We, in the CREC, are certainly in the minority when considering the question of children in worship. With children’s church curricula abounding in typical evangelical and Presbyterian churches, children's church has an enormous appeal during Sunday services across America. Thus, our message seems to be only a drop in the vast ocean of popular trends. Yet, the CREC has consistently rejected these popular trends. Although we are a small denomination, our message resonates with an increasing number of Protestants outside the CREC.

We are a family-friendly church, but we are primarily a church-friendly family. Our children are with us throughout our Lord’s Day worship. They are not dismissed before the sermon, for they are made for the sermon (for as such is the kingdom of God). They are hearers of the Word, and worthy to hear the Word from the ordained servant.

They move a little here and there while uttering heavenly language, then they take the bulletin and sing along, sometimes reading and other times remembering the refrain as joyfully as the big boys in front of them.

They cannot say supra-lapsarianism, but they can express the joy of their salvation. After the Lord’s Supper, they are the first ones to stand and their arms stretch out high as the Gloria Patri and Doxology are sung.

They enliven our liturgy; their faith is great. Yes, we keep them with us, because they belong with us; they are part of us…the one holy, catholic, and apostolic church of infants and the aged.