Kids' Singing in the Congregation #4

At the end of March next year I will be co-presenting a workshop at the CCOWA Perth Children's Ministry Convention. The topic for the 2009 conference is "Music with Meaning" and my workshop is titled "Integrating children's music and church music".

Tuneful Tuesday's are back! I am posting my workshop draft in dribs and drabs in "Tuneful Tuesdays" and whoever wants to comment and help me improve the draft before it becomes the final version will be welcome and appreciated for their efforts. (See here for previous Tuneful Tuesday posts.)
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II. Making congregational music understandable and meaningful

1. Children can understand the words of songs when they are familiar or have been explained adequately.

A) In order to explain the words of a song, the Song Leader must first understand the words themselves!

> Song Leaders need to spend time reading the Bible for themselves and with others. The importance of this cannot be emphasised enough.

> One tool for personal Bible study is to try to summarise the passage that has just been read in a sentence of no more than 8-10 words. This skill of summarising will greatly help in explaining Christian terminology briefly – words like “faith”, “gospel”, “righteousness” and “justification”; and titles such as “Christ”, “Lord”, “Messiah” and “Saviour”.

> Song Leaders would also greatly benefit from some further study in theology itself. You could take The Framework, one of the eight Trinity@Night courses offered each year by Trinity Theological College, or you could work your way through a book on systematic theology such as Know the Truth by Bruce Milne. Ask your Pastor for more suggestions of books to read or courses you can enrol in.

> Having heard and read the words explained a few time, the Song Leader will be much better equipped to explain them clearly to others, including the children in the congregation.

B) Children, and adults, will benefit from having the words of songs explained.

> When a song is introduced, it can help if the Song Leader gives a brief, simple explanation of one important word or phrase from the lyrics. The explanation should not include more long, difficult words that also need explaining!

> The Song Leader will need to prepare this explanation ahead of time and not expect to be able to do it “off the cuff”. This is particularly important with children, who have limited attention spans especially when it comes to things they don’t immediately understand. An explanation of no more than 8-10 words, not including any words longer than two syllables (or, at the most, three) would be ideal. It would be wise for the Song Leader to check their explanation with their Pastor before presenting it to the congregation, to make sure they have it correct.

-> HAVE A GO:
Explain the following words in words suitable for primary-aged children to the person sitting next to you: glory, sin and forgiveness.
Now try hosanna, hallelujah, praise and worship.
And finally, Lamb of God.

> In order to maximise the benefits of the explanation, no more that one song should have this explanation given on any one Sunday. This helps the children as they only have one thing to learn at a time.

> Some churches would prefer to have the Pastor or Minister provide this explanation, rather than the Song Leader. In this case, the Song Leader would be wise to ask for the Pastor’s help in the matter, and make sure to include a time slot for the Pastor to speak at the appropriate time within the song schedule.

C) Careful selection of songs for each session can help children to understand the words better by providing additional explanation through lyrics of other songs.

> The Song Leader may choose several songs with a common theme, and explain the theme word at the beginning of the singing. Then, as each song is sung, the lyrics will provide a context for the children to understand the word further, as they hear the word used correctly and appropriately.

> The Song Leader can order the songs with thought to how they address this theme, with the simpler, clearer songs first and the more complicated songs later.

> It is even better if this theme can be aligned with the children’s talk and/or the Sunday School lessons as well as the Pastor’s sermon for that day. This would ensure that children get extra explanations and parents are also equipped to talk further with their children about the words of songs they have sung together with the congregation.

> Try your hardest to work closely with the other servants in your church!
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Next Tuneful Tuesday: II.2 Helping children with different backgrounds

[Image courtesy of CCOWA.]

A Call to Spiritual Reformation ch5b

I am doing a series of posts on the book by Don Carson, "A Call to Spiritual Reformation", which I am reading slowly but steadily at the moment. You might like to join me.
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Chapter Five: A Passion for People - 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 (Second Half) (The first half was way back here.)

This chapter is based upon 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13. In the second half of this chapter, Carson examines the content of Paul's prayer and asks, "What is it exactly he is praying about?" Carson identifies four things.

1. "Paul prays with a rich thankfulness for the people of God."
One particular feature of Paul's thankfulness is that he addresses his thanks to God, who is ultimately responsible by the grace he has extended to the Thessalonians. Yet his thanks are shared openly with the people, so that they might know and be encouraged by Paul's recognition of God's work in and through them. Carson says, "So what we need, then, is a prayer life that thanks God for the people of God, and then tells the people of God what we thank God for." Can you think of one person - perhaps your husband - who you should commit to praying with thanks for the work of God in their life? For what specific signs of God's grace will you give God thanks? Carson encourages readers to commit to praying for a person or persons in our church for several months and then, after we have prayed regularly for some time, to let the person know that we are grateful to God for them.
Secondly, Paul is not just extending some weak platitude to God, rather, he is expressing heartfelt gratitude for the delight and joy that he has experienced as a result of their faith. Why has Paul experienced such joy? Because his heart is aligned with God's purposes and he eagerly and earnestly desires those things which will bring pleasure to the heart of God and glory to His name. Do you find joy in the things that the Bible says will please God? If not, how can you work on changing your attitude so that your desires should more closely align with God's will? If so, do you thank God for giving you this joy, and for changing your heart so that you are no longer enslaved by the things of this world, but instead seek to live a life that is in step with the Spirit of God within you? Galatians 5:16-26 exhorts and encourages us in living our lives by the Spirit.

2. "Paul prays that he might be able to strengthen these believers."
Carson makes the point here that, when Paul writes of praying "night and day", he isn't speaking of praying continuously through the night and into the day. Rather, Paul is referring to the regular times he has set aside to pray, each evening and morning (remember, the Jewish perspective of the 24 hour day was that it began with what we would call the sunset of the previous day). Do you have regular times which are set aside in which to pray? How well do you keep to them? I must admit, I have been very slack about praying regularly and diligently over the past month or so while we were moving home. I have been praying, but much of it has been on an "as needs" basis. Jeff and I have been praying persistently and consistently for God's protection over our children, especially Abigail, each evening as we put them to bed. But the prayers that I pray out loud, and then again in the quietness of my mind, over my children are often shorter and less detailed than the prayers that I pray when I get out of bed early and kneel at the side of my bed in the morning. Although perhaps no less heartfelt. (Does the fact that we have floorboards rather than carpet in our new bedroom have some relevance here? I suspect so!) I need to get back to this. Mind you, a lot of my early morning discipline has gone out the window with moving house and Christmas holidays. Preparation for Joshua beginning school next week (and the need to be able to get him there by 8:50am) might just be the external prod I need to work back into mornings which are more self-disciplined and oriented on beginning my day with my Father.
In this part of his Prayer, Paul is praying about the lack he is aware of in the Thessalonians' faith (attributed not to their unwillingness to respond to teaching or the Holy Spirit but to Paul's need to leave Thessalonica before he had taught them for very long). Paul doesn't stop at asking God to meet the Thessalonians' need in some unspecified way, or even asking that God would send someone to teach them. Rather, his love or them prompts him to pray that he would be able to go to them and meet their need. Carson writes, "For Paul, prayer is not a substitute for Christian service, it is part of it. And apparently he cannot long pray for believers without longing to serve them himself." He continues, "the mindset of service should belong to all of us, especially when we pray." Is there some need you have noticed in your local church recently? Have you been praying that God will meet that need? Have you considered that He might plan for you to meet the need? For inspiration, you might want to check out Isaiah's immediate and willing response to God's call in Isaiah 6: Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
Paul also prays that hindrances to his service will be removed. Paul is aware that the devil has hampered his work in the past (see 1 Thess 2:18) but he also knows that God is far greater, and His will shall prevail. "These hindrances do not curtail his praying but incite him to greater fervency. They are not grounds for discouragement but for renewed intercession." This has been the case in our family over the past few weeks. Jeff's appointment as Pastor of BCC and our subsequent move to a house very close to the new church building went amazingly smoothly and we could see the hand of God parting the waters - so to speak - at each stage. However, once we had settled into our new house, we noticed that Abigail was having bad dreams, nightmares really. She was upset, and we were getting grumpy with the disruption to our sleep and becoming more argumentative as a result. So this wasn't just impacting her, it was affecting us. We were at a bit of a loss as to what to do, until one night I lay with her to cuddle her to help her sleep and found myself experiencing a horrible nightmare as well. I do have bad dreams occasionally, and I have developed the habit of praying my way out of the miasma of distress they bring, using 2Cor10:4-5 as my guide. As soon as I prayed that night, the nightmare fled from my mind. Yet soon after, Abigail was having another bad dream. I prayed for her and she calmed instantly. All of a sudden, I began to suspect that Abigail's bad dreams weren't the product of her own mind, but the result of an attack on her (and us, through her) by the devil. This is what has prompted the consistency of our evening prayers for our children in the past few weeks, and we have seen that the bad dreams have vanished completely as a result. Some would put these bad dreams down to the stress of moving home; but I know that the only thing which made any difference was prayer, and the difference prayer made was immediate! God has been very good in combating this attack and keeping our precious Abigail safe since we have re-realised the necessity of praying with and for her. So please be encouraged to pray over the struggles in your life, whether they be big or small. God can handle all of them!

3. "Paul prays that there might be an overflow of love among these believers."
A week ago we heard a sermon at Denmark Baptist based on Philemon vv4-18. Paul's letter to Philemon shows clearly that faith fulfils itself in love, especially love for the saints of God: other Christians. He also makes it clear that one natural and necessary expression of Christian love is forgiveness. Here in his prayer for the Thessalonians, Paul is dwelling on the same topic. He has given thanks for them and prayed that their faith might be built up, and now he addresses himself to the way they demonstrate that faith pracitcally: asking that their love may increase and overflow for each other (ie, the other Christians) and everyone else (ie, non-believers). Carson explains, "The enlargement Paul here envisages is not in numbers, but in spirit, strength, perspective, heart... Christian love, mature, deep, and unqualified, is a rare commodity. When it is displayed, it speaks volumes to a society that gorges itself in self-interest, lust, mutual-admiration pacts, even while it knows very little of love." Carson encourages us to follow Paul's example and pray for others in love, and pray for love to be shown by ourselves and others. Which of your relationships do you need to bathe in prayer so that you are enabled by God's grace to act in a more loving manner than you have in the past? In what ways, other than prayer, can your love for this person be fostered in Christ?

4. "Paul prays that these believers will be so strengthened in heart that they will be blameless and holy when the end comes."
Here, Paul's prayer turns to the future. As he prays that the Thessalonians' faith is built up and their subsequent love for each other grows, he naturally considers what will follow: by God's grace they will grow in sanctification, becoming more holy. Their lives will more and more reflect the fact that they are God's chosen people, and that their lives are being lived according to His purposes, rather than worldly aspirations. He prays that they may be "blameless". It is only through their justification through the atoning death of Jesus Christ that this may be fully achieved, and that has already been accomplished. However, Paul is praying that their lives may in a greater measure reflect the status which has already been won for them. He is praying that their lives as Christians may, each day, be lived more and more in accordance with God's will, in obedience to His word, in a manner which brings glory to the LORD's name. Because if this were not to happen their lives would become stagnant pools where no eternal life would flourish - they would gradually "fall away" from the faith. Just as a billabong needs fresh water from the rains, or, no longer connected to the main river, it will dry out and die, we must be continually restored by the ongoing work of God's Holy Spirit in our hearts. Salvation is achieved in the moment we turn in repentance and faith to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. But it is also an ongoing experience. Paul wrote to the Philippians, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." Paul is praying here that the Thessalonians will also "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [you] heavenward in Christ Jesus." Because Paul knows that the final Day of Judgement will certainly come. "When we pray for people, we must do so knowing that these people, and we ourselves, are inevitably moving toward the last day, ... because people like you and me are the ones who must give account to God on the last day." Will you join me in praying this prayer?
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Next time: The Content of a Challenging Prayer - Colossians 1:9-14

[Cover image from koorong.]

Friends play together and help each other

This afternoon, after she woke from her nap, Abigail asked Joshua to help her play with her fischerTip kit, since he has made everything from his kit. He had been making treasure - rings, bangles, a broach - with his left-overs to supplement the pirate-themed articles he had already made according to the kit's instructions. But he was happy to pack his kit away and sit down with Abi to help her make a mirror from her princess-themed kit.I was very impressed with the helpful dialogue which I overheard between the two as I sat and enjoyed the afternoon peace which descends when the majority of our family gives into their need for an afternoon nap.I am so grateful that, by the grace of God, my children are friends.

Dress Up Fun

Anna is dressed up as "an Asian person"; Joshua is a hen, sitting on its nest (made of Duplo) and laying an egg.

Uniform

I took Joshua and Anna to the college uniform shop today and spent $229.60 on Joshua's summer uniform and his school bag. When I got home Jeff took Joshua along with Abigail and Anna to buy school shoes and spent $179.97 on three pairs: sneakers, lace-ups and sandals (and that was apparently at 25% off). That's a grand total of $409.57. And we haven't bought his complete winter uniform yet. Or the second half of his stationery requirements.

Aaargh!

We are going to have to spend a lot less on casual clothes for each of the kids once they begin school. I guess he won't wear his casual clothes out nearly as fast, though, since he won't be wearing them all day long. And he'll wear his shoes to places other than school, of course. But it's still a shock to spend over four hundred dollars on clothes for a kid who I'm not sure can even count that high.

But he does look cute in his grey shorts and white short-sleeved shirt and way over-sized school backpack. Anna wasn't impressed with the thought that he would be going to school without her, though.

Holidays and School Days

We have just returned home from a week in Albany at the farm. Well, the kids spent a week at the farm with Granny and Gramps.

Jeff and I spent three nights there and three nights in a cozy hillside cottage with views down to the sea in the hills above Denmark. It was lovely to have so much time alone with my husband! We read books, watched the fourth series of The Office on DVD and visited a few wineries. I cooked dinner without hearing any whinging voices asking when food would be ready. And we enjoyed the luxury of a two person spa bath!

It was a great way to spend some of the last days before Jeff begins work as the Pastor of BCChurch and Joshua begins as a grade 1 student at KCCollege ("away-school"). Both of them have their introductory day on Tuesday in just less than two weeks time.

Our last night in Albany I didn't sleep very well, however. I had my first school-parent dream! Back when I was a teacher, I used to have back-to-school dreams (can't find the classroom, can't find the students, etc) and now, as a soon-to-be school parent, I am having back-to-school dreams again. This time it was about bundling Joshua into his uniform and getting him there on time. Probably stimulated by the snippet of back to school advice I saw on the morning news/chat TV program, which had actually given me a handy heads up for some things to remember (like the camera!).

I am torn between feeling relief at the thought of only having three kids to look after for most of the day and excitement for Joshua, and hatred at the school for what, in a burst of emotional irrationality, I think of as their tearing my son away from me. Hmm. I need to get a grip on my emotions before that first day. Otherwise I'll be crying more than he is! (If he does at all.)

Enjoying our new Play Room

Our new house has a play room, as well as much larger bedrooms. This is why I am loving having it:There's enough room for them all to play at once, and the toys don't have to be packed away the instant they are finished. And it's right next to the computer desk, from where I took these photos, where I can blog within easy reach if they want to talk to me or I need to talk to them. Aah. Mothering bliss.
I took this shot a little wider than the others so that you can see some of our wall of toy baskets, toy drawers and book shelves which lines the inner wall of the play room, and also has windows which open onto each of our bedrooms. While it is unusual to have internal windows (the Play Room was built on to the original house) I have found them convenient for passing through teddies that might be needed for naps or toys wanted for play.

I am finding the eccentricities of this house suit us very well.

Joshua earned Salty all by himself!

Salty cost $30.00 and Joshua earned the money to buy him all by himself! He also earned enough to tithe from his earnings before spending any of them.Joshua began earning, tithing and saving back in September and I am really proud of him for keeping up his effort, even with the distraction of Christmas gifts.

Geography of Western Australia 101

For my American friends :-) Check out the links for a few images to whet your appetite for a West Australian holiday!

The state I live in, Western Australia, is mostly desert. The Pinnacles, which we recently visited, and another rock formation, called Wave Rock, are the major land formations that tourists would be likely to visit. The Pinnacles are about 3-4 hours drive north of the capital city of WA, Perth. Wave Rock is, as near as I can tell, in the middle of nowhere, inland (east) of Perth.

Tourists would also probably visit the picturesque Swan River (but then, that runs right through the middle of Perth) and Rottnest Island, home to reputably cute quokkas (small marsupials) and only a ferry ride from Perth.

South of the capital there is the wine-producing region around Margaret River and the absolutely majestic Karri, Jarrah and Marri forests near Pemberton, one of our favourite places in WA.

Our holiday was to Geraldton, a day's drive north of Perth. One of the highlights of our visit there was our trip to the local branch of the WA Museum, where we saw some amazing shipwreck relics and read tales of some of the most famous wrecks on the Western Australian coast, in particular the VOC Batavia and VOC Zutydorp (of the Dutch East India merchant navy); another VOC ship the Duyfken was credited with European discovery of Australia when it reached her western shores in 1606. Click here for Wikipedia's take on the tragic Batavia story of shipwreck, mutiny and murder. I found it gruesomely fascinating. The Perth-based VOC historical Society calls it "the most horrific mutiny in the annals of maritime history" in the detailed account here. (Please be warned, neither of these accounts would be suitable for children, IMO.)

The north of Western Australia is much more sparsely populated than the south. Most of the towns are there for one of three reasons: the town is a tourist destination (such as Broome), the town provides housing for those involved in the mining industry, mainly gold or iron-ore, also such things as blue asbestos, and those who support it (such as Port Hedland) or the town is an Aboriginal community, with traditional or historical connections to the area (such as Fitzroy Crossing).

There is some breathtaking scenery in the north-west of WA, but fewer people get to see it because it is very remote and often only accessible by 4WD or helicopter, and access is sometimes limited further due to seasonal flooding. The Bungle Bungles and the unexpectedly green canyon oases of the Hamersley Ranges, which I visited as a teen with my parents on one of our annual camping trips, are both spectacular.

Saying Thank You

One thing the Christmas Season is full of, is opportunities to say "Thank you."

This week, Anna made a Thank You card for her grandparents, to express her gratitude for them coming camping with us just after Christmas.
It was a great to spend time with my whole family: both my brothers were there along with my younger brother's family, and my parents. The only problem was the weather; it was in the high thirties each day, up to 39 C (102 F) at times. That made it difficult to get the kids to nap in the afternoons in the hot tents. But it was well worth it for the opportunity to share with the next generation some of the delights we had enjoyed as children, when my brothers and I went camping every Christmas with Mum and Dad.

Here we are having some fun at the Pinnacles, our lunch stop on the way to Geraldton, where we camped for the four nights.We were really surprised to get to the look-out and see short, squat pinnacles, not at all like in the photos. The kids had a lot of fun running around through them with their cousins Lisa and Rebecca, though. Then we got in our cars and did the desert drive, and found many of the taller, slimmer pinnacles that the area is so famous for:

Can we play "Getting Married"?

Six things I learned last year

Nicole has tagged me in a meme, and has asked me to share six things I learned last year. I couldn't think of six within any reasonable space of time, but here is my #1:

1. I've learnt it is really, really a safe "bet" to place my trust in the Sovereign provision of my wonderful God. In particular, He has shown amply with his provision of a Pastor's job for Jeff and a perfect house near the church for us that He will ensure that His plan for our lives works out even when we wonder if it has been derailed somehow.

This makes me wonder what I'll be saying this time next year!

New Year, No Nappies

This morning the first thing I heard at 7am was a little tinkle in the toilet. It was a good noise to wake up to.

For a week or so before the New Year, Abigail went down for her nap in underpants, and since she managed that without accidents, we decided she could try going the whole night through as well. So since the 2nd of January she has been wearing underpants to bed instead of nappies, and she has only wet her bed once.

This morning when I heard that tinkle, and then saw Abigail put her undies in the laundry dirty clothes hamper, where she told me, "I'm just going to pick my own clothes and get dressed", I had a quietly happy moment. I now only have one child out of four who still needs me to change his nappies and dress him.

My mothering life is getting that little bit easier.

Of course, I still have the teen years ahead...

Our Read Alouds from 2008

Just for posterity, here is a list of the significant books I read aloud to the family last year, with asterisks by the stories we liked particularly:

Ned Kelly's Jerilderie Letter
The Borrowers Afield by Mary Norton
*The Borrowers by Mary Norton
**The Five Chinese Brothers by Claire Huchet Bishop [Anna's narration is here]
**Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel [Joshua's narratin is here - just scroll down for it]
*The Story of the Amulet by Edith Nesbit
The Phoenix and the Carpet by Edith Nesbit
*Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes and How She Came to Tell Them by Alison Green illus Axel Scheffler [my brief review with some excerpts here]
Mad About Madeline: The Complete Tales by Ludwig Bemelmans
Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit
The Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum
Dot and the Kangaroo by Ethel Pedley [Joshua's narration is here]
*Roverandom by JRR Tolkein
Dangerous Journey (selections from Pilgrim's Progress) by John Bunyan
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
*Thomas the Tank Engine: The New Collection by Christopher Awdry
an adaption of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
*The Frog Who Wouldn't Laugh by Cecilia Egan [Joshua's and Anna's narrations here]
**The Little Black Princess by Mrs Aeneas Gunn [my review is here]
**The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
*Mr Bliss by JRR Tolkein
*Pinquo by Colin Thiele [Joshua's narration and my review are here]
Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
Selections from the gospel accounts of Jesus' life and ministry
*The Complete Adventures of Curious George by HA and Margaret Rey
**Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection by Rev W Audry

And of course a lot of stories from **The Bible.

I'm beginning a new list in my RHS column. Our first family read aloud for this year was The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins by Dr Seuss. Yes, I've joined the local library already!

Hooray for internet access!

We finally had the phone line connected at our new house today and then Jeff spent three hours on the phone to tech guys trying to work out how to get internet access for the computer set up in our new study. There are about four or five phone points in this new house but the problem is that it is a long way from the nearest phone exchange so broadband was not working well enough. I think it's all right now. I am so glad I have a husband to sort these things out for me. You'd never guess I taught Information Technology to final year students in my last year of teaching, would you?

Happy New Year to everyone who reads this blog and I will start posting once I've had a chance to read all your blog posts for the last fortnight!

Just one thing to ponder. Why do I never feel the same hunger to read the Bible after a few days out of it, as I feel for the internet? I have been very convicted of that one in the last week and have hence spent some wonderful time contemplating Paul's letter to the Galatians, and loved every moment of it. I know that when I do read my Bible for a few hours at a time, I always feel a lot better at the end than if I'd spent the same amount of time on the internet. Just some thoughts...

Merry Christmas!

Kids' Singing in the Congregation #3

At the end of March next year I will be co-presenting a workshop at the CCOWA Perth Children's Ministry Convention. The topic for the 2009 conference is "Music with Meaning" and my workshop is titled "Integrating children's music and church music".

I am posting my workshop draft in dribs and drabs over up-coming "Tuneful Tuesdays" and whoever wants to comment and help me improve the draft before it becomes the final version will be welcome and appreciated for their efforts. (See here for previous Tuneful Tuesday posts.)
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I. Helping children participate in music with the entire congregation

2. Choosing songs with Kids in the Congregation in mind

Songs which have a simple rhythm and a tempo that is upbeat but not too fast for children to sing along to, and which are easy to clap along to, or can involve other movement are both easier and more enjoyable to sing for children and adults.

A) A catchy tune will help everyone in the congregation remember the words, especially the children.

> Hymns and songs with multiple verses sung to the same tune are easier for children to learn and sing along with than songs which have multiple elements such as verses, chorus, bridge and musical interlude.

> Tunes should be in major keys (C, G, D) rather than minor keys.

> Tunes should have a strong, simple rhythm (4 4) and not be syncopated.

B) It is great to occasionally include a song typically considered a “Children’s Song” within the congregational singing time. This shows the children that music they might well consider to be “theirs” is part of the musical repertoire of the wider congregation, just as the children themselves belong to the wider congregation. It can help the children to understand that they belong in the wider congregation, and it can also help the adults to realise that the children belong there as well.

> Children’s Songs used with the whole congregation, which may be appropriate, could include something from the popular EMU Music kids’ CDs or by Colin Buchanan. Some of these, while written with children in mind, have lyrics that are great for teaching and reviewing basic doctrines or for hearing the words of Scripture aloud.

> Traditional Children’s Songs (the Christian music equivalent to nursery rhymes), such as Jesus Loves Me and Trust and Obey are also great if used sparingly. These in particular can also be appreciated by the elderly members of the congregation who will often recall them with fond memories of when they used to sing them as children.

C) Children will benefit from being involved with the music as well as with the singing.

> Children can join in with some musical accompaniment to some songs if they are given suitable instruments as they enter for church, such as maracas, tapping sticks or tambourines. This can go a bit crazy, particularly if there are too many instruments handed out or if the instruments are overly noisy ones.

> An alternative is to have one or more of the Musicians play “children’s instruments” in a position where they are visible and audible to the congregation. This will present the children with sounds they are familiar with from home, kindergarten and school situations, and help them to recognise that the music belongs to them, as well as to the adult members of the congregation.
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Next Tuneful Tuesday: II. Making congregational music understandable and meaningful

[Image courtesy of CCOWA.]

Humpty Dumpty

I woke up a few days ago to find Abigail sitting at the desk in the study, wanting "to put Humpty together again". Fortunately, having just sorted out a billion toys the night before, I had a fair idea what she wanted.

What to play when the toys are packed away?

Samuel singing into an electric cord microphone, with packing boxes in the background. Apparently the removalist who packed the books in the study expressed incredulousness at packing 17 boxes of books just from the study alone. Obviously never moved a theology student and his bibliophile wife before!Abigail and Samuel decided that, since everything else was packed, they might as well pack themselves as well!Last day of moving today!

Make-Your-Own Bible Story Books

We had the Make-Your-Own Bible Story Books coil bound last Friday. They were too large to have spiral bound! When I put all the pages together, I realised we had done a lot of Circle Time in the past year. They are huge!Each of these pages represents a story read or told to the children while they coloured, with a few memory verse colouring pages and one or two copywork pages as well. Some of the pages have the kids' oral narrations of the story typed and pasted to the pages as well. I collated the stories in presumed chronological order, rather than biblical order, because that will help the children to understand which event happened when in relation to the other events.

Here's Joshua colouring one of his pages:
(There are still a few uncoloured pages in the middle at the end of the Old Testament to keep them busy over the moving period.)

Thanks to our Moving Crew

Having a well earned lunch break in the yard of the new house, at a table and chairs they had just moved:L-R Ros, Rohan, Bruce, Gerard, Jeff

Moving starts today

Yesterday, Jeff and Joshua finished pulling apart the cubby house that Jeff built for the kids, and they painted. He has promised them a new, better one at the next house.We will be moving to the new house today, tomorrow and the next day.

And Jeff has let me know that we might not get a phone connection (or internet connection!) for two weeks, because of all the public holidays coming up. We are going camping with my parents and brothers and the kids' cousins between Christmas and New Year's as well. I have a few posts scheduled to go up over the next fortnight.

So this is my last opportunity to write that I wish all the readers of this blog a very blessed Christmas, celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I hope your New Year is one of blessing and challenge, as by God's grace, you grow in sanctification so that you may be blameless on the day He comes in glory.

I'll be back next year! God bless.

Kids' Singing in the Congregation #2

At the end of March next year I will be co-presenting a workshop at the CCOWA Perth Children's Ministry Convention. The topic for the 2009 conference is "Music with Meaning" and my workshop is titled "Integrating children's music and church music".

I am posting my workshop draft in dribs and drabs over up-coming "Tuneful Tuesdays" and whoever wants to comment and help me improve the draft before it becomes the final version will be welcome and appreciated for their efforts. (See here for previous Tuneful Tuesday posts.)
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I. Helping children participate in music with the entire congregation

1. Children can participate in singing when they know, or at least are familiar with, the tune and words of songs.

A) Tune: Children generally sing with a higher range of notes than adults. They are capable of learning to sing to the tune just as easily, if not easier, than adults. Just as with adults, they will need to be given prompts as to when the words begin within the tune.

> It is helpful for children to hear the tune before it is sung. A short musical prelude to the singing can help them (and the rest of us) to sing along with the tune rather than along with what they think the tune might become. This is especially important with songs which are unfamiliar to the congregation.

> It is helpful to have a Song Leader or Singer whose voice will be audible to the congregation above the volume of their own singing and for at least one of such persons to be female, as women have a voice range more comparable to a child’s than men do. On the other hand, a lot of music for church use is written in a key that is too high for most of the adult congregation, so this needs to be balanced. The Song Leader must be able to sing well and comfortably in the key that is used, so that children can sing higher if they need to but everyone in the congregation has a suitable example to follow.

> It is helpful to have a Song Leader or Singer who will stand in a position where they are visible and for them to give obvious cues as to when the singing will begin and end (at the beginning of the song and at the beginning and end of each verse, after a musical interlude, etc). Examples might include raising and lowering the microphone to/from their mouth.

B) Words: Young children are good at memorising repeated words, so even if they cannot read well, they can learn the words to songs quickly, especially the words of a chorus which is repeated a few times in the song.

> It is of great help to children for there to be songs that are repeated in the congregational setting. For example, a congregation might only sing songs from a limited repertoire when the whole congregation are together, with the Play List being changed every quarter. Congregations may also have a “Song of the Month” which is sung every Sunday for a month so that they children (and adults!) can learn it thoroughly.

> If such a Play List is used by the church, it would be of great help for a Song List to be provided to parents for use with their children at home. According with the rules of copyright, a Church Song Book with words and simple tune line for the song list may be photocopied for those parents who wish to sing these songs together with their children during the week, as part of family worship times and to help the whole family learn the words. Parents who feel unsure of their own singing ability can be encouraged to purchase individual songs online so that a CD of Church Songs may be made for use in the car or at home to reinforce knowledge of songs.

> Likewise, the words and tune line of the Song of the Month could be included in the weekly bulletin handed out to people as they enter for church. This can be especially helpful for non-readers and beginning readers. I have found my children can learn one verse or more in a week; it took my four year old daughter two weeks to learn Amazing Grace and my five and four year olds learnt the verses of In Christ Alone easily one week at a time.

> The people in charge of the congregation’s Play List should always be on the look out for good new songs, which are based soundly in Scripture. However, no more than one new song should be sung while the children are present with the congregation, to avoid confusing them too much.

> New songs can be sung as a demonstration just by the Song Leader / Singer without the congregation joining them, the first time they are used in the congregational setting. (Songs which have not been sung at least once in the past 6-12 months should be considered “new” again.) For some churches, during the offering or while Holy Communion are taken can be suitable opportunities for this to occur. Alternatively, the Musicians could play the tune of upcoming new songs immediately prior to the service beginning. Another good time to introduce new songs to the congregation is at a time when the children are not present. This has the added benefit of ensuring at least some of those singing in the congregation the first time the children join in to sing it already know the words as well as the tune.

> When a song is introduced, if it has a chorus, it can help if the Song Leader recites the words of the chorus once to the congregation to give children advance warning of words they might be able to join in with, even if they can’t read or can’t read fast enough to read and sing in tempo.

> Children who are too young to sing along with the words or do not know them should be encouraged by the Song Leader and the adults sitting near them to hum or “la la la” along with the tune, or in the parts of the tune where they are unfamiliar with the words.
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Next Tuneful Tuesday: I.2. Choosing songs with Kids in the Congregation in mind

[Image courtesy of CCOWA.]

A Call to Spiritual Reformation ch5a

As I mentioned, I have decided to do a series of posts on the book by Don Carson, "A Call to Spiritual Reformation", which I am reading slowly but steadily at the moment. You might like to join me in reading it, or simply learn from my comments.
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Chapter Five: A Passion for People - 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 (First Half)

This chapter is based upon an examination of 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13.

Carson points to the concern of Paul for the Thessalonians that is shown in this letter. Paul's concern drives him to pray for their spiritual welfare, and also to pray that he might be able to come back to them to teach them more adequately.

Firstly, Paul's prayer springs from the passion he has for the good of the people.

1. "Paul's prayer arises out of his intense longing to be with the Thessalonians."
Paul does not have a merely professional interest in the church he began when he spent a brief time in Thessalonica. Rather, he has a profound desire to be with them so that he might nurture their faith. Paul is not content to minister at a distance, only through his letters or emissaries he sends (although he has used these when unable to come himself), rather he earnestly seeks to be with them in person so that he might serve them directly. Are you content to serve the church only in the background, afraid to take on a more active, personal role? Do you have an opportunity to meet with a specific individual to read the Bible together, pray together, hold each other accountable and support each other with a closer, deeper fellowship than you have with most of those in your local church?

2. "Paul's prayer arises out of passionate affection that seeks the good of others - not their praise, gratitude, acceptance, and still less some sense of professional self-fulfillment."
Carson has some strong words here in condemnation of those who, unlike Paul, see their ministry to the people of God as something they do to feel satisfied, comfortable, or appreciated. "The question is, How can I be most useful?, not, How can I feel most useful?" [italics mine]. Which of these is the way you think when you are considering how you might serve in your local congregation? In contrast, Paul desires to build them up, strengthening them in their faith so that they will be able to withstand trials and persecutions. "Paul has a pastor's heart."

3. "Paul's prayer springs from unaffected delight at reports of the Thessalonians' faith, love, perseverance, and strength."
Too often, Carson notes, we pray about situations and for people because things appear to be going badly. Yet Paul finds an opportunity to rejoice in the good report he has heard from Timothy about the Thessalonians' faith. Paul is encouraged by the positive things he has heard, because he genuinely cares for the Thessalonians and desires the best for them. The lesson that Carson draws from this is that, "if we are to improve our praying, we must strengthen our loving. As we grow in disciplined, self-sacrificing love, so we will grow in intercessory prayer." Who do you love whom you will pray for today?
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Next time: A Passion for People - 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 (Second Half)

[Cover image from koorong.]

We got THE house!!

Bond and first fortnight's rent paid this morning.

Moving on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday... we have a lot of stuff.

Waterfall

My brother Daryl, who works at Kalgoorlie as a mining engineer, sent me this photo, taken today at the Argo mine:Now I couldn't understand this image immediately, when he described it as a "waterfall", and neither could Jeff. So I'll explain it. The walls of the mine are normally black, like the rocks at the right of the photo. The soil around Kalgoorlie is red desert sand. So what colour is water that has rushed over this red sand? It's reddish brown. Thus the gigantic brown flow pouring into the pit in the centre of the image is a massive waterfall, as are the other streams of brown to the left of the photo.

Just to give you a sense of proportion, the black cylinder at the bottom of the pit (LHS) is a tank which is about the height of a house I think. The entire pit down to the entrance of the actual mine is 105m (almost 115 yards) deep.

Isn't that amazing?

Don't you love it when God...

Don't you love it when God confirms major decisions, which have been made with much prayer seeking His wisdom?

As I've written about ad nauseum this past few weeks, Jeff applied for, was offered, accepted and then on Tuesday evening signed a contract for, the job as Pastor of BCC. All this has taken place very quickly, but not without a lot of prayer as we earnestly sought God's will for Jeff's future work in ministering to God's people.

To be honest, there weren't many other options immediately apparent when Jeff found out that the UC wouldn't accept his application. Most of the positions were either in places where we couldn't see ourselves going (eg the remote North West of this state) or in types of ministry which Jeffrey did not feel would make a good fit for him (such as being a Youth Pastor).

The only other possibly suitable position we heard of was only being discussed as hearsay, wasn't known about by others in that denomination when we asked, and had never been formally advertised. Jeff didn't feel the denomination would be the right fit for his personality either, although we have a lot of respect for several pastors we know from it, and no questions about their doctrine.

Then this morning, less than 48 hours after Jeff signed the contract with BCC, what should pop into his email box? Information about an official job vacancy for the job we had heard rumours about.

Now some people, I am sure, would read the ad and start to second guess themselves, wondering whether they had made the right decision. But from our perspective, coming so soon after Jeff signed the contract, it is a wonderful confirmation that Jeff did indeed make the right choice to become the Pastor at BCC. This other job could have been advertised a month earlier, I am sure, and then Jeff may have felt more pressure to apply to a position in a denomination which he does not feel comfortable for him. As it is, he never felt that pressure because the job was not officially available. But now the ad is out there for the person who God does want to fill this other job, to see it and respond.

So I am thankful for this email. It really is kinda neat when you see God's hand so obviously at work in your own circumstances.

Circle Time before Christmas

For the past year we have been sharing Bible stories with our children in our Family Circle Time. We started at Christmas 2007 with the beginning of the gospels, worked our way through the NT narrative, and then turned to the OT narrative. The plan was to work our way through quickly enough (not covering everything) to be at the end of the OT ready to begin with the nativity narrative again at Christmas 2008, which is fast approaching.

Next year we will be adding in a consistent Circle Time on Saturdays as well as the week days when there is not BSF class, I think. As the kids get older and are familiar with more stories we will probably go slower through the Bible. Or perhaps we will take our children through the Bible at a slower rate individually, reading chapter by chapter through with them one-to-one so they can be trained in the skills of individual Bible study. We'll see as they get older I guess.

You might have noticed, or perhaps not, that we've been so slack with Family Circle Time lately that I haven't even been including it in the last two so-called Weekly Reports that I've done, covering the past month. But... I talked to Jeff about how I do want to cover the major events of the second half of the OT, even if only very very briefly this year before Christmas. So this week and next we are giving the kids multiple Bible story colouring sheets in Circle Time (if they only do one, that's okay, but there are enough for them to go back to at other times of the day as well) and we're covering the following schedule - and believe me, it has become very much just a "highlights" tour:

Monday 8/12: finish Samuel
Tuesday 9/12: Saul
Wednesday 10/12: David (during Saul's reign)
Thursday 11/12: David (during his own reign)
Friday 12/12: Solomon
[Skip planned coverage of Elijah, Elisha and the northern kingdom]
Saturday 13/12: Some of the other kings of Judah (Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah & Josiah) and the prophet Isaiah
Monday 15/12: Daniel
Tuesday 16/12: Esther
Wednesday 17/12: Nehemiah & Ezra

Next year I hope we can be more consistent in our Circle Time at the end of the year and get through some of these stories in a whole lot more detail.

Then we'll head in to our pre-Christmas Circle Times. Last year we began with Isaiah's prophecy of the virgin who would give birth to a son, to be called "Immanuel", which means "God [is] with us". Our memory verse before Christmas was Isaiah 9:6. Then we read about Zechariah and Elizabeth's pregnancy and the birth of their son John, who was born while Mary was pregnant with Jesus. The focus was on the miraculous nature of these births, and that they were part of God's plan which He was bringing to fruition and openly proclaiming as the work of His own hands.

This year, our focus is again going to be on Jesus' birth as a fulfilment of prophecy. However, having studied through Matthew with BSF this year, I am excited to be focussing on Jesus as the promised King: of Israel... and the entire universe. Also on the idea that Jesus came to make a way for the people's faithful allegiance to be in the One True God, rather than in men or pagan idols.

So this is our Christmas 2008 Circle Time schedule:

Thursday 18/12: Genesis 49, especially vv 9-12 "The Sceptre will not depart from Judah..."
Friday 19/12: 2 Samuel 7 especially vv11b=16 "the LORD himself will establish a house for you... I will be his father, and he will be my son."
Saturday 20/12: Micah 5 especially vv2-5a "But you, Bethlehem... out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel... He will stand and shepherd his flock..."
Monday 22/12: Luke 1:26-38, 46-55 Birth of Jesus foretold to Mary (and Mary's Song)
Tuesday 23/12: Matt 1:18-25 Birth of Jesus foretold to Joseph
Wednesday 24/12: Luke 2:1-5 Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem
Thursday 25/12: Luke 2:6-7 and Matt 1:25 The Birth of Jesus Christ!
Friday 26/12: Luke 2:8-20 Angels visit Shepherds, and Shepherds visit Jesus
Saturday 27/12: Luke 2:21-38 Infant Jesus presented at the Temple
Monday 29/12: Matt 2:1-12 The Wise Men visit Jesus as a young child in Bethlehem
Tuesday 30/12: Matt 2:13-18 Jesus' family escapes from Bethlehem to Egypt
Wednesday 31/12: Matt 2:19-23 and Luke 2:39-40 Jesus' family returns from Egypt to Nazareth

So there you have it! If I can get the last week's pages organised this afternoon, I will get the kids' Make-Your-Own Bible story books bound tomorrow or Friday. Their Circle Time folders are absolutely bursting! They can colour the last few pages after it's already bound and that's one less thing to organise before our move and Christmas.

Just another update

Two of the Elders from BCC came around to our house last night and, after taking us through Jeff's contract for two hours, Jeff and the elders signed it. So he is now officially employed by BCC as their Pastor, to begin Sunday 1st February, 2009. Wow! I am so looking forward to this new adventure! That Sunday we will just join the congregation at the service, and then on the 8th Jeff will have his "Commendation" ceremony where we are formally introduced to the congregation at the service before their monthly Fellowship Lunch. Jeff will preach for the first time a fortnight later. It seems like the Elders have really thought through how they want to introduce Jeff to the congregation so I am really pleased about that - it shows they will be great guides for him as he adjusts to this new job and works out how he can best fit with the congregation to serve them. The Elders will be announcing Jeff's appointment to the position this Sunday, so I need to get a family photo ready before then. I think I will take a leaf out of Kellie's blog and Photoshop something that will also be suitable for Christmas/New Year cards.

On Monday, Jeff rang the agent for the house in the block behind the church twice and was able to obtain about 40 photos via email even though we couldn't immediately schedule an inspection because it's still tenanted. After poring over these for hours (well, that was me, not Jeff), Jeff put in an application for the house yesterday morning. We have found out that about $60 of the rent is to pay a gardener, so we have asked if we can have the rent reduced and take care of that ourselves. Apparently there was a bad tenant previously who did not care for the garden hence they have decided on the need for a professional, but we have offered to pay an extra garden-specific bond to cover the eventuality that we should not keep it to the same standard as when we move in (if we move in!). Jeff made the point to the agent that he has a back injury that is covered by compensation that provides a gardener if he is physically unable to take care of the garden, so it would make more sense for that to pay for the gardener if we really can't take care of it. I am really hoping that we will be able to rent this property and at a reduced price. It has a bore, so keeping the lawns green won't be a problem with water restrictions. When we met with the elders last night, they were very enthusiastic about the possibility of us moving so near to the church. And it has floor boards in every room other than the play room at the back of the house which has what looks like quite sturdy carpet. Not a hair of shag pile in sight! Wherever we end up moving, I'll post pictures as soon as we get the essentials unpacked.

Now I just have to make a To Do List for the move. Lotsa lotsa stuff to do!

Kids' Singing in the Congregation #1

At the end of March next year I will be co-presenting a workshop at the CCOWA Perth Children's Ministry Convention. The topic for the 2009 conference is "Music with Meaning" and it is aimed at those involved in Music or Children's Ministry with their church, school or beach mission. (The 2010 conference will be aimed at parents.) My workshop is titled "Integrating children's music and church music" and I am writing it at the moment, working with another lady who is experienced in the music side of things to supplement my knowledge of and experience with children.

Having noticed that I don't seem to post too much of anything on Tuesdays for some unknown reason, I have decided to post my workshop draft in dribs and drabs over the up-coming "Tuneful Tuesdays" and whoever wants to comment and help me improve the draft before it becomes the final version will be welcome and appreciated for their efforts. So here is the introduction...
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Matthew 21:15-16
15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.
16 "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read,
" 'From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise'?"

This workshop is about making music with the entire congregation:
I) easier for children to participate in with an attitude that honours God; and
II) more understandable and meaningful for children as they participate in worship and are edified.

I. Helping children participate in music with the entire congregation

When children join in with congregational singing, they are joining in with the body of the church in a powerful way. Singing songs with well-chosen lyrics helps the congregation verbally express their thoughts and feelings about God and to God. When children sing along in the presence of adults who are also singing Christian songs, they to learn how to express their own emotions about and towards God in a manner that honours God: in praise, thanksgiving, repentance and yearning. When children are able to sing along with the wider congregation, they learn from experience that they belong to the church as important members along with the adults; they are not merely part of some separate group who happened to come to the church building together.

II. Making congregational music understandable and meaningful

When children join in with congregational singing, they are exposed to words and phrases that enable them to both clarify and express theological thoughts in a clear acknowledgement of Biblical truth. In their use of specifically Christian words, which may not be familiar to them from their Children's Ministry or family's discipleship, they are being given entrance to one part of the Christian Life, that of using words to relate and respond to God Himself. When well understood, these words can later be used by the child in the context of spoken prayer and discussion, and need not be restricted to their use in song. Of course, this is only true insofar as the words are either explained or used in the lyrics in a way that enables their meaning to be grasped by the children as they sing them.
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Next Tuneful Tuesday: Helping children in the congregation sing along with a tune

[Image courtesy of CCOWA.]

Next up: Moving house!

Now that we know where Jeff will be working next year, we need to organise to move house. At the moment we rent a house about a 30 min drive from the church. That would be close enough if we were just joining the congregation, but as the Pastor Jeff will need to be a lot closer. We are hoping to find a suitable house to rent either in the suburb or in one of the adjoining suburbs.

We have a few things we will be looking for in a new house: four bedrooms, or three plus study as that's what the fourth will be. The second and third bedrooms need to be big enough for twin single beds, not just one single bed. Many bedrooms in Perth seem to have room for two beds but do not really when you take into account the way cupboard doors open and where windows are etc. Also we need either a double lock up garage or a secure workshop/shed for Jeff's carpentry tools. At the moment all of his wood working stuff takes up the same amount of space as our car in the other half of our garage. We want a fenced back yard or front yard suitable for the kids to run and play in. And I must, must, must have tiles or floor boards or lino or anything other than shag-pile carpeting in the dining room! The carpeting in our dining room in this present house has been a bane of my life for the past almost three years. We also need enough wall space for all our book cases. I don't want stairs as we've had them in our last two homes and people just fall down them too much, even when it's only two steps down into a sunken lounge like in our present home. And... we'd like some other things, but really these are the most obvious and important things. I guess it would be great if we were able to have a space for the kids just to be play in, away from the main "hospitality areas" like dining and lounge, that I knew didn't have to have every single toy put away before people to visit. And I guess from that perspective of hospitality it would be great if it had space for more cars to park than just in the garage.

[Wow, just re-reading through this list makes me feel pretty worldly and materialistic.
God, please keep me to Your priorities!]

Last night we looked at a few online rental info sites and found a few properties which look like they might be suitable. One is actually pretty much over the back fence from the church and across one street. Not immediately next to the church so people just wander across without thinking, but close enough to be within easy walking distance. Here's some of what the rental site has to say it their blurb:

Immaculate partly renovated 4xbed, 1xbath, sep lnge, dining, formal dining/office, lge family, dble gge & lge workshop/shed. 2xreverse-cycle air con units, all bedrms with ceiling fans. Very roomy, lots of parking, neat bore-retic gdns. Gardening and lawnmowing included. Available mid Dec...

It sounds (and looks) ideal. As Mrs T thought as well when she went looking online on our behalf this morning. So we have sent an email off to the agent and are waiting to hear back.

There are a few other houses in the neighbouring suburbs but nothing that stands out as well-suited as this one.

We'll be praying about this over the next few days and weeks. I'm not all that worried about it because we have up to two months to move; we could even move after Jeff began work if this was absolutely necessary, but obviously this would not be ideal. When we moved to Perth we had two weeks to find a place to live in, have our rental application approved, and move in before Jeff began his Greek intensive at college. And it all got done! And we have been able to stay in this place for the whole three years of college and the rent has remained manageable all that time. I can remember God's kindness and provision to us then and be reassured that He is still watching over us in the same way today. Not that I think He's some sort of magical fairy godmother or anything like that, but I do know He will work all things out for the best for the people whom He has called by His name.

A "Real" Job for Jeffrey

Hooray | Hooray | Hooray

Jeff was offered the job as full-time Pastor at BCC this evening
(and of course said yes)!

Hooray | Hooray | Hooray

Thank you for your prayers - and Thanks be to God for this wonderful opportunity to serve Him!

Jobs for Daddies and Mummies

First of all, marry each other.

The daddies pick flowers from the garden for the mummies when they have their wedding.

Guard each other and feed each other.

Mummies born babies and mummies milk babies - they give them milk from their boobies.

Mummies swing kiddies (on the swing) and daddies do that too.

Worshipping God (adults and kiddies do this and babies can stay at home with mummies or uncles or aunties or whoever).

Cutting trees down with mummies and daddies and kids and babies stay at home and go to bed. Babies go to child care then.

Finished. That's all. Good-bye.

[According to Anna.]

Nikki Nikki Tembo

A while ago I posted Joshua's narration of the picture book Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel, which my children enjoyed as part of our studies of Asia.

This morning I found an online recording of an earlier, longer version of the same story. This Chinese fable is by H. Cramer adapted by Paul Wing and told by Paul Wing on the record around 1964 (or possibly 1950). In this one, the boy, whose name is slightly different to the Mosel version, and who is also called Long-Name-No-Can-Say, is stuck in the well because he is too fat, having been spoiled by his over-indulgent parents. He must get slimmer before he can get out of the well.

You can listen here: http://www.bonedaddyband.com/mp3/nikkitembo.mp3. Joshua and Anna loved it, but be warned that it's not very PC in it's use of stereotypical accents and other elements.

HT: Kadyellebee

A few more bits of good news

Since Samuel did his first wee in the potty, he has done one or two in the right place each day. This Sunday, we were delighted (I think my shouts of joy might well have startled the neighbours) to find he had done a poo in the potty as well. Hooray! It might indeed be smooth sailing for toilet training my last one... but I'm not counting any chickens yet!

Secondly, thanks for your prayers; we think the interview went very well on Sunday afternoon. It may have helped that I was in somewhat of an elated mood from the aforementioned potty incident, but that's neither here nor there. The questions were really good ones, not just light fluff. Stuff like (to Jeff) "Since you have been a member of both the Baptist denomination (tending towards Calvinism) and the Uniting denomination (tending towards Arminianism from it's roots in Methodism) where do you stand on the Calvinist-Arminian spectrum?" And to me, "What do you think about infant baptism versus adult or believer baptism?" We were also asked to identify each other's gifts and our own weaknesses, which would be a valuable question to ask at any time. It was quite rewarding to reflect later upon how close our marriage is that questions like this could be answered without hesitation. The best part of the interview was being told at the end that we will probably know whether Jeff will be offered the position by the end of this week. This is a lot quicker than we were expecting, because the selection committee has the power to make the offer, without having to take it to a meeting of the congregation first, as would happen in a Baptist church.

And finally, I've been trying intermittently to lose weight since I finished feeding Samuel a year ago. Having been pregnant or feeding or both continuously since mid-2002, my body was run down and suffering from my lack of self-control in the matter of diet. With the help of my doctor and a renewed sense of the importance of reaching a healthy weight, I have lost 5kg (11pds) in the last five weeks and about 9cm off my waistline and am feeling very proud of myself. I am determined to keep my efforts up - and the scales down!

It's good to be reminded to thank God for His smaller, everyday mercies, as well as the biggies like salvation. So thank You, God, for these three blessings.