A Season of Children's Christmas Services

When I was in grade school, we had our big Christmas program on Christmas Eve.  All the classes in the grade school participated, and the church was full of parents and families.  It was all very straightforward: one big kids service, Christmas Eve, 5 pm. (I think it was at 5).  We always had to go to the kids service, then we would go home for a bit, and return to church for the 11 pm service.  As a kid, that was rough.

Now, with the boys, I'm experiencing not one, but at last count four children's Christmas/Advent services.

First up was the Sunday School Christmas program.  Remember that?

Next, came the CCLS Early Childhood Advent Service.  We're new to CCLS this year, with Connor in preschool and Christian in Kindergarten.  We LOVE the school.  But, when you're new to a community, well, you don't know what you don't know.

So last Thursday evening was the ECE (preschool) Advent Service.  It was held at Concordia Lutheran-Kirkwood, one of the CCLS Association churches.  We rolled in about 10 minutes before the service was to begin to find....a packed sanctuary.  Whoa.  I should mention that CCLS has roughly 600 kids from preschool through 8th grade spread over four campuses in the area.  There are a lot of preschoolers.

With second-child syndrome in full force that night, I didn't have Connor dressed "Christmas-y", nor did I remember to bring the good camera.  But, Connor and his classmates did a fabulous job singing "Away in Manager."  Connor sung boldly. (He's in the middle in the yellow and navy shirt).

After the service, he found his teacher.  He's crazy about her.

The next day, was the Kindergarten Christmas program for Christian's class.  This was very sweet.  It was held in the Sanctuary of the Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens.  Because it was only Christian's class, the crowd was more manageable.

Christian was a shepherd.  He's in the middle with the blue dishtowel on his head.  We were told to give the kids a dishtowel...so I did.  Had I known all the other shepherds would be coordinated in white dishtowels, I'd have given him a white one.  Costumes are not my thing.

After that program, the kids had a nice party back in their classroom.  This was a really sweet program.

Finally, tonight was the last service of the season (I think...I could be missing something).  This was the CCLS Advent Service.  This involved all K-8 CCLS students.  Again, the service was held at Concordia Kirkwood.

Luckily, a friend had shared with us that this service is even more crowded that the Early Childhood service was.  We were cautioned that if you don't arrive at least 40 minutes or so early, you risk standing through the service.

We arrived about 45 minutes early to find seats, but wow, did the sanctuary fill up fast.  Bring together roughly 450 students, their parents, siblings, various and sundry grandparents and relatives, it filled up fast.  And it got warm.  Really warm.  Connor shed his sweater and developed a nice case of sweathead.

Before the service, Christian and some friends got silly.

These sweet kindergartners...the service started at 7.  I know for our boys, bedtime is roughly 7:45/8 pm.  Christian looked like he could fall asleep, and several of his friends were sleeping.  Unlike most children's services I've experienced, tonight, the K-2d graders sang at the end of the service.  As a result, several of them had to be woken up to sing.


This was a great service.  It was developed by the incomparable Rev. Terry Dittmer, who has such a knack for working with youth.  It's always fun to be in a service that he has a role in shaping.

This was great.  As the finale, Rev. Dittmer led the children and congregation in a praise litany.  It was joyful and fun.  Christian had been looking forward to this all afternoon, particularly the end where the kids blew up and then popped paper bags at the conclusion of the Hallelujah Chorus (kids version). (Christian is hiding out there in the front and center, navy blue sweater).

After the service, we collected our kids from their teachers. Christian was checking things out.

The kids made a joyful noise unto the Lord tonight.  And it was great.