May 2019: Shalom my friends

4/30/2019

This month I'd like to introduce you to a song we've been singing regularly in Children's Chapel this spring, both on Sundays (with the church) and Wednesdays (with the preschool.)

We open each session of Children's Chapel singing an adaptation (Hymn 714 in the Episcopal Hymnal) of a familiar Jewish round, Shalom Chaverim.

The word "shalom" is often translated "peace", but it has more depth and richness of meaning than can be contained in any single English word. If you're interested in a more thorough exploration of the word, this Wikipedia entry is a good place to start.

In the context of Children's Chapel, this song provides a means for acknowledging, greeting and blessing one another by name as we gather, and for beginning to settle our hearts, minds, and bodies so that we can listen for God speaking to us through a story.

I introduce the song by saying:

The first and last gift of the Risen Christ to His disciples was peace, shalom, and so whenever we gather, we share God's peace with one another.

Shhhhhhh--ALL--om....
Shhhhhhh--ALL--om....
Shhhhhhh--ALL--om....

Then we begin to sing:

Shalom my friends, shalom my friends
Shalom, Shalom
Shalom my friends, shalom my friends
Shalom, Shalom

After we sing the song once through, we begin to go around the circle, replacing "my friends" with the name of each child in the circle.

Shalom to Lucia, Shalom to Johanna
Shalom, Shalom
Shalom to Jonah, Shalom to James
Shalom, Shalom

It is amazing to watch the children's anticipation build as their turn draws near, then to watch their faces shine with the joy and delight of being seen and known as we lovingly sing their name.

When everyone has been greeted and blessed by name:

We scoop up the peace we've created by singing
and rub it together between our hands
then bring God's peace to our heads, letting God's peace fill our minds

We scoop up the peace we've created by singing
and rub it together between our hands
then bring God's peace to our hearts, feeling the warm peace fill our hearts

We scoop up the peace we've created by singing
and rub it together between our hands
then bring God's peace to our legs

And we feel God's peace fill our bodies
and our hearts
and our minds

And we're ready to listen for God speaking to us through a story.

Questions
for further reflection and discussion

What helps you feel seen, known, and loved?
What practices might you embrace to help the people around you feel seen, known, and loved?
What helps you experience God's peace in your body? in your heart? in your mind?
How can you share God's peace with others? Your family? Your friends? Your coworkers? Your enemies? Strangers?
Where do you most need God's peace in your life, today?
Where do we most need God's peace in our community? our world?

Practice

You might try using this song as a "prayer response" when you encounter conflicts and challenges--in your life or in the news. Use this song to quietly (or even internally) pray peace over those people, places, and situations in need of deep peace that you encounter throughout the day.
If you are a parent, perhaps you might try integrating this song into your evening or bedtime routine with your child.

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Song of the Month

In early 2019 I began serving as assisting priest at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Albuquerque. St. Mark's is home to a diverse and rapidly growing faith community as well as a Montessori Preschool that serves ~50 preschool children and their families.

One of my first areas of focus at St. Mark's will be to explore creative ways to support the spiritual growth of St. Mark's families, not only at church and school, but also at home throughout the week.

We'll begin our exploration with a "Song of the Month." Each month we'll offer a simple song as an "anchor" for spiritual reflection and growth throughout the month. Parents and other adults in the St. Mark's community are encouraged to learn the song and access further materials for reflection online. Children will practice the song each week in Children's Chapel. Children will be invited to share the song with the entire St. Mark's community during worship (as the offertory anthem) on the 4th Sunday of each month.

If you are the parent/caregiver of a very young child (age 0-2), your child will still benefit enormously from daily exposure to the "Song of the Month". Even though they aren't yet singing, you can be sure they are already listening to you and learning! Experiment with incorporating the song into any part of your daily routine--waking, sleeping, bathing, dressing, diaper change, etc. From an early age, you can help your child establish a pattern of life in which prayer, spiritual practice, and song are a natural part!

If you are the parent/caregiver of an older child (age 3+) try incorporating the song and one short, thematically linked reflection question, action, or prayer into your daily routine--maybe at mealtime, at bedtime, or even during your daily commute.

If you are a teenager or adult with no young children at home, find a way to work the song into your daily routine--perhaps while your showering, driving, or cooking. Discuss the theme or reflection question with a friend or partner--or set aside some time to journal, draw, paint, blog or reflect in some other creative way on your own.

Sunday School Teachers and Small Group Leaders: Consider incorporating the "Song of the Month" or one of the relevant reflection questions into your own sessions, classes, or meetings each month if appropriate.

Everybody: Have fun! Sing out! Experiment! And above all--share your experiences and insights with one another and with me!