Flags and Rain

[WORSHIP:03:09:08] I am finding that 90% of my preparation is sitting and listening for God's direction. It is not looking for songs, or rehearsing, or transposing, or preparing visual aids, it is those things too, but 90% of my time is spent sitting and listening. and most of that time is spent in the space, on the day. by the time i come sunday morning i have come with a plan, songs, order, concepts of worship we'll focus on that day, teaching objectives (yes, we TEACH worship); the goal is to give them tools, help them find expression, and make room for God to move. I set out my plan to do that.. but... to be most effective, i know i must lean on the Holy Spirit to fine tune and mold it for those kids on that day. Do you know i will do worship time differently for first service and second? The mix of kids (age, size of group) is drastically different and i find different things are most effective. for example...

on 03.09 i had a lovely time with the small group of younger kids reviewing some songs, doing a favorite action song, then singing about the Glory of the Lord rising among us. it was during this song that they made their way from sitting to standing to movement to carrying worship flags to walking in a circle with their flags in unison movement. because of the size of group they each had their own flag, they had room to walk peacefully in a circle with coordinated movement, and it all came so organically. the spirit was gently in our midst, it was so special.

on 03.09 the second service kids (much larger and older group) also started with a thanksgiving tunnel and song, but then we learned a new song called Hosanna by Hillsong United. the chorus is simple but the verses were not accessible, so i had 4 volunteers (another way to give the 4-5th graders more opportunity) come up and READ the verses into the mic in between the whole group singing the chorus. they read one by one: "i see the King of glory, coming down the clouds with fire..." "i see his love and mercy, washing over all our sin..." and "i see a generation, rising up to take their place... i see a new revival, starting as we pray and seek.." Powerful to hear these kids speak out these words and echoes of Hosanna. we moved into the same favorite action song the first group did, but then we did a special activity to "make rain". the song sings 'mercy is falling like a sweet spring rain' well, we wanted to have an EXPERIENCE of the mercy and the spirit falling, at first like a sweet rain, but escalating into a thunderstorm as we moved in our circle to slapping our knees and stomping feet. then the rain lessened and left as we moved back into snaps and rubbing of hands.

Our God is a specialized God. He wants us to experience Him in effective ways. If we keep one ear to Him, He will help us to know what those ways are, best for each class. and even each kid! He is so personal and interested in each one knowing and experiencing Him. what a privilege we have -- we get to help!