Celebrating the worldwide church of Christ
Introit: "In the Presence of Your People"1
PsH 160
Text from Psalm 22 and 145
Tune with characteristics of the hora, a Jewish circle dance
Psalm 96 [responsively]
Greetings
Hymn: "All Creatures of Our God and King "2
PsH 431
Several helpful RW subscribers have submitted resources they developed in using the Psalter Hymnal (PsH). In addition, the CRC Worship Committee has worked on two combined liturgies. To receive any of these resources, just write us and ask.
Hymn suggestions involving children
The "Hymn of the Month" for Reformed Worship 11 included selections for April, May, and June; with this issue we begin with September, skipping July and August. We are adjusting our schedule to give worship leaders more lead time for planning and to bring hymns of the month in line seasonally with other resources in this and future issues.
Why do I have to go to church? I hate sitting there—it's so boring!" I remember the first time my daughter said those words. I shuddered, wondering where my husband and I had gone wrong. But after I had thought about her honest remarks for a while, I had a few questions of my own: Why do our church services so often exclude and ignore children? And what does attending "adult" services do to our children's attitude toward God and his church?
A number of years ago I became a friend of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein through the Chicago area evangelical and Jewish dialogue. As our friendship developed, Rabbi Yechiel invited my colleague Morris Inch, myself, and our wives to celebrate Shabbat with them. Yechiel's lovely wife, Bonnie, greeted us with an embrace at the door, making us feel immediately at home. After a brief time of friendly conversation, the Ecksteins invited us to sit down at the table.
Worship is the heartbeat of the Christian community. Yet increasingly, children below the age of seven spend part, if not all, of the Sunday worship hour having experiences that range from baby-sitting to mini-worship. If you believe, as I do, that young children encounter, experience, and worship God, then perhaps you are also concerned with the kind of opportunities available for their worship experience. I have addressed this issue since 1985 when I developed "Children and Worship," a multisensory approach to worship with young children.
Sometimes our praise can't be contained in words
Liturgical dance is quite new to many Christians in the Reformed/ Presbyterian tradition. We are often unsure of its place in our worship. And we have many practical questions about who dances, what form the dance takes, and what clothing the dancers wear.
Teaching small children proper behavior for a church service is no small task. Being quiet and sitting still seems nearly impossible for most wiggly little ones—especially little ones who have spent every Sunday in memory playing dolls, trucks, and building blocks in the church nursery and who suddenly decide to try church cold turkey.
by Sonja M. Stewart and Jerome W. Berryman. Westminster Press, 1989.
See "Letting the Story Stand" (p. 25) for further information about the program described in this book.
These two educational books, reviewed in RW 5, are excellent resources for teaching children about the hymns of the church.
Dear God,
Church is alright but you sure could use better music. I hope this does not hurt your feelings. Can you write some new songs?
Your Friend, Barry*
