Called to Serve - week 2

First we talked about Pres. McKay's call for every member to be a missionary, then we asked specific questions about the song "Called to Serve", just like we'll be asked a ton of questions as member missionaries. We hopefully learned the song, learned more about the gospel, and learned that we can let our light shine just like Jesus and this little girl in the picture. After we answered the questions, the "Called to Serve" storybook that the kids drew illustrations for last week was revealed! It actually worked pretty well, the reverence was amazing this week and we even had quite a bit of fun!



What we’re up to this week…

So last week each class received some crayons and a big piece of butcher paper with a line from the song “Called to Serve” written along the bottom. Each class then drew pictures representing the words, so that these pictures could help (especially the junior kids) learn the song even better. I then pieced these pictures together to make a giant storybook, which we will use all month when reviewing the song.

HOWEVER, for this Sunday we’re going to learn a little more about what the song is all about and what it means to be a member missionary.

First of all, I want to steal a lot of the lesson ideas of a fellow member of the Yahoo primary music leader group. To start off, I will hold up my RS manual of Pres. McKay and talk a little about his call that he extended to all members to be missionaries. I have to reread the chapter again to be sure about my details, but I’ll tell a quick tale of Pres. McKay and then start with the song.

I will sing a line (or two or however I split it up above) and ask the child on the stick I pick to answer a question about the line.

The questions are arranged a little differently this week. I have an awesome picture by Simon Dewey that is a cherished gift given to me by my in-laws. It is a rendition of Christ with a beautifully innocent little girl on his lap. They are holding a small candle that emits a relatively tremendous amount of light. To me, this pictures helps to symbolize the light that all these amazing primary children contain and can share with friends, neighbors, and other loved ones. As member missionaries we can share our light with others by being great examples, baring our testimonies, and taking Christ’s name upon ourselves. Love the picture!

With very unsticky tape, I taped up a bunch of “Who, what, where, when, how” words all over the picture so that the picture is pretty much unrecognizable until most words are removed. (Glass cleans up well, right?). Anyway, the word questions are numbered.

I sing the line, the chosen children come up (depending on how many are needed per line), they pick the first/second/etc questions (remember I have them numbered) and ideally they help answer the question. Repeat until all questions about this line are answered. (example: 1st line “Called to serve him” – what are we called to do? To serve Him and be member missionaries).

After getting through all the questions, revealing the picture, talking about it a bit, then we get the REAL surprise. They get to see the awesome STORYBOOK they created! The illustrators can explain their pictures a little bit if we have time, then we can use the storybook to review the song all the way through.

If we don’t get through all this, we can always extend until next week. HOPEFULLY we’ll have ample enough time to get through most, if not all, of the initial part of the lesson.

Called to Serve p. 174-5
Called to serve Him, heav’nly King of glory
1-what are we called to do?
2-who are we called to serve?

Chosen e’er to witness for his name
3-what are we chosen to ALWAYS (e’er) do?

Far and wide we tell the Father’s story,
Far and wide his love proclaim
4-what 2 things do we do “far and “wide”?

Onward, ever onward, as we glory in his name;
Onward, ever onward, as we glory in his name;
5-what word do we sing 4 times?
6-who’s name do you think we glory in?

Forward, pressing forward, as a triumph song we sing.
7-why will we sing a triumph song?

God our strength will be; press forward ever, Called to serve our King.
8-Who will be our strength?
9-how long should we press forward?

Called to know the richness of his blessing— Sons and daughters, children of a King-
10-why are we called to be member missionaries?
11-who is called to be a member missionary?
12-who are these children and who is the King?

Glad of heart, his holy name confessing, Praises unto him we bring.
13-When can we always be glad of heart?
14-Why does our heart feel glad when we share our testimony?
15-Where can we bring praises to Christ?

NURSERY:
None of us leaders like picking and choosing which songs to sing with so many kids hoping for so many different songs. SO, we will be instituting a method of choosing songs that eliminates all other decision-making processes that waste our brainpower. I found a bunch of adorable clipart things on the Yahoo primary music leaders group and decided to print em out. I will pick six songs (randomly or not) to place on six sides of a giant die. Then we’ll have one closing reverent song to sing too. The kids roll, we sing, we end reverently, we go home. Whew, that is way easier than actually using my noggin to figure out what to sing when. Possible songs:
One Little Apple
I Am Like a Star
Scripture Power
I Am a Child of God
Two Little Eyes
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Here We are Together
Smiles (If you Chance to Meet a Frown)
If You’re Happy
My Hands
Do as I’m Doing
Speckled Frogs
Alligator/Monkey
Mary Wore…