Decorum and the 'Childrens' Sermon'

A really great article at Gottesdienst by Pr Beane with several excellent follow up comments related to decorum in general and the childrens' sermon in specific:

"It is little surprise, given that our grandfathers and grandmothers went to dinner, sports events, the airport, and even to church as gentlemen wearing coats and ties and as ladies clad in dress, hat, and gloves, whereas people of all generations now regularly go out in public in sweats, yoga pants, pajamas, sports bras, hair curlers, clothing with intentional rips, tears, and holes, and with underwear and abdomen visible - it is little wonder that we are culturally bereft of distinction and contextual propriety, even within the sacred spaces of worship."

"Multiple sermons for different demographics has never been done until very recently in church history. That said, I might consider special boomer sermons, where we invite them all to take their places up front, and we can use age-appropriate props to teach them: bottles of Grecian Formula, rotary phones, tie dye, and back braces. We can talk about incontinence and the latest music from the 1960s. I think they would actually enjoy being in the spotlight. ;-) ... I preach the Gospel. I don't manspread on the floor in vestments. I don't get feedback from kids. When I preach in the church, I always stand in the pulpit and preach the Gospel. I use language appropriate to my hearers, but I don't dumb down the message or bring a bunch of toys. I never had the kids come up front. They're children. They're not cats or dogs. They're little human beings with ears and minds that grasp more than we think they do. The Word actually works. I show them that I respect them by not turning them into a show or by dumbing down the message with entertainment. I preach the Gospel. That is what we preachers are called to do."

The insight that The Word actually works is fantastic. 

"Sad to say, it is almost an iron-clad rule that when there are such deviations from customs that have been part of our Christian culture for centuries, it probably finds its origin with the American boomer."