from time to time – “Where do I fi t in?”


• “A Mighty Fortress” arranged by Ken Berg – Choristers Guild. T is ultimately upliſt ing piece ac- knowledges the real-life toils and snares which would have been all-too-familiar to the psalmists.


Congregational Singing Here are a few selections that


can be used for congregational singing. Not surprisingly, some of the most poignant contributions come from the African-American Spiritual tradition.


From T e United Methodist Hymnal: • 520 Nobody Knows the Trouble I See


• 521 I Want Jesus to Walk with Me • 533 We Shall Overcome • 534 Be Still, My Soul


From T e Faith We Sing: • 2193 Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying


• 2200 O Lord, Hear My Prayer • 2209 How Long, O Lord • 2217 By the Babylonian Rivers


From Worship & Song: • 3099 Falling on My Knees • 3162 Stand in Awe


Litany


Create a Not Fair Litany Prior to worship, have a few


children (no more than fi ve) each write on a card something they feel is unfair, starting with the words “It’s not fair…” I always encourage the children to not give names.


• “It’s not fair that some kids who are good at sports are good at school, too. I’m not good at anything.”


• “It’s not fair that so many people don’t have enough to eat.”


• “It’s not fair that I have to go to bed at 8. I’m not even tired then!” Collect the cards. During


___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 20


worship invite the congregation to sing “Lord, Listen to Your Chil- dren Praying.” Read one of the Not Fair cards, or have a child read it.


give people, not just children, is a few moments of silence to sit and think and work through things without any instruments playing, banners waving, or people talking.


T en have the congregation sing the same song as a response. Do this for all the Not Fair cards.


Prayer


A Worry Prayer Lead the following guided


prayer experience. Say: T ink about something you


are really worried about. [T e dark, a bully, disappointing a grown-up you love, going to a new place and not knowing anybody.] Place your hands on either


side of your head. Gently rub your temples. When you feel the worry


come all the way to the surface, pull it away from your head with both hands. Now roll the worry into a


ball with your hands. Keep rolling that worry ball


smaller and smaller, until it’s the size of a little marble. Now repeat aſt er me: Every last worry, Every last care, I give them to you, Lord. I give them in prayer. Amen.


Keep rolling the worry ball


smaller, and smaller, and smaller ... until it completely disappears.


Silence One of the best giſt s we can ch F UMNS photo by John Gordon


For many, these precious few mo- ments of intentional silence may be the only they get all week.


Praise, thanksgiving, joy


– these important emotions are just as real and raw as any. But they aren’t the only ones worthy of expression.


What if… What if every “episode” of


worship didn’t have to have a happy ending? What if we made it safe and


allowable to explore real, raw emo- tions in a setting where we openly acknowledge the presence of God? What if we gave our congre-


gations more credit? What if they actually appre-


ciated the authenticity and found worship more approachable? What if we sang a familiar


tune, just with slightly diff erent words?


I’m in-right, outright, upright, downright human all the time. I’m in-right, outright, upright, downright human all the time. God’s there when I feel mad, excited, scared, or sad.


I’m in-right, outright, upright, downright human all the time.


MARK BURROWS i is Director of Children’s and


M s


C a


th M


Family Ministries at First United Methodist


Church, Fort Worth, TX, and author of Children First (Abingdon).


January-February 2014 • WorshipArts • www.UMFellowship.org


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