“Flush it down”
By Dee Mahuvawalla, CS
When error seems
To knock at your door,
Don’t just frown,
Flush it down.
When it lifts its hydra head,
Don’t stand aghast
Hold to the Christ fast,
And flush the error down.
You are a target
Out of range,
“Stand porter at the door of thought”, [S&H 392:24]
Why don’t you just flush it down?
Remorse, regrets, or nastiness,
Are antipodes of christliness,
Don’t let it barb or tempt you,
Fearlessly flush it down.
Bible songs that children love: an alphabetical list
by Joan K. Snipes
There are some wonderful songs that teach Bible stories and passages. Below is an alphabetical list (by song title) of some fun and appealing ones, followed by information about where you can purchase a CD of a recorded version. This list of Bible songs does not include Christmas carols, which are also excellent teaching tools.
This is not a comprehensive list by any means — there are other great Bible songs available. But it is intended to get you started if you teach Vacation Bible School or are a parent looking to increase your child’s Bible literacy.
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Allelu, Allelu – Bible School song. Pamela Beall and Susan Nipp. Wee Sing Bible Songs. Los Angeles: Price/Stern/Sloan Publishers, 1986; updated in 2005.
Behold, What Manner of Love – round. Ron and Patti Vaillant have recorded this simple, lovely folk song on a CD entitled, Scripture Songs I. It features a female lead vocal, guitar accompaniment, and text from the King James Version of the Bible (I John 3:1-3.)
Children, Go Where I Send Thee – traditional spiritual. Peter, Paul and Mary have recorded this, as have many others.
Daniel Prayed – traditional. Recorded by Soup Kitchen Gospel, an a capella group, on their wonderful album, Stirring It Up. Also recorded by Patty Loveless on her album, Mountain Soul.
Day by Day – from Godspell, a 1971 musical play with a score by Stephen Schwartz.
Didn’t my Lord Deliver Daniel? – traditional spiritual. Songs and spirituals of Harry T. Burleigh: Deep River. 1995.
Go Down Moses – traditional spiritual. Recorded by numerous artists, including: Tuskegee Institute Singers, Carver Blanchard, Willard White, BB Sky, Kate McDonnell.
The Gospel in one word is love (or, Love, Love) – variation on a folk song.
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands – traditional spiritual recorded by many artists. Available on: Pamela Beall and Susan Nipp. Wee Sing Bible Songs. Los Angeles: Price/Stern/Sloan Publishers, 1986, updated in 2005.
He Shall Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd – from Handel’s Messiah. There is no better way to teach a child the beautiful words from Isaiah, chapter 40 than from this gorgeous, timeless oratoria.
I Will Lift up My Eyes (Psalm 121) – Mindy Jostyn and Jacob Brackman
From CD, in His eyes. Available at Christian Science Reading Rooms.
Jacob’s Ladder, a spiritual, with additional lyrics by Pete Seeger, is available on: Wee Sing Sing-Alongs. Pamela Conn Beall and Susan Hagen Nipp. Price Stern Sloan, 1982.
Jehoshaphat (Fear not, neither be afraid.) Music by Mary Ridgway, lyrics by Charlotte Colley Schmidt. On the CD, Sing and Shine, available in Christian Science Reading Rooms.
Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho – traditional spiritual. Available on tape, with musical book, Wee Sing Sing-Alongs. Pamela Conn Beall and Susan Hagen Nipp. Price Stern Sloan, 1982.
Little David Play on Your Harp – traditional spiritual. Available on Best Loved Spirituals by Mahalia Jackson. Sony Music Special Products, 1993.
Little David Play on Your Harp was also recorded on Wee Sing Bible Songs by Pamela Beall and Susan Nipp. Los Angeles: Price/Stern/Sloan Publishers, 1986, updated in 2005.
Little Moses – a lovely folk song sung by Lisa Redfern on the CD, I’ll Sing You to Sleep. Chords available in Folksinger’s Wordbook. The words vary from version to version. Recorded by a variety of artists.
Love Never Fails (1st Corinthians 13) – Words adapted by Mindy Jostyn & Jacob Brackman; Music: American folk tune (Concept inspired by Hal Hopson’s “Gift Of Love”)
From CD, in His eyes. Available at Christian Science Reading Rooms.
One More River, also known as “One Wide River” is available on: Wee Sing Sing-Alongs. Pamela Conn Beall and Susan Hagen Nipp. Price Stern Sloan, 1982. The tune is also available online at http://www.kididdles.com
Prepare Ye (The Way of the Lord) – from the musical, Godspell by Stephen Schwartz. Echoing both Isaiah and Malachi, the words of this rousing song are in three of the Gospels — Matthew, Mark and Luke.
Silver and Gold Have I None – This song is a wonderful one for reinforcing the story in Acts where Peter and John heal a lame man. Pamela Beall and Susan Nipp. Wee Sing Bible Songs. Los Angeles: Price/Stern/Sloan Publishers, 1986, updated in 2005.
The Lord is My Shepherd by Larry Groce. This lovely arrangement is available on the CD, Home and Heaven are Within Thee by Larry Groce. (Purchase from CedarS Camps, Lebanon, Missouri.)
The Lord’s Prayer – music by Larry Groce; words from the KJV of the Bible. A beautiful duet version of Larry Groce’s composition is on the CD, Home and Heaven are Within Thee. (Purchase from CedarS Camp in Lebanon, Missouri.)
The Lord’s Prayer – West Indian (Caribbean) folk melody
This hymn is in both the United Methodist and Presbyterian hymnals.
There were Twelve Disciples – camp song. Sing to the tune, Bringing in the Sheaves by George A. Minor To learn the tune, please see http://www.cyberhymnal.org
This Little Light of Mine – Harry Dixon Loes. Recorded by a variety of gospel artists. Midi files available online.
Who Built the Ark? – camp song. Pamela Beall and Susan Nipp. Wee Sing Bible Songs. Los Angeles: Price/Stern/Sloan Publishers, 1986 updated in 2005.
Your People and Your God – Erik Johansson, from The Story of Ruth, Christian Science Publishing Society. Also on the cassette tape, Songs about the Bible, 1993.
Zacchaeus was a Wee Little Man – This classic camp song teaches the story from Luke. Available on 2006 National Wee Sing Bible Songs by Pamela Beall and Susan Nipp. Los Angeles: Price/Stern/Sloan Publishers, 1986, updated in 2005.
Coat of Many Colors, a CD of Bible songs written by David Sand, includes a terrific set of original songs that help teach stories about Christ Jesus, Noah, Joseph and Nehemiah.
Christian Science Vacation Bible Schools seminar
Vacation Bible Schools have been a common summer activity in many mainstream Christian churches. Today, a small but growing number of Christian Science groups are developing, sponsoring and offering Christian Science Vacation Bible Schools (CSVBS) across the USA. We’ll use this blog to provide information on these activities, sharing ideas, providing lists of CSVBS locations, etc.
One great resource to begin learning about CSBVS is to download and listen to the audio archive of a seminar on the subject given by Jodi Beatty CS as part of the CSDirectory.com Learning Center “CS Vacation Bible Schools: how to set one up” (1 hour 8 min)
The audio replay may be purchased for $20 for CSDirectory.com VIP PASS members or $25 for non-VIP PASS. To order call 602-635-1987 or email us: subscriptions@csdirectory.com
Seminar description: Christian Science church members around the country are taking quiet yet significant steps to advance Bible literacy in their communities. This seminar provides information to help your CS Church set up a summer Bible School for your community. Seminar participants are provided with a number of resources including sample curricula, lyrics to Bible songs, etc.
Background: members of the Sunday School staff at First Church of Christ, Scientist in Raleigh, North Carolina were inspired by an article in the Christian Science Journal (January 2006 by Ingrid Peschke) that described how a church in Laguna Niguel, California conducted a summer Bible school for children. The North Carolina folks got in touch with the California church members for additional information, and then organized their own program. During the summer of 2006, the Raleigh church had about 30 children attend their five-day event focused on Christ Jesus’ parables. The Bible camp was such a success that they did it again subsequent summers. CS churches in northern Virginia, Florida, and Washington, DC, have also done Bible school programs in the summer.
Bible Game: “Who Am I?”
By Ann Souvenir
Bible games are a fun way to bring the Bible to life and reinforce material being learned. Here’s a game called “Who Am I?”
INSTRUCTIONS: Put names of Bible characters on slips of paper and tape one to the back of each child. Have them pair themselves off and ask questions of their partner, only with a “Yes” or “No” answer to find out, “Who Am I?” (Hint-A good first question is to find out if I am in the Old or New Testament). I have tried this with a range of ages (9-14) and they wanted MORE! Have fun!
Bible characters: The Joseph Connection
The Joseph Connection: Trusting God’s Plan, an activity sheet by CSDirectory.com contributor Mary Kay West. (You must be a CSDirectory.com VIP PASS member to access. Not a VIP PASS member? Click here to learn more»)
DOWNLOAD: The Joseph Connection (Mary Kay West): pdf file
Angels worksheet
Click here to download a worksheet on “Angels” by Joan K. Snipes.
The Jr. Crossword Puzzle & Word Search for “Everlasting Punishment” by CSDirectory.com contributor Karen Kling is available to download. (You must be a CSDirectory.com VIP PASS member to access. Not a VIP PASS member? Click here to learn more»)
DOWNLOAD: Jr. Crossword Puzzle & Word Search (Karen Kling): pdf file
“Sunday School Review” game
Contributed by Becky Coughtry
Here’s an activity that I use often and change often. It is simple and easy to access with little ones – ages 3 on up! I call it the Sunday School Review game.
I made a large game board out of craft paper which folds up and out of the way easily. The game area looks like a squiggly donut divided into colorful squares – and the kids had a hand in coloring. There is no beginning or end to this game, the circle is closed. As Sunday School lessons progress, I gather simple questions which I write on small cards – questions like: What is the First Commandment? Who wrote Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures? Share a way you thought about God this week. Sing the first verse of “Shepherd.” – you get the idea. I also have a small stationery box in which I drew a simple 4-square, labeling each square with a number 1 to 4. I gathered several small objects to use as game markers. We have an angel button, a thimble, a heart eraser, etc. The game board, markers, and questions all fit into this box.
When it’s time to play “Sunday School Review” we fold out the game board, take turns tossing a button into the box to see how many jumps we get. Each child picks a question to answer, they jump their markers around the board. There is no beginning or end – kids can jump in where they want. It’s just fun to hop around the board and try to land on a friend’s spot. I included some of the questions I have gathered over the lessons. I change out the questions, add and delete as needed. There is no winning or losing – no real competition – just Sunday School Review!
Bible Games for Second Graders
Contributed by Carol Horen
I teach a class of Second Graders and I noticed that they don’t know their way around the Bible very well, so I invented several games for them.
1) Old or New game: It is just writing out each book of the Bible on colored cardstock and the kids have to guess if the book is in the Old Testament or the New Testament. I use a Bible Timeline so they can see when different things took place.
2) 10 Commandments: I have made a matching game for the 10 Commandments, where I have separated each commandment in half. Example: “Thou shalt have no” is on one piece of paper and “other gods before me” is written on another piece of paper. They have to match them together and put them all in order.
3) Bible Stories: I have continued the matching theme further with Bible stories. “David” will be on one piece of paper and “Goliath” will be on another piece. I read one half and they have to say the other half. We always discuss the stories. I want them to know more than just the names. Sometimes one name will have multiple answers. David and Abigail, David and Goliath, David and Saul…
I use different colored index cards as they are a handy size when cut in half. The 10 Commandments are all one color, the Bible Stories are another color. It helps us find which game we want to play.
The Weekly Sunday School Vocabulary for “Everlasting Punishment” by CSDirectory.com contributors Marilyn and Mark Mohlenbrock is available to download. (You must be a CSDirectory.com VIP PASS member to access. Not a VIP PASS member? Click here to learn more»)
DOWNLOAD: Weekly Sunday School Vocabulary (Marilyn and Mark Mohlenbrock): pdf file
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