Since the introduction of Common Worship there has been an increased demand for material that will help parishes to use the new liturgy with children. As churches think afresh about their worship, they are addressing the issue of how to include children, particularly in the Eucharist. Come and Join the Celebration has been designed to help parishes do just that. This photocopiable resource contains guidance on how to help children understand the liturgy and structure of Holy Communion; activities for use in church with 2-6 year olds; resource sheets for 7-11 year olds; and ideas for additional uses including Communion before confirmation, workshops and school Eucharists. The book aims to help adults share worship with children, thus enabling everyone to participate more fully.

 

There are 152 pages in this book. This book was published 2001 by Church House Publishing .

Martyn Payne is BRF's Messy Church researcher. His role is to visit Messy Churches up and down the UK, listening to the stories of how Messy Church is developing, networking good practice and bringing encouragement. He has a background in Bible storytelling and leading all-age worship and is passionate about the blessing that comes when generations explore faith together. Martyn, who is a qualified teacher, has worked with BRF for over twelve years contributing to training and resources and leading Barnabas RE days; prior to this he worked with the Church Mission Society as its national children's work coordinator. His books include A-cross the World (2004), Footsteps to the Feast (2007), Where in the World? (2012), The Big Story (2011), Creative Ways to tell a Bible Story (2013) and The Barnabas Family Bible (2014). In 1992 Betty Pedley became the Wakefield Diocesan Parish Education Adviser, especially developing all-age worship. She was the co-writer of Children in the Church?, which was published by the National Society and Church House Publishing in 1997. Later, also with Revd John Muir, she wrote Come and Join the Celebration to support the introduction of Common Worship, and this was published in 2001. Betty was a regular contributor to the magazine Together With Children. Betty was priested in 2003 and she moved from her diocesan post to being priest-in-charge of two parishes. She retired in August 2008 but she is still running all-age crafts and is involved in a project for under fives, which is attached to a church in Bradford. Susie Ghahremani is the award-winning illustrator of picture books Balance the Birds, Stack the Cats (named a Kirkus Best Picture Book of the Year), and What Will Grow? She shares her love of nature in original artwork which can be enjoyed on Etsy and through her boygirlparty (R) gift collection. Susie can often be found drawing while hiking (on a "Muir trek"!), a practice she has enjoyed since she was a kid.