Skip to main content

Sing a New Song

 (This sermon will not be done with any spoken words, but rather with use of body percussion and singing. Please imagine sitting in a circle or a sanctuary.)

THUNDERSTORM

Start rubbing hands together to create wind and gets louder as it grows from left to right. Once all are wind, allow the sound to wash over them.

Have some rows snap their fingers slowly at first to imitate rain. Just enough so people are aware.

Have one row simulate small thunder as they slap their thighs. Have last 10 seconds. Go back to snapping. 

Have those on right side still rubbing hands start to clap for harder rain. Listen for about 30 seconds.

Have left side slap thighs for loud thunder. Last 20 seconds...

Have left side rub hands while right side is clapping. Allow the sound to wash over everyone. 

Have right side clapping side go back to snapping. Rain is lightening up. 

Have one row simulate small thunder as they slap their thighs. Last about 10 seconds.

Have right side go to back to rubbing hands. Let wind wash over us...

Have far left become silent and let the silence become louder until it reaches the right side. 

Sit in silence....   2 minutes

Sing the Alleluia chorus from All that Dwells below the Skies (5 Alleluias) repeat 

Sit in silence...  2 minutes

MORNING

Have right side pick up Hymn Book and scratch to simulate trees rustling. Let sound wash over.

Have left side slowly rub hand to again simulate wind. Let the sound blend.

Whistle or imitate a bird, try to encourage others to join in. Roughly two minutes, try not to get too wild.

Croak like a frog at a pond and encourage others to join the chorus. Let it be brief.

Go back to just the wind and trees. Let it wash over us. 

Silence for 2 minutes

Sing Leonard Cohen's Alleluia chorus (repeat)

Fade to Silence

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Contribute to the needs of God's People

  On Aug. 28, 1893, Sen. James Kyle of South Dakota introduced S. 730 to the U.S. Senate to make Labor Day a legal national holiday on the first Monday of September each year. President Grover Cleveland signed the bill on June 28, 1894. By then, a fall holiday called Labor Day was already being observed. Beginning in the late 19th century, parades, picnics and other celebrations took place to support labor issues such as shorter hours, better pay and safer working conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In introducing the legislation, Kyle said that labor organizations were united in asking that the first Monday of September be set apart as a holiday in order to make the observance uniform. This would result in workers enjoying vacation privileges on the same day, according to the Dec. 1, 1965, issue of “The Wi-Iyohi,” a monthly bulletin published by the South Dakota State Historical Society. Prior to serving as a U.S. Senator, Kyle served as pastor at the Congregati...
Post a Comment
Read more

Selling Out

 Last Fall, I read a book called, "A History of Burning." It is a multi-generational story about a family that migrates from India to Uganda for hopes for a better future to help the British build a railroad, whose children through education secures a government job, but then Uganda throws off their colonial oppressors and gains independence and turns against the Indians who live there, and they have to migrate again and start all over in Toronto, Canada. It is a sad story of colonial power of the British Empire bringing in foreign cheap labor to build their infrastructure that leaves out the local population. And once Uganda gets independence, the corporations still control much of the economy and fosters division between the Ugandans and Indian to keep the country unstable. It is a triumphant story of human determination in the face of adversity, but only a few make it.  One of the first paragraphs in a Wikipedia search about Africa told me that Africa is politically unstab...
Post a Comment
Read more

For They Were Afraid

 The Gospel of Mark starts with Jesus' baptism, there is no birthday story, no background, just jumps right in with his baptism, driven into the wilderness to be tempted, proclaims, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." Plucks Simon and Andrew up which they mend their fishing nets, heals Simon Peter's mother-in-law and she immediately gets up and serves them. (How many times does Mark use immediately?) And the next morning gets up early and while everyone is searching for him, he is heading to the next town. It is like a big movie opening that grabs everyone's attention and it doesn't slow down.  Did you ever watch Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail? There was to be this final battle of King Arthur with his forces and the God's blessing and just as the battle commences, modern police show up and arrest everyone and the movie is over and we are left scratching out head, "What just happened?" The end of Mark is just as confusing,...
Post a Comment
Read more