listening to the spirit

It's easy to think that the Holy Spirit only moves mightily with the grown ups in the sanctuary.  We get to see the Holy Spirit in our youngest DP people all the time.  On one of Misty Keene's first mornings doing worship with the kids, she had them lay down for quiet time.  They all put their heads toward the center (without being directed to) and thier feet toward the walls.  Then just as she was about to lead them in worship they started chanting "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus"  slowly and then picking up speed ending loud, fast and with a lot of giggles.  Misty thought this was pretty cool, and then later that night when the interns started doing the same thing, again spontaneously during worship she was moved.  May we all listen closely for the Holy Spirit in our little ones "From the mouths of children and infants you have ordained praise" Matthew 21:16

Everyone gets their own prayer.

     We pray for each child individually most every Sunday morning.  This is in large part because they love it almost every 2, 3, 4, and 5 year olds love to be prayed with.  "Pray for me!, Pray for me!" One 3 year old asks for God to give her a pretty crown with sparkles, sparkly shoes, and a pretty dress.  Another praying for his teacher asks that God make his teacher a knight, a little girl asks that God give the teacher flowers and tell the teacher He loves him.  One little boy asks that God will help him take care of his brother when they play soccer together.  Sometimes we all lay hands on boo-boos and pray for Jesus to heal them, no boo-boo is too small, or too big for prayer.  And they pray for you all all the time.  "Pray for my Daddy's back to feel better", "Pray for my Mommies baby (in her tummy)", "Thank you God for my Mommie!".  Prayer warriors you have in your homes!

New songs

I've been transforming some old songs into new.  God's been showing me good songs and tunes get used over and over again throughout history, so I am free to redeem some childhood favorites.  Here are a couple we are singing in worship;

From Phillipians 2:14;
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
A child of God is what you are
never argue, don't complain
pure and sinless, Shine all day
Twinkle Twinkle little star
A child of God is what you are!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
A Child of God is What you are
The world is dark but you are light
Spinning, Shining in the night
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
A child of God is what you are

(Tune of Ring around the Rosie)

Ring around Jesus

He's the one who frees us

before king Jesus we all fall down

(second verse same tune but start sitting on the floor)

Three days in the grave

and then He rose up

Jesus, Jesus,

He lifts us Up!

Jesus was born in a barn (to tune of Old McDonald Had a Farm)
Jesus was born in a barn E-I-E-I-O
In this barn their were some sheep E-I-E-I-O
With a Baa Baa here and a Baa Baa there
here a baa, there a baa, eveywhere a baa, baa
Jesus was born in a barn E-I-E-I-O


Baa Baa Black Sheep
Have you seen my Lord?
Yes sir, Shepherd,
He's in a barn,
Jesus is sleeping in the hay
Let's go see him on his birthday!

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Have you seen my Lord?

Yes sir, Shepherd,

He's in a barn,

Encouraging each other.

  The verse for the day and month is "Encourage one another, and build each other up".  The kids did drawings of buildings to illustrate thier lesson.  In worship our verse song from the "Hide 'Em in Your Heart" CD by Steve Green" was lively and we pretended to build a tall building as we sang.

When it was time to pray for the kids I was inspired by the verse.  "OK kids, today for prayer we are going to build each other up by praying for each other.  Can you pray for the other kids in this class?, We'll break into groups of three or four and each group will have a teacher to help, but I want you to encourage each other and pray for each other ok?"  Even as I said this I thought "How will this ever work? They are only 2-4 years old. This will be chaos! There's no way they have the attention span for this!"  I turned around to my little group to see two little girls with thier hands already on a two year old little girl's back.  One was already praying earnestly "Oh Lord please be with _____".  I was awed by their spirituality, no less complete than my grown up version. Oh God, my faith is so little sometimes.  Yet you have given such faith and love and spiritual gifts to these little ones!

Easter 2010

Easter Sunday today.  I  left after worship, which was awesome, to go do children's worship thinking "Yay! time to celebrate with the kids!".  The  kids were extra adorable and extra sugar filled (at least mine were extra sugar-filled). We did a new song from an artist know as "The Donut Man" called Hosanna.   "Jumping up and down, Jumping up and down, Jumping up and down shout Hosanna, Hosanna!"  I told the kids Hossana means please save!  or savior please come! in Hebrew.

I tried out a song of mine with the 4-5 year olds in second service. To the tune of 'Ring Around the Rosie"  "Jesus, Jesus, He died to free us, Before king Jesus we all fall down"  They loved it we held hands and walked in a circle falling to the floor at  the end.  They begged to do it over and over.  It was such a simple game such a celebration.

We ended with a special prayer for each child from their teachers.  I am amazed at how much they love to be prayed for by name.  Each child sat pretty quietly waiting for their turn.   They make everything more fun, these wonderful children of ours.    -Allison

Come!

      A month ago at Sunday morning worship time with the 4+5 year olds I asked the kids to be quite and pretend Jesus was whispering in their ears.  I asked them to listen closely and hear what he was saying to them.  After a pause I asked if anyone wanted to share what he said to them.  I started by saying I thought he said he thought I was doing a good job.   A few kids that day said "I can't hear anything".  "You have to listen with your heart.  To listen with your heart you have to be quiet on the outside and on the inside" I said "It's hard to be quiet on the inside, but God is always speaking to you if you can listen".
      One demure little girl whispered, "He said he loves me".  "Oh yes," I said "I'm sure he told you that".  She smiled.  Then a little girl who had been a bit of a wild indain that day spoke up.  "Come" she said.  "What?" I asked.  "Come" she said again clearly.  "Ohhh! He told you to come!"  I said.   It didn't seem so profound then, although I was sure that's what God was telling her.  But I've been mulling over that word for weeks now.  "Let the little children come to me"  Jesus said, I read in my bible a week later.  He is calling them and they can hear it.