Planning All-age Worship

When you plan a service, think of the Bible story/passage as a coat hanger! Start with scripture readings and hang everything else on them.

If your church uses a lectionary or you are following a programme, ask yourself:

• What are these scripture readings saying to us?
• How can we present them to everyone with their different levels of age and faith?

This can be a challenge but it gives continuity for regular worshippers and covers a wide range of scripture. Be prepared to adapt an inappropriate or long reading, or to leave it out. Make a collection of resources so you have something to help you on these occasions.

The other way is to start by asking yourself:

• What do we intend to focus on in this service?
• Which scripture readings will reflect the theme and help to present it to everybody with their different levels of age and faith?

This has advantages and dangers. It is especially appropriate for a special service or when most of those present are children - for example, at a school or as part of a midweek club. It also provides flexibility to focus on a particular local situation or occasion. But beware of using just a few favourite Bible stories and themes. This can lead to superficiality and possibly distort the story of God's relationship with his people.

The key to all-age worship is 'preparation':

• Be clear about your aims and take time to prepare the service
• Don't use all your resources at once or you will end up with a hodgepodge
• Go for quality and keep it short
• Be sensual! We worship God with colour, light, movement, sign and symbols as well as ords
• Most importantly, make good use of people's gifts and skills rather than relying on your own and ensure that everyone who is leading (welcomers, children's leaders, readers, musicians and so on) knows what is expected of them