I made an interesting observation the other day in church...For every parent who has ever complained about the lack of funding in schools for the arts, including music,there are other places we have forgotten to look!
Just to clarify my post…. in my area, the majority of churches no longer use hymn or song books, but read the words to songs off of a screen at the front, typed on a computer and projected. The music all comes out different, because a lot of the “worship leaders” also can’t read music, and write the guitar chords over top of the printed words that they figure out by listening to the song on a CD or Youtube. They play by chording on the piano or by ear or with guitars only. But with no Lead notes or time signatures to go by, the rhythm changes, and sometimes even what notes the words are placed with. Our church uses the screen mostly, but all the worship leaders read music, and so far they aren’t into modern choruses. But when we do use the books now, the congregation too often gets lost trying to follow the lines in the hymn book.
If people want to complain about no music class in school, they should be upset with churches that remove the use of hymn books as well!
When you take the hymn books out of church, you remove a sound teaching resource from your childrens grasp. I know, I know, we don't stand up at the front and give theory lessons with it, BUT you learned to read music as a graph, even if you didn't know the names of the notes, and you learned to look for D.S and FINE and Coda and knew to go back to a place on the page and where to finish, even if you didn't know the Latin terms.
We sang a song on Sunday from our hymn book, and only those trained in music knew how to read the song, as it had all these symbols in it, yet when I was a youngster, most people knew how to follow that same music.
My God is a God of order and clear direction. Printed words with no musical direction can be chaotic. It hinders us from feeling unified, because a chorus sung in one church is sang differently in another, which makes people more self conscious when they sing at a church they are visiting. I've even heard different worship leaders within the SAME church sing the same song differently.
I was talking to a local church leader who was proud that they talked their church out of the hymn books. "Get their noses off the ground (out of the books) and looking up for worship. Where does it say to look UP for worship? We are to look up for our help and strength. We are to lift our hands, but I was always taught we should bow in worship, and Hymn books had us pointing in that general direction.
( KJV references to bowing in worship- Gen 24:26,48,52 Ex 4:31, 12:27, 34:8 2 Kings 5:18 1Chor 29:20 2 Chor 7:3, 20:18, 29:28-30 Neh 8:6 Job 1:20 PS 22:29, 95:6 Dan 2:46 Matt 2:11, 28:9, 1 Cor 14:25, Rev 4:10, 7:11)
Pictures say it best! It was a great night, but so bitter damp and cold. I brought home frozen icicle children. But we had front row seats and the children had an amazing experience.
When I was a little girl I always knew what I was giving my daddy for Christmas....Soap on a rope! And every year he would look surprised as he opened my gift, and proclaim it to be perfect!
Well, this year he's getting...FELTED soap on a rope (as are a few other men on the family Christmas list)
Crochet Felted Soap on a Rope
Materials
1/2 a ball of worsted weight felt-able wool yarn
Crochet hook size 6.00 mm
1 bar of soap (I used Zest)
Directions
Ch 7 st
Sc in first st from hook to end. 3 sc in end st. DO NOT Turn Work. Sc back down the other side of your chain with 3sc in last st. Crochet with sc in the round until "bag" is barely big enough for the bar of soap to fit into sideways and have open edges meet.
With a sl st, grab a loop from opposite sides of the opening and with sl st close the bag all the way with the soap inside. Slip st to the middle of the bag "top" and chain 40 st and join again to the top of the bag.
End off and tie in.
Now the fun part!
FELTING
You need a sink of hot water that you can just barely stand you hands in and a bucket of cold water. If you have a wash board, pull it out, if not use a VERY fine food grater.
Submerge the soap in the hot water and be sure it is good and wet. Then start rubbing the soap in your hands to felt the fibers. Dip in the cold water to rinse suds and repeat with a dip in the hot water and scrub.
Use your wash board/grater (or a rough surface)to scrub the fibers into felt, following the hot bath /cold dip method, until you are satisfied with your felting.
Lay flat on a towel to partially dry, and then hang from a towel bar to finish drying completely.
Here is our own evangelical version of the Advent Wreath. Enjoy!
Advent Wreath
Wreath
We use the wreath to remind us that God has no beginning and no end. He is eternal
Psalms 90:2
Before the mountainswere brought forth, or ever thou hadst formedthe earthand the world, even from everlastingtoeverlasting, thou artGod.
Candles
We use Red candles instead of the tradition candle colors to remind us of the wounds on Jesus back, that Christ suffered for us that we would be able to receive eternal life. And we use a white candle to represent Christ’s purity and our cleansing.
Isaiah 53:5
But he waswoundedfor our transgressions, he wasbruisedfor our iniquities: the chastisementof our peacewasupon him; and with his stripeswe are healed.
Psalm 51:7b
…washme, and I shall be whiterthansnow.
Week 1/Candle 1
Prophecy Candle
The Prophecy Candle reminds us of the Promise God made to the Israelite people that God would send a Savior for the world. There are over 300 prophecies in the old testament of the coming Savior, and each one was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:18-25
18 ¶ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Memory Verse:
1 John 4:14
Andwehave seenanddo testifythatthe Fathersentthe Sonto bethe Saviorof the world.
Week2/Candle 2
Bethlehem Candle
God prepared a place for his Son to be born. The Bethlehem candle reminds us that we need to be prepared. We need to prepare our hearts for Him so that we will be prepared when he comes back for us.
Micah 5:2
But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Matthew 2:1
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Matthew 25:1-13
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Memory Verse
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Studyto shewthyselfapprovedunto God, a workmanthat needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividingthe wordof truth.
Week3/Candle 3
The Shepherds Candle
The Shepherds candle reminds us that we are to worship God. The scriptures say it best
Luke 2
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Memory Verse:
1 Timothy 1:17
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory, forever and ever, Amen
Week4/Candle 4
Angel Candle
The angel candle reminds us that we are to announce Jesus to the world.
Luke 1:30-38
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 2: 9-14
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Memory Verse:
Mark 16:15
Andhe (Jesus) saidunto them, Go yeintoallthe world, and preachthe gospelto everycreature.
Christmas Eve
Center Candle
Christ Candle
The Christ Candle celebrates Christ’s birth and his resurrection. It also celebrates Faith, Hope and Love and Joy.
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
12 ¶ Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
16a And not as it was by one that sinned, (by one) so is the gift:
John 3:16
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I needed a mans scarf with provision for a small amount of yarn. So OF COURSE I made up my own...
Man-ly Buttoned Scarf
Materials
1 Skein of wool
size 10 knitting needles
2 Large buttons
Directions
Cast on 23 st
First row knit across
Second row: Slip first st knit wise, K, P,K,P across
Third row: Sl first st knit wise, Knit across.
Repeat row 2 and 3
Repeat row 2
Buttonhole row: Slip first st knit wise, k4, yo, k2 together. K across until 6 stitches remain on needle. Yo, k2tog, k to end of row
Repeat row 2 and 3, 3 times (for a total of 6 more rows after the button holes)
Beginning with a Slip on the first st on every row, knit every row until the scarf is long enough to fit around the neck and overlap under and past the button holes by one inch.
Block if necessary and sew on buttons to match up to buttonholes. Done!
What do you do when you have the presents wrapped and then realize you have no tags? You feel stupid for one minute and the run to the craft cupboard.
We made our tags from printer business card stock cut in half length wise and glued on sequins from the bead box to decorate. They turned out very pretty, and under the blinking lights of the Christmas tree they sparkle!
