By Amanda Bixler, Worship Coordinator
Well, whether you are ready for it or not, the holiday season is upon us! And as much as this season is about family, festive lights, gatherings, gifts, and warm drinks in Starbucks holiday cups, it is also a time to celebrate the birth and coming of a Messiah, Jesus. In fact, that’s exactly what the term Advent means – ‘coming’ in Latin. The season of Advent is literally a time to wait and celebrate Jesus coming to this world in love and setting up camp amongst us. One biblical translation even writes, “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood” (John 1:14, The Message). This is a season that is set aside in the Christian calendar as a time to expectantly wait and actively prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Often times there are specific advent readings and themes of hope, peace, joy and love that are associated with the month of December and specifically the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Traditionally, Advent is an eager and hopeful time of the year where we countdown to the 25th, trade our traditional calendars
for Advent ones, and read scripture passages that lead up to the birth of
our Savior.
We are so excited for this season and the ways we get to celebrate Jesus’ birth in Worship Island! November was a heavily focused month on thankfulness – being thankful to God of all that he has done for us and given to us. Continuing on that momentum, each weekend in December will be focused on a different aspect of the biblical Christmas narrative and why we are thankful for Jesus
coming. These weekends leading up to Christmas will be a time to read through the Christmas story, learn more about each person involved in Jesus’ birth, and how they all interacted with one another. Our first through fourth graders will have the opportunity to really engage with the Christmas narrative and hopefully encounter Jesus in a new way.
Our desire is that this journey through the Christmas story and celebration
of Jesus’ birth would not just be something that happens in Worship Island
on Sunday mornings. As you sign in your children each week, we will have packets available with supplemental advent information and scripture readings that we hope you will partake in with your children. It has been our experience that when families engage in worship together through the reading of scripture and discussion, a deep richness occurs. Our prayer is that as we all enter into this exciting, busy, and joyous season of Advent, we would all be drawn closer
to the heart of God and to the reality that Jesus came and lived among us.
Showing posts with label Children's Worship Ministry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children's Worship Ministry. Show all posts
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Worship Island Explores the Who, What, When, Where & Why
By Amanda Bixler, Worship Services Coordinator
Exciting things have been happening in our Children’s Ministry this fall! We now have about six weeks under our belts of having the weekly live worship band lead our elementary school kids in musical worship. And we’re about a month in to our Bible memorization program. It has been such an exciting and encouraging time for our adult leaders to hear the kids singing along with worship songs, expressing interest in going deeper with God, and reciting all of the verses they have memorized – what a strong foundation this is setting for our kids!
Here are some of the main things we have been focusing on in our worship through music times:
What is worship? Worship is anything that gives praise to God. It is our response to God for who He is and what He has done. Worship is not just confined to Sunday mornings in our classes, but can reach every aspect of our lives.
Who do we worship? We worship God – the Creator of the universe, the Son who died for our sins, and the Spirit who is alive and moving among us. However, if we are not careful, it is easy to put our needs, wants, and feelings above focusing on God in worship.
Where do we worship? Most people will divide worship into two categories: community and individual. Communal worship is what happens on Sunday mornings, at midweek Bible studies, during prayer meetings, and any other time a group gathers in the name of God. Individual worship is what happens in our personal time with God, when we reach out to a homeless person, or share God’s love with our classmates, just to name a few examples.
When do we worship? If we embrace the belief that worship is our response to God for who He is and what He has done, then worship can happen anywhere and at any time. This emphasizes the fact that worship is not just contained to what happens in our classrooms on Sunday mornings.
How do we worship? One of the things I love discussing when we talk about worship is that the “how” varies so much from person to person and you can be creative about it! Do you love to sing and dance? Then dance as David danced in the name of the Lord! Do you love to paint or draw? Then paint a picture of what God means to you! Do you enjoy writing stories or poems? Than write a poem of gratitude for what Jesus has done for you!
Why do we worship? The main reason we worship is an overflow of what God has given us. It also reminds us of our place in the kingdom – that God is the ultimate good and therefore, we do not have to be afraid or worry because He is in control.
Another key component to our Sunday classes has been the Bible memorization program that we launched at the end of August. It has been amazing to see the students come in every week excited to share the verses that they have memorized. We also have a fun song to go with the verses and to help in the memorization process (some of you parents may hear your kids sing it – it’s very repetitive!). As you can see, we have been energized by what God has already done in Worship Island this fall and pray that God will continue to stir in the hearts of our elementary school students. Make sure and get your kids signed in each Sunday on time so they don’t miss out on any of the exciting things happening in Worship Island!
If you would like more information about all that is happening or to get involved with this ministry, please contact me at amanda@lbfchurch.com. We are still looking for musicians and computer operators, so if you are musical or tech-savvy, we need you!
Exciting things have been happening in our Children’s Ministry this fall! We now have about six weeks under our belts of having the weekly live worship band lead our elementary school kids in musical worship. And we’re about a month in to our Bible memorization program. It has been such an exciting and encouraging time for our adult leaders to hear the kids singing along with worship songs, expressing interest in going deeper with God, and reciting all of the verses they have memorized – what a strong foundation this is setting for our kids!
What is worship? Worship is anything that gives praise to God. It is our response to God for who He is and what He has done. Worship is not just confined to Sunday mornings in our classes, but can reach every aspect of our lives.
Who do we worship? We worship God – the Creator of the universe, the Son who died for our sins, and the Spirit who is alive and moving among us. However, if we are not careful, it is easy to put our needs, wants, and feelings above focusing on God in worship.
Where do we worship? Most people will divide worship into two categories: community and individual. Communal worship is what happens on Sunday mornings, at midweek Bible studies, during prayer meetings, and any other time a group gathers in the name of God. Individual worship is what happens in our personal time with God, when we reach out to a homeless person, or share God’s love with our classmates, just to name a few examples.
When do we worship? If we embrace the belief that worship is our response to God for who He is and what He has done, then worship can happen anywhere and at any time. This emphasizes the fact that worship is not just contained to what happens in our classrooms on Sunday mornings.
How do we worship? One of the things I love discussing when we talk about worship is that the “how” varies so much from person to person and you can be creative about it! Do you love to sing and dance? Then dance as David danced in the name of the Lord! Do you love to paint or draw? Then paint a picture of what God means to you! Do you enjoy writing stories or poems? Than write a poem of gratitude for what Jesus has done for you!
Why do we worship? The main reason we worship is an overflow of what God has given us. It also reminds us of our place in the kingdom – that God is the ultimate good and therefore, we do not have to be afraid or worry because He is in control.
Another key component to our Sunday classes has been the Bible memorization program that we launched at the end of August. It has been amazing to see the students come in every week excited to share the verses that they have memorized. We also have a fun song to go with the verses and to help in the memorization process (some of you parents may hear your kids sing it – it’s very repetitive!). As you can see, we have been energized by what God has already done in Worship Island this fall and pray that God will continue to stir in the hearts of our elementary school students. Make sure and get your kids signed in each Sunday on time so they don’t miss out on any of the exciting things happening in Worship Island!
If you would like more information about all that is happening or to get involved with this ministry, please contact me at amanda@lbfchurch.com. We are still looking for musicians and computer operators, so if you are musical or tech-savvy, we need you!
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