The Bethesda parish family considers the inclusion of children in worship to be of great importance. Children of different ages may participate in different ways.

We welcome children to worship by providing:

Nursery: child care is provided for infants and toddlers during the 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services (10:00 a.m. in summer). Parents may wish to slip out at the time of communion to pick up their children so all may come to the Altar Rail as a family.

PreK/Kindergarten through first grade students: an age-appropriate liturgy is during the first part of the 9:00 a.m. service in the Kindergarten chapel. Periodically students will be brought into the 9 o’clock service.

Service Participation: children are encouraged to participate in worship as acolytes, ushers, and youth choir members.

Summer Church School: a special church school for children ages 4 to 8 during the 10:00 a.m. summer service. This church school class is involved in arts and crafts with biblical themes.

Busy Books: these folders contain activities based on the Gospel of the Day and are located in the nave of the church.

Modeling appropriate church behavior for children and teaching them to stand, sit and kneel at appropriate times is important.

Gradually lengthening the time children are in church is an effective teaching method. Children can usually be expected to participate in an entire service in an orderly way by the time they enter second grade.

Sometimes infants and children will cry or become excessively noisy - it is appropriate to take them out of the church to the nursery to have an opportunity to quiet down.

Return To Children and Worship Guide

Bethesda-by-the-Sea
141 South County Road, Palm Beach, Florida 33480
Phone: (561)655-4554