I felt the Earth move...

A little shake.  A little change.  Sometimes that's all it takes to transform a religious experience.  When Church Down Under started a over a year ago, it definitely shook things up.  It has given children a different way to worship than the more traditional forms.  It has given them a place to move a little- to stretch their spiritual legs.

Psychology studies have found that everyone learns differently.  Throughout middle school the "multiple intelligences" theory was pounded in to my head-- bodily-kinesthetic, visual-spacial, linguistic-verbal, logical-mathematical, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal and naturalistic.  The theory goes that everyone learns differently, sometimes in a combination of these intelligences and if we learn to acknowledge these intelligences in one another, we can understand each other better.

I think the same thing relates to spirituality.  Some people worship more deeply in quiet meditation, some worship through music, others through fellowship.  Thus, it would only make sense that some would worship best through movement.  Church Down Under fills that opportunity for children.  For the Little family, being able to physically relate worship has been an eye-opening experience for their children.

       "The music is a particular highlight of the service because the kids have the chance to move freely in the space, play with noise making toys or instruments, and follow the choreography that each song incorporates.  It’s a joy to see the children engaged in these songs in a way that they wouldn’t have a chance to be in Church upstairs.
  
Another of our favorite practices is the washing of the stones to represent the washing away of our sins.  It has given us a visual example that the children can understand in helping us teach them about God’s forgiveness of our sins.  It encourages participation with by placing the stones into the basin and the act of pouring the water over them which is performed by the kids themselves. 


We have seen a significant increase in the willingness of our shy 5 year-old to participate in all of the wonderful activities that take place at the Church Down Under.  It is a welcoming and comfortable environment that really encourages family growth and sharing.  We simply love it."

So whether we sing, dance, sit silently or play as a way to worship, it all translates the same in God's eyes.