Engaging Worship February 15, 2011

I hear it so often, “The kids just aren’t responding to the music!” But I wonder, how are YOU responding? So often as volunteers we get into a rut. Week in, week out it’s the same routine. You get your Planning Center email, respond to it, look at the set list, practice the words and the moves, get to service, wait for the kids, start the songs, get through the set, done. But what is missing from this routine??

PRAYER! What happens on the days that you are just exhausted? Or out of energy? Or drained from the events of the previous week? Or just DON”T want to be here???

We can only give what we have asked God to help us give. A wise person once told me, “the kids will only go as far as you.” This means that if we lead with less enthusiasm, they’ll respond with less. If we’re not really enjoying ourselves, neither will they.

In the 16 years that I have directed Children’s Choir, you better believe there have been times when I’ve physically arrived to start  but not been there mentally. I’ve even had frantic mornings trying to get to VBS on time and been so wrapped up in the craziness that I just wasn’t ready to be “on.” Most recently, I was headed to church for a Family Worship Night and my daughter got sick in the car. I had to turn around, take her home and then get back on my way. Talk about blowing the mood!

In each of these cases, I had to stop and ask the Lord to just use me; get my mind and heart in the right place and work through me. And each time, He delivered!

It’s very likely that you won’t end up with every child in the room singing and dancing their hearts out - but you will be. And the teachers in the room will be affected by you. And the children in the room will be affected by you. And the atmosphere in the room will be affected by you. And that affect will consist of the most powerful thing ever – the Holy Spirit. Because you have allowed yourself to be filled by Him you have also allowed yourself to be used by Him!

So, the next time your Praise Squad is up, remember to ask God to prepare your heart, mind and body. Ask Him to do the work. Ask Him to go before you. And feel free to ask the teachers in the room to do the same, or even join with you in a pre-service prayer. You’ll be amazed at the difference!

Family Worship Night September 17, 2010

Hey Praise Squads!

Family Worship Night is coming up on Sunday, October 17 at 6pm. Be sure to start talking about it in the weekend services so that all the kids know. A post card will be going out soon and you’ll see posters on campus, but word of mouth is always a great way to spread it! Of course, the songs we’ll be doing are current ones that you do now.

Worship. What does it mean? October 20, 2008

 

 

Have you ever been to a worship service? What happens while you are there? Singing. Praying. Teaching. Reading the Bible. Fellowship. All of these things are part of a worship service because they are all forms of worship!

Worship is SO much more than singing. Here at Rocky Peak, we like to say that worship is anything you do that makes God smile. This is a definition that a child can grasp, and then do! Worship is a lifestyle, and our goal is to train our children to live a life of worship.

Our mission is: To lead and teach quality, consistent, age-appropriate and biblical worship, geared toward strengthening children’s relationship with God and their understanding of His greatness. 

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Every volunteer in the room should be assisting in this process by participating in worship fully and completely. The children will never go past you, your actions give them permission to go to where you are! In other words, if you come in expecting to watch; they’ll come in expecting to watch!

 

Practical applications:

• As you lead each weekend, focus on making God smile
• Think, “Is what I’m doing engaging or enhancing this experience for the children?”
• While you are not performing, you are modeling a behavior that can only be born out of authenticity
• As a leader, it’s important to not have your eyes closed the whole time, make eye contact and use the kids names
• Preparation is important
• Being “up front” shouldn’t be your only “worship” time

So, what if the children don’t participate? Don’t worry or be discouraged if some of the kids stand there with their arms crossed. Kids are sponges and just because they aren’t participating the way you would like them to, doesn’t mean they aren’t engaged! You are the vessel and God is the deliverer. If you keep yourself open for God to use you, He’ll do the work!  :-)

 

 

New & Improved! August 27, 2008

Hey folks,

We are getting so many motions for all three grade levels (Preschool, 1st-3rd, & Cliffside), that I changed it up a little. Look to the right and you will see links to all the different motions for each age group. Hope this makes it easier!

Love you all!