Children’s Choir: Building Community Through Song by Ellie Dattani – Church of the Ascension
Two years ago, we began something small but significant: a Children’s Choir for ages 0–10, meeting at 9:30am on Sundays, just before our 10:15am main service. What started as a simple invitation to sing has become a valued and faithful community of local families.
Each session lasts about 30 minutes. We begin with 20 minutes of joyful singing—songs that are fun, faith-filled, and easy for young voices to join in with. After singing, we gather for a short, child-friendly Bible story and a sung prayer, creating a gentle moment of reflection and connection.
Afterwards, there’s time for refreshments—an important opportunity for the children and their families to mingle with the regular congregation. These 15–20 minutes of shared conversation and laughter have become a key part of the morning, helping to build relationships and a growing sense of belonging.
The greatest success of the Children’s Choir is simple but profound: it has brought children and families into the church on Sunday mornings where, before, there were none. Now, we’re exploring ways to bring the choir and the main service closer together, finding more opportunities for all ages to worship and grow together.
We’re grateful for what God is doing through this small but mighty choir, and excited to see how it continues to shape our church family.
If you’re wondering how to connect with children and families in your own context, why not try something similar? A simple invitation to sing could be the start of something beautiful in your church, too. And if you’d like some help getting started, Soul Children is a fantastic organisation that supports churches in setting up children’s choirs, offering resources, inspiration, and a wider network to connect with.