Fellow fans of C.S. Lewis will perhaps recognize the title of this piece as taken from an essay of Lewis’ own. This was the title of a sermon he preached at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Oxford in October 1939. His country was trembling in fear as they entered another unwanted war, and students in Oxford inevitably were asking themselves the question, “What is the use of beginning a task which we have so little chance of finishing?”—the task, of course, being their Oxford education. Lewis, a teacher in Oxford, strove to deal with that question by providing answers that were timeless.

It is my hope that readers of this post will offer their own strategies for engaging our young children (ages 2-5) in worship. The previous post explored ways to engage infants and young toddlers. The next posts will focus on school-age children and teens. So many dedicated parents and other members of the community creatively nuture and help focus the attention of our children during Liturgy, and we can use this as an opportunity to learn from each other.

It is my hope that readers of this post will offer their own strategies and tactics for engaging our infants and young toddlers in worship. The next post will focus on pre-schoolers, and the final posts on school-age children and teens. I have seen many brilliant and creative ways parents and other members of the community nuture and help focus the attention of our children during Liturgy. I look forward to this opportunity to learn from each other.

Holy Week is, by far, the most powerful week in our Church. It's also the busiest. As a mother of three, I am always on the lookout for different ways to involve my children and help them understand the significance of everything that we're celebrating. These resources make that much easier.

The frankincense rains through my fingers, a shower of fragrant amber pebbles. It is a warm weeknight midway through Lent--breezy, windows in the house all open, the air filled with the smell of things growing and green--and my eight-year-old son Alex and I are making incense.

Parents of little children may enter Church with trepidation. Will little Hannah have another melt-down like last week? Will baby George cry and refuse communion? Will I have to go chasing Thomas into the altar if I let him out of my arms?

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:7-8)

From the time children begin to perambulate and grab things, they start asking for everything they see in the stores. Sometimes they even throw tantrums to get the desired toys, and goodies. As a tired parent, it is so tempting to buy silence with one of these tantalizing items. However, as parents, it is our duty to teach our children, even the youngest ones, to be good stewards of the gifts God gives them, and part of that lesson is instilling the virtues of patience and generosity, and a healthy respect for money.

I could hear her singing from the other room. Oh, that’s nice, I thought. I love to hear my daughter sing as she kicks around the house. But as her voice continued to trail on, I found myself listening closer.

“Let’s go all the way tonight..no regrets, just love.”

My eyes widened as I walked into the room. “Where did you hear that song?” I asked. “At school, during recess,” she said.