"What are you Melheim? Lazy or Stupid? If you are
lazy, that's no excuse! If you are stupid, that's an excuse!" - Dr. Demitri Georgicas, my first (but not last) Greek Professor at UND whenever I messed up on a translation in front of the class
Hold that thought. I'll get back to it in a moment. First a question: Who does the art for your corporate worship? Professional artists? Only adults? Only people who have been dead for 100 years?
Here's another question: What are you - lazy or stupid?
Why in the H-E-Double Toothpicks wouldn't you want the kids of your church sharing their art every week? Why wouldn't you feature their interpretions of the texts ALL THE TIME - not just on a youth Sunday? Why wouldn't you celebrate their art and make it both seen AND heard as part of enriching the worship (and pulling inactive parents into worship) every week in every worship?
Why shouldn't they be singing the texts, signing the texts, arting the texts, acting the texts?
If liturgy is the "work of the people" why not let the children of your church do some liturgy to be featured on your PowerPoints every Sunday during the offering this year? ("The offering that didn't fit in the plate today is sponsored by our Sunday School kids who have studied the preacher's text and have illustrated it for your enjoyment and education...")
If worship is the "vehicle that brings worth to God" then why not let the children's art bring some worth go God on your bulletin covers every Sunday in 2007?
And who is the star of your children's sermons? If the answer is the pastor, you're both lazy AND stupid. Why shouldn't the children's sermons be done by the children?
Why? At the risk of sounding preachy (shudder... this coming from a preacher) it's because we are either:
1. Lazy
2. Stupid
Let's get active and smart.
Kids will drag their parents and friends if they are a significant part of the worship experience every week. They're the best evangelists and faith interpreters you've got.
Use them or lose them.