"'Children in the Eucharist' formerly titled 'Children in the Parish Eucharist' [and published in 1987] is intended to help the Church honor, respect, and accept our children and their ministries as they, like adults, live into the Baptismal Covenant, specifically so at the altar. Children very rarely have a sense of belonging to the Christian community at worship because those who plan the Liturgy and those who furnish the liturgical space rarely think of children. The Holy Eucharist is indeed the liturgy of the baptized and 'the principal act of Christian worship on the Lord's Day and other Feasts,' and as such all baptized Christians, regardless of age, should be present and take their place as full participants at the Lord's Table. .... 'Children in the Eucharist' is for persons who honestly accept children as humans and as people of God, for those who take Christian community seriously, and for those who are struggling with the presence of children in our midst". -- Intro.
Contents divided into three main sections: Introduction dated The Episcopal Church Center, New York, New York, The Feast of the Epiphany 1990 / Howard K. Williams, Coordinator, Children's Ministries -- Section One: Reflection Papers -- Section Two: Guidelines for Including Children in the Worshipping Community -- Section Three: Aids for Further Exploration of Children and the Eucharist.
Contents of Section One: Reflection Papers: Children's Involvement in the Liturgy : History and Implications / Joseph P. Russell -- The Nature of Liturgy / Leonel L. Mitchell -- Liturgy as Language / Richard A. Bower -- The Language of Spirituality and Communication in Childhood / Toinette M. Eugene -- Discussion Starters: A Chance for Your Reaction.
Section Two: Guidelines: Preparing the Congregation for Liturgy -- Planning the Liturgy -- Creating the Worship Environment -- Children and Hymns / Elizabeth Morris Downie -- Index of Children's Hymns -- Step-by-Step Through the Eucharist, From Home to Church: The Gathering / Leonel L. Mitchell.
Contents of Section Three: Aids for Further Exploration: Children in the Eucharist: A Workshop on Issues, Implications, and Strategies for the Congregation or Diocese -- Historical Summary of Children's Place in the Eucharist: A Timeline -- The Difficulties, Dynamics, and Discoveries of Instituting Change in the Congregation's Liturgy -- Selected List of Resources.
"As the name implies, the Parish Eucharist Church aims to respond to a widely diverse range of worship needs held by Christian and Episcopalian people; a place where the whole variety of diverse needs are honored and met. The Parish Eucharist at 9:15 a.m. is symbolic of the whole; this Service welcomes and includes children, youth and adults who want what was once called 'family worship'. Speaking from familiarity with the English movement, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, said 'In my experience, the service that is bringing in newcomers is the very simple form of family or Parish Eucharist.' The 8:00 a.m. Communion and the 11:15 a.m. Service meet other and legitimate worship needs." -- p. 1.
Contents: Worship: The Church as Church -- Education: The Church as Campus -- Koinonia and Outreach: The Church as Community Center -- A New Movement -- Visiting the Parish Eucharist -- And there is more ! -- And there is still more ! -- About Education -- The Parish Eucharist Model builds ministries ! -- Practical Fruits of the Movement -- Challenges Presented -- Postscript.
Bishop Shimpfky's biography in the Episcopal Clerical Directory lists the date of this publication as 1990.