Children's Sunday

Definition and Meaning

Children's Sunday is a special Sunday on which the church blesses children as members of the community of faith and recalls its responsibility to teach the faith to children. Unlike Christmas or Easter, it is not an ancient feast of the liturgical year but a commemorative Sunday of modern origin. In Korea, many churches observe it on the first Sunday of May, immediately before Children's Day (May 5). Together with Parents' Sunday on the second Sunday of May, it is part of the observance of May as "Family Month."

Biblical and Historical Background

Churches frequently cite the following passages as the biblical basis for the day:

• Jesus taking little children in his arms and blessing them (Mark 10:13-16; Matthew 19:13-15)
• The command to teach God's words diligently to one's children (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

Children's Sunday is generally understood to have originated in American churches in the nineteenth century. According to tradition, it began in 1856, when the Rev. Charles Leonard of Chelsea, Massachusetts, held a service for children in June. Because the sanctuary was decorated with flowers and flowers were distributed on that occasion, the day is said to have acquired the name "Flower Sunday." The observance was later adopted by American Methodists and several other denominations. It is believed to have been introduced to Korea by missionaries, and today it is commonly observed in May to coincide with Children's Day.

Practice in Korean Churches

• Worship: Children from the Sunday school (church school) lead parts of the service, such as songs with choreographed movements, Scripture recitation, and special music. Some churches combine the adult and children's services so that the whole family worships together.
• Blessing: The pastor calls the children forward, lays hands on their heads or offers a prayer of blessing, and gives them gifts or flowers.
• Infant baptism and child dedication: Among churches that practice infant baptism, such as Presbyterian, Methodist, and Holiness churches, some administer infant baptism on this day. Churches such as the Baptists, which recognize only baptism following a personal profession of faith, may instead hold a child dedication service. In a child dedication, parents present their child to God and pledge to raise the child in the faith. This difference is connected to the infant baptism debate.
• Relation to the liturgical year: The first Sunday of May usually falls within Eastertide, the season following Easter. Churches that follow a lectionary (a set of Scripture readings appointed in advance according to the liturgical year) sometimes incorporate both the seasonal readings and the elements of Children's Sunday into the service.
• Other activities: Some churches also hold events to encourage church school teachers, award scholarships to children, or invite children from the local community.