Making the Announcement about the Comfort Room

 

Having listened to many people make the announcement about the “comfort room” at the beginning of worship, I have learned that there is an art to doing it in a way that makes parents feel their children are not on probation in the sanctuary.  The announcement can sound like “your kids can stay until they bother us, then we’ve provided a way to get them out of here.”  Or, it can sound like, “we are glad your children are here.  Should at any point your child have needs that cannot be met in a pew, we have provided…”  As I listen I think there are three important parts of announcements that make parents feel welcome with their children.

1. Somewhere in the announcement say clearly “Children are ALWAYS welcome in worship.”  Say it every week.  It is good for the parents and for all worshipers to hear that restated.  Add to it such qualifiers as
         “Our worshiping community is not complete
           without them.”
        “We need them with us and they need to worship
           with us.”
        “Worshipers bring different gifts to the whole worshiping
           community at different times of their lives.  The gifts
           of children are as valuable as those of forty year olds or
           eighty year olds.” 
2. Admit that there are times when it is best for everyone for a child to leave without making it sound as if the parent is at fault.    
       “For those moments when a changing table, a rocking
          chair, some quiet toys would ease your child and allow
          you to worship (the sound is piped in)…”
        “We know that in spite of our best efforts to be child
          friendly, there are times everyone needs a graceful way
          out.  For those times ….”
3. Tell how to get there and what you will find
        “An usher can show you”… (note for the benefit of
          visitors and relatives sitting with a child for the first
          time where the ushers will be found and promise
          that they will be available throughout the
          service)
        Briefly tell what is there (changing table, rocker,
           toys) and how the adults continue to participate
           in worship (is it audio or video feed?  Are there
           hymnals and extra orders of worship there?) 

I bet we’d all like to see any additional tried and true phrases that make these announcements sound welcoming.  Add yours in the Comments.