November 2019: Give Thanks to God

10/14/2019

As St. Mark's kids are growing more confident singing, we're able to begin exploring more challenging music!

The tune for this month's song comes from a traditional English folk tune called "Dance to your Daddy." In honor of Thanksgiving, we're replacing the traditional lyrics with something simpler:

Give thanks to God!
Give thanks to God!
Give thanks to God!
Give thanks to God!

Of course, as always you can mix up the lyrics and make up your own verses at home to offer thanks for any of God's many blessings!

Give thanks for family!
Give thanks for friends!
Give thanks for food!
Give thanks to God!

What's especially fun (and a little bit tricky) about this song is that it's in a compound meter...that means that some parts of the song are in a triple meter (like a waltz) and some parts of the song are in a duple meter (like a march.) If you wanted to count out the music, you'd count it like this:

1, 2, 3
1, 2, 3
1, 2, 3
1, 2
1, 2, 3

With a song like this, adding movement to the music actually makes this song EASIER (rather than harder) to sing, because your body can remind you of the rhythm. Go ahead and try it! Nobody's watching you. (Just don't be confused that I keep changing the lyrics on the video. Just stick with "Give thanks to God." )

I encourage you to give it a try, then find some way to incorporate this song and dance of gratitude into your family's Thanksgiving celebrations this year!

Give thanks for children!
Give thanks for adults!
Give thanks for elders!
Give thanks to God!

Give thanks for singing!
Give thanks for dancing!
Give thanks for praying!
Give thanks to God!

1 Comment

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!

November 2019: Give Thanks to God

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Song of the Month

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