It's more than a musical

This post has been a long time coming, and I am glad that it has taken me so long to write, as I now get to include more insights from this past year as one of the Kids Music and Arts Co-Directors at our church.  Really I have been working with out church's children's music programs since my son was in kindergarten, and he is now in the 5th grade, so 6 years now.  It's hard to believe that it has been that long.  For my first two years I helped as a volunteer, then the 3rd year, the program had grown so much that our pastor hired my friend and me to take it on as a part-time position with the church.

We both grew up with musical backgrounds and educational backgrounds working with children, so it was a great fit.  Our first couple years were merely survival.  In the fall, it was making sure the kids stayed focused during the hour we had them each week, so the Christmas musical would be at least enjoyable for the parents that attended.  In the spring, we tried to teach the kids more about music basics, different instruments, and a few art projects.  We developed relationships with returning kids, and our program continued to grow.

After year 4, we seemed to hit a stride, but I started to feel a push to make it more than just music and arts.  Yes the kids were singing about Jesus and God, but were they just singing or really learning?  My co-director and I were in the same mindset because when we started planning out the new year, we brainstormed way to teach the kids beyond words and choreography.  We wanted them to know the backgrounds of the songs, and that some of the words actually came from bible verses.  We took a little time out of each hour to take prayer requests and then pray as a group.  In the Spring we provided an opening session at the beginning of programming, leading them in a worship song and providing a message.  We changed our curriculum to alternate 6 week sessions with our Children's programming, so we could have the whole 2 hours on Sunday night for the season of Lent.  We worked on prepared to perform with the adult choir's Easter Cantata on Palm Sunday through chimes, singing, and/or art.  We talked about what Lent really means, the symbols of Lent, stations of the cross, told the story of Jesus's love for us.  How He loves us enough that he would die for us.

Where we used to see a large drop off in attendance once the Christmas Musical was done, as most kids just wanted to be in the big performance, we had kids coming back to continue the experience of learning about God though art and music.  It was such a great experience for everyone because we were learning more during our preparation to teach the kids.

This past year during our Christmas musical, it really hit me that this is more than a musical.  We had a friend tell us that their family was dealing with a rough medical issue, and she should listen to one of the songs, "God has a Plan," in her car even when her kids weren't with her because it brought her comfort.  It's more than a musical.  We had a precious little boy that my friend and I have known for years that is diagnosed with a condition called Tuberous Sclerosis (to learn more about this condition, you can click on the link).  Due to the tumors on his brain, he has delays in his development, sensory processing issues, and seizures.  We weren't sure how much participation he could have in the musical as his attention strays easily and he is quite the busy body, but we were determined to have him up there.  He learned the songs with some hard work and repetition from practice at church and lots of practice at home, and he was able to participate in all the singing parts, which he did so joyfully!  It brought tears to our eyes.  It's more than a musical.  We had kids talk with their families at home about the concepts that we spoke about in practice.  It was really amazing to see how God worked in their little hearts (and in ours) to bring His word to life through song, acting, dance, and chimes.  It's so much more than a Christmas Musical.

This past Sunday following Easter, we celebrated Children's Sabbath.  This is a joint event between Children's Programming and Kids Music and Arts at our church.  Our Children's director assigned kids to do everything from greeting to serving communion.  We prepared the kids to sing three songs (two songs for worship and one special music piece for our exiting 5th graders - and one lone 4th grader :)  )  It was so amazing.  The kids didn't just get up and act cute to perform, they actually lead worship!  Some kids even chose to write their own prayers to say, instead of having the Children's Director provide them with one.  The kids understood the importance of the roles they were assigned and fulfilled them with grace.  People were commenting on how blessed they felt by the kids, and there were many a joyful tear from all throughout the congregation.  We felt the same way leading them!  It is hard to not to be awestruck when you see your son close his eyes and feel the words he is singing his solo during Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone. God can do so mighty things through the little people at our church.

So when you drop your kids off for children's music or are attending a performance, please remember that it is so much more than a musical.

To view our Children's Sabbath services or other services, you can click on the Live Stream links below:

First Frisco UMC Children's Sabbath 9:30 service
First Frisco UMC Children's Sabbath 11:00 service
First Frisco UMC Palm Sunday Easter Cantata
First Frisco UMC KMA Christmas Musical

Get out of the Boat

You know those hard lessons you have to teach in parenting?  Those really hard ones that make you squirm?  I'm not talking about sending your kids off to their first day of school, when they ask you that dreaded question, "Mom where do babies come from?" or even when you have to stick to that punishment even though you feel terrible about it.  Nope that's nothing compared to this lesson.

I had to teach this lesson to my kiddos about 4 years ago.  I knew it was coming sooner or later.  My son was 7 years old and my daughter was 4.  We had been invited to go out to the lake on our friends boat for the day.  It sounded like a great idea...until I realized that I would have to get in said lake.  

I would much rather do many other things than set my toe in lake water.  People who know me well, know that I fear lake water with it's murky depths.  I know to many people this is ridiculous.  I even know in my sound part of my brain that this is nothing to dread.  However in that little anxiety ridden part of my brain the alarms and sirens are going off.  DANGER!  DANGER!  Have you ever seen that Hostess Ding Dong commercial where the shark thinks the lady in the inner tube with the unfortunate bathing suit is a tasty snack treat?  Well I am convinced that the snakes (and anything else that might bite) look at my reflective white thighs and think that they would also make a tasty treat.  I scream when the strap of my life jacket brushes my leg thinking it is some swimming creature with teeth trying to sneak up and take a bite!  Plus who really enjoys feeling squishy slimy lake floor on the bottom of their feet.  Blech.  I really am a big baby, and I own this.  I am ok with this.  

However with my children out on the water that day, I looked at them, and I didn't want to teach them that fear.  I wanted them to be able to enjoy the lake, swimming and tubing without fear.  So I made up my mind, while I would have been completely happy hanging out and relaxing on the boat (although I am not a lake person, I am totally a boat person), I would get in the water.  Not only would I get in the water, I would do so without screaming as though an anaconda were right next to me (even thought I fully believe it could have been).  It took a little bit of time spent on the edge of the boat internally psyching myself up. 

Finally I took the plunge (literally) and got in.  I floated around with my kids cheering them on, so I could keep my mind off the inevitable swarm of carnivores circling me.  After awhile I felt more comfortable and even, wait for it, enjoyed myself a little bit!  I shocked myself!  Not that I have jumped into many lakes since then, but I was proud that I didn't pass that fear down to my kiddos without allowing them to experience it first.

This is when we first got in.  The smile is one of sheer terror, but she couldn't tell. :)

I was thinking about that the other day, and it made me realize how many times I do this when expressing my faith around my kiddos.  Now it's not that I don't express my faith at all.  I am on staff with our children's program at church, I help lead VBS, and I do children's sermons at Sunday services, so they hear me teaching on a regular basis, but I feel so unequipped at times to talk to them just at home about our faith and Jesus.  I let my fear get the best of me, and I avoid the topic when I know it is being put in front of me.  I don't want to steer them wrong.  I don't want to sound silly.  So many excuses.

I have to get out of the boat (my easy safe zone) and jump into the water.  I may be faking confidence at first, I may be terrified about how my words are received, but again I don't want my kids to grow up with a fear of not being equipped to talk to someone about their faith.  I want them to grow up with the confidence to talk about and express their faith freely.  

I have to admit, I did this about as slowly as I got into the lake water.  I started with devotionals that we would read, and I would also ask them what they thought about the children's sermon or the Sunday School lesson that day.  I was often surprised at how wise the little ones of mine were despite my failings to intentionally talk about these things.  I realized how much they truly caught from our daily life and activities of living out our faith, while not always speaking about it.  Finally I started taking advantage of those situations that I know God was putting out there are learning experiences.  Taking their questions a little further than the easy cookie cutter answer and asking them their thoughts.  Pushing them a little further as I pushed myself alongside them.  

I am still such a work in progress.  I don't always preach what I practice (yep I wrote that right) and if you ask me to pray out loud, something other than a memorized prayer or creed, I might just pretend to pass out just to get out of it. That's ok though, I am still working through it.  I am getting out of the boat slowly but surely.  What is getting out of the boat for you?  Praying with your kids?  Taking them to church for the first time?  Thinking about the possibility of Jesus's incredible love for you?  Whatever it is go for it!  Not only will your children learn and grow, you will too!  God's will never takes you where His grace can't follow.