaluating the first year of the grant implementation.
They are seeking 12 churches that want this grant opportunity to increase the number of children participating in worship, increase the ways children participate in worship and create a culture of belonging for all children.
Taylor said key aspects of the program are as follows:
• Leadership Development: The five-year grant will support training for pastors, lay leaders and children from 12 churches initially, with 12 more added each year, reaching a total of 60 churches and potentially 500 children;
• Messy Church Partnership: Provides a model of hospitality and creativity to intergenerational worship experiences within the church family and unchurched families in communities. Messy Church USA brings a model of hospitality and creativity to intergenerational worship experiences both within a church family and unchurched families in communities.
• Intergenerational Focus: The program will emphasize creating worship experiences that involve all generations, fostering belonging and inclusivity, where everyone feels they belong. Churches will be provided training in communication and the arts to enhance children’s confidence and engagement in worship and prayer.
• Narrative 4 will train the participants to lead the gift of story exchange. Stories are narratives that can be used to convey knowledge, perpetuate tradition and build common belief. Story exchange encourages the participants to deepen their engagement with narratives, exercise curiosity, extend empathy and internalize wisdom. Engaging in this practice allows all participants to forge a deeper connection with each other.
For questions, contact Toni Taylor at [email protected] or Nona Woodle at [email protected], or visit http://umcsc.org/children for the latest information.