Children First
Worshipping with the Family of God - Engaging Services for Elementary Children and their Families
by Mark Burrows
A4 Paperback
Price: £12.99
Publisher:Abingdon Press from Alban Books
Published:September 2010
ISBN:978-1-426-70775-9
GoodBookStall Review:
Compiled by Mark Burrows, a composer and writer from a Methodist church in Texas, this book came in response to the feeling that children deserved more than just a few minutes devoted to their needs at a normal Sunday service. So Children First aims to create services that are meaningful and enjoyable for children, in the hope that worship will be such a positive experience that worship will continue to play a major part in their lives.
The core of the book consists of 12 acts of worship lasting 40 – 45 minutes, using some conventional themes such as peace and celebration, but also ones on peer pressure and on anger management. As a preface to the section on themed services Mark Burrows explores their key elements, such as the gathering, the singing, the use of puppets, time for reflection, the Bible story and teaching and the offertory.
The role-plays, which are printed in full, make clever use of hand puppets and wooden spoon puppets, which are easily made. The book includes a CD comprising 33 tracks of songs used in the services, and sheet music of some of these. There is also a most valuable selection of responsive, unison and action prayers.
There is inevitably a marked American context to the scripts, and several of the songs are unfamiliar. However the sound basis of the book transcends boundaries. It would be easy to do some re-writing using English scenarios and jargon.
I see this book sparking off ideas and as a resource book not only for those planning family services on a Sunday, but for Sunday school teachers, Holiday Club organisers, and those running after-school family events such as Messy Church. I am sure that children would love to make their own wooden spoon puppets and engage in their own dramas! So here are 96 pages, music and CD to inspire you to create exciting, contemporary and enjoyable worship for all ages.
Reviewer: Margaret Walker (14/02/12)
Compiled by Mark Burrows, a composer and writer from a Methodist church in Texas, this book came in response to the feeling that children deserved more than just a few minutes devoted to their needs at a normal Sunday service. So Children First aims to create services that are meaningful and enjoyable for children, in the hope that worship will be such a positive experience that worship will continue to play a major part in their lives.
The core of the book consists of 12 acts of worship lasting 40 – 45 minutes, using some conventional themes such as peace and celebration, but also ones on peer pressure and on anger management. As a preface to the section on themed services Mark Burrows explores their key elements, such as the gathering, the singing, the use of puppets, time for reflection, the Bible story and teaching and the offertory.
The role-plays, which are printed in full, make clever use of hand puppets and wooden spoon puppets, which are easily made. The book includes a CD comprising 33 tracks of songs used in the services, and sheet music of some of these. There is also a most valuable selection of responsive, unison and action prayers.
There is inevitably a marked American context to the scripts, and several of the songs are unfamiliar. However the sound basis of the book transcends boundaries. It would be easy to do some re-writing using English scenarios and jargon.
I see this book sparking off ideas and as a resource book not only for those planning family services on a Sunday, but for Sunday school teachers, Holiday Club organisers, and those running after-school family events such as Messy Church. I am sure that children would love to make their own wooden spoon puppets and engage in their own dramas! So here are 96 pages, music and CD to inspire you to create exciting, contemporary and enjoyable worship for all ages.
Reviewer: Margaret Walker (14/02/12)
