While I think it would be great to create worship that is so engaging and accessible to all people, that nobody requires any additional explanation to participate (or keep from being bored and getting distracted), that is the kind of miracle that might only be possible in the eschaton. So until then, while we still have worship that is less accessible to younger people (though worship is also less accessible to those who don't speak the language used in worship, those who can't read, those whose vision and hearing is impaired and other groups of people as well whom we often forget about) I use children's bulletins to help address some of the questions young people might have about what is going on.
Christmas is a very special time for children and young people in the Church and many Churches make an extra effort to include young people in their Christmas celebrations: by having special services led by or more accessible to children, by bringing or inviting young people from beyond our Church families to services or by bringing parts of our faith into our Christmas celebrations with younger friends and family members outside worship.
Children's Bulletins are a way to invite children and their families into our worship in ways that are accessible to them. They are also a reminder to all those present that children are a part of the worshiping community who might have different needs than adults and might engage in worship differently.
Below you will find links to three different Children's Bulletins for Christmas services. One is for a Eucharist service, one focuses on the role of shepherds in the Christmas story and one is for use with the Gospel of John as the reading for Christmas (that's right, the prologue to John for kids, this was a fun one to make).
Children's bulletins can be available to families and children at all your Christmas services, along with some drawing supplies which they can use and return at the end of the service. They are most appropriate for children who are able to read (generally age 7-11), but parents can read through them with younger children as well. They can also be available for people to take home to give to children they may be seeing over the Christmas holidays.
You can use these three as they are, or if you would like the original files to modify with information appropriate to your services and parish, just send me an email.
Christmas Eucharist
Christmas Shepherds
Christmas Gospel of John
