We care about our children. We care about their education, their physical health and their emotional wellbeing. We want them to be happy, to grow up feeling connected to their families, their communities and themselves.

Would you be surprised to know that the latest studies on children’s feelings of wellbeing are reporting that those children that have a sense of a “greater power” are happier, better adjusted and less prone to being led astray by friends as they get older? Our children’s spiritual health is not something we often think about. Many of us carry negative memories of our own religious upbringing, or we have no memories at all, because our parents felt that we could choose our religious affiliation when we got older. Unfortunately, this has led to at least two generations of children who have nowhere to reference any of their spiritual questions.

I hear you object, saying spirituality and religion are two different things. And I would agree with you. But I also know that having no frame at all, no place to ask and explore spiritual questions, leaves our children feeling alienated from themselves, their families and their communities.

The truth is that children have both spiritual gifts to offer to others as well as spiritual needs. We, as adults, are called to learn from their gifts of wonder, of being present in the moment, their playfulness and enthusiasm. We are also called to nurture and guide these gifts if we are to raise children who are compassionate, grounded in their family, connected to their community, reflective and self-confident.

In a world where media will have a tremendous impact on what our children believe, want and strive for, (in which the dominant message is that happiness can be bought) it becomes even more important to offer an alternative understanding of what it means to be human. We often measure wellbeing as happiness or satisfaction with life. The search for happiness is often confused with the pursuit of pleasure, but wellbeing is about more than living ‘the good life’; it is about having meaning in life, about fulfilling our potential and feeling that our lives are worthwhile. (Eckersley, 2005) ¹

In the United Church of Canada, children are seen as equal partners in the spiritual journey. They have as much to give as they have to receive. In fact, all of creation is seen this way, fostering respect for all that God has created.

At Northlea United Church, here in Laval, we strive to find ways to bring this belief into our worship and our outreach programs. In order for children to explore their spirituality, they need a place where they can feel completely safe, loved and accepted, a place that will not so much gives them the answers; but, provide the space where answers can be sought in partnership.

Our community garden reserves a space for the children every spring, so that they might experience in a concrete way the awesomeness of this earth with which we have been blessed and the life cycle of all things; birth, life, death and new life out of death (something we adults have a difficult time accepting).

We have also come to recognize that new Moms and Dads often feel isolated and crave a place where they can come together and share their experiences, their questions, their joys and difficulties. Our Time for Tots program, which meets weekly, was developed to be just such a place.

Our Children’s Sunday School provides a safe space, where, through various crafts and stories, children can find their special place in God’s living story. As well, once a month, we have a Family Service which begins with breakfast and allows for the noisiness, curiosity and the constant movement of younger children.

At Northlea United Church, we believe that ‘church’ is a verb and not a noun. We come together as church to support each other on life’s spiritual journeys, to welcome all people regardless of culture, age or sexual orientation and, to be a blessing to the world God has created.


Northlea United Church
3200 5th St.
Chomedey, Laval
450 681-9836

¹ Eckersley, R. 2005. What is wellbeing? The Wellbeing Manifesto website www.wellbeingmanifesto.net (accessed 8 November 2012)