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BCMC JOURNAL 2005
Wee Worship
By Pamela Clampitt
Vandewalker
Worship begins with a pure and clean heart; the heart of
a child is perfectly designed to be filled-up with God.
The wonder, expectant faith, and pure praise of children
are qualities that God is seeking from all worshipers.
Psalm 8:2 reminds, "From the lips of children and
infants you have ordained praise." Truly, children were
made for praise!
When examining scripture, we find many elements of
worship. These fundamentals include: prayer, praise,
confession and repentance, profession, scripture,
preaching, ordinances, and giving. All these elements
are tools to help us to focus on God and respond to His
greatness and holiness. Our worship is an encounter with
God.
Children are uniquely designed to experience God and
they have the ability to lead other children, students,
and even adults to Him. Their leadership allows for
heart-felt, earnest and genuine moments with the Savior.
Let's examine concrete ways for children to lead as
Wee Worship:
Prayer is simply having a conversation with God that
leads to an awareness of His presence. Children can lead
in prayer or share a scripture prayer. A scripture
prayer is a communicating with God through reading His
Word back to Him. It might begin with a verse of praise
from the Psalm and have a plea like that found in Psalm
19:14. Students might sing a prayer; My Singing is a
Prayer by Novella Jordan is a wonderful hymn prayer.
Matt Redman's Let My Words Be Few is a
contemporary expression of an appeal to God. Finally,
why not allow children to sign a prayer? Even
Kindergarteners can sign God is So Good or Jesus
Loves Me!
Praise expresses adoration to God and thanksgiving for
His character. In Matthew 21:16, Jesus says, "Haven't
you read in God's Word, ‘From the mouths of children and
babies I'll furnish a place of praise'?" (The Message)
Children are praise magnets; they can lead so easily in
this aspect of worship. Their singing is so authentic;
they can process, sing antiphonally, sing with media
enhancement, add choreography to tunes, resound in any
hymn, chorus or anthem. Drama can be used as a praise
offering, Students can share sketches, monologues,
choral readings, responsive readings (from the hymnal)
participatory readings and hymn introductions. Finally,
children can follow the Biblical instruction in Psalm
150 and praise God through instruments. Bells,
boomwhackers, Orff-style instruments and non-pitched
rhythm band instruments can be utilized to tell others
about the greatness of God. Lifeway Christian Resources
offers, Made for Praise, an excellent tool for
all these "praise" worthy ideas. In addition, Vision
Publications at www.visionpublications.net has resources
on this topic.
When we confess our sins to God, He restores fellowship.
Children can share confessions via media by projecting
written letters of confession to God. Older students may
wish to share a journal page as a confession testimony.
Profession provides an opportunity to acknowledge God's
work in our lives. Children have some of the most
sincere testimonies of all believers. Through the use of
video, they may share why they want to be baptized just
before a baptismal service. Allow students to share in a
traditional testimony service. Or, encourage a staff
member to interview students about God's workings in
their lives. Children love "popcorn" testimony times.
Ask them to "pop" up and share 2-3 sentences about God.
All worship should include a great deal of scripture.
God transforms us by His Word: "For the word of God is
living and active. Shaper than any double-edged sword,
it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints
and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the
heart." (Hebrews 4:12) Students may want to share their
favorite scripture and why, either live or via video.
The Rhyme Bible (Zondervan) is a fun way to share
God's Word. Tom Long (Friends of the Groom)
shares scripture in a unique way with his Holy
Backrub series. Children can dramatically share
scripture with Add-a-words and terraced scripture.
Vision Publications (www.visionpublications.net) offers
these dramatic tools in their book, Dramatic Beginnings.
Preaching of the Word instructs, teaches and challenges.
Students can enhance preaching by sharing show-n-tells
as sermon starters. The children can show and tell about
things that God has made - things that are meaningful to
them. Or, children might add to the sermon by painting
as visual image of the sermon topic as the sermon is
shared.
The ordinances were created as dramatic visual symbols
to remind us of God's work and presence. Have a
children's baptism service and create a video of the
event to share. Or put the Lord's Supper or communion on
wheels! Obtain names of shut-in members of your
congregation and schedule a time to take this wonderful
ordinance to them. Allow ordained ministers/deacons to
serve communion and ask the students to sing hymns and
songs as it is shared.
Finally, giving is a worship response to God. Children
can physically help take the offering in a service.
Children are creative and can give of their artistic
talents by designing bulletin covers. An instrumental
offering on the piano, or solo instrument can be shared
as the offering is taken.
Worship calls us to respond to God. Children are
uniquely gifted to lead us into His presence because of
their untainted, clean and pure hearts. Allow your
students to lead out as Wee Worship!
Pamela Vandewalker is
Minister to Children's Music/Drama
Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia.
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