KIDS WORSHIP
THE PAUSE WE NEED | Yancy
I love the holidays . I am one of those people that loves the Christmas décor . Being surrounded by the special decorations , traditions , fun outings with friends and gifts for my treasured loved ones just brings me joy .
I understand for people in ministry and church musicians it is a busy time of year . There ’ s a lot of extra on the calendar ! Extra rehearsals . Extra events . Extra parties . Let ’ s face it , it ’ s just busy .
As a worship leader , one of the things that I love about the Christmas season is it invites a change from normal . There ’ s opportunity to insert different songs into our worship set . You may even do exclusively Christmas music . All the normal songs that fill your set sit on the sidelines this month . That change can be lifegiving . For the most part , during the other eleven months of the year your worship sets feel pretty similar , of course inserting new songs here and there . But , for these three or four weeks you have the opportunity to insert some fresh things into your times of worship by singing the songs of the season . These Christmas hymns and classics bring us the comfort of the traditions and past memories we ’ ve made over the years . They also invite us to think about the wonder of our Savior from this specific narrative of Christmas . Use this opportunity as a worship leader . Your normal songs are getting a rest break . These Christmas songs will encourage many to sing with you that even struggle most weeks . However , they may jump at singing along to your familiar Christmas songs . That ’ s a win . Prayerfully think about how these songs allow you to lead differently and then use that so all will “ come , let us adore Him ”.
This season allows us to pause from what normal life feels like . It is a magical time of year , but it can also be a very purposeful time . I also feel like this pause allows us to hit a reset button . That mixed with the new year beginning you have an opportunity to make changes moving forward . Those changes could be related to the songs you sing . It ’ s a great time to evaluate what is working and what isn ’ t ? What songs are no longer connecting well ? What type of song are you missing in your repertoire you need to add ? Consider how you ’ ve been leading but also how your group may need to be led . There are seasons in church worship leading where your group needs more guidance , teaching and practical understanding of worship . At times you are correcting bad behaviors that have popped up just like the weeds in your flower beds . You didn ’ t plant them . You didn ’ t invite them . You were living your life , doing your job and they just popped up and you don ’ t know how they got there . With kids it can be due to transitions , their development , new classes , new attendees , time passing and many other factors . You reach a point , and you realize doing what you ’ ve always done isn ’ t working like it used to . They need more . They need instruction . They need boundaries . They need invitation . They need a new song to get them excited . There are so many factors at play here but again use this pause to reflect , think , pray , listen and discern what some next steps may be .
Set aside some time to reflect on the past year . Mary did this beautifully in Luke 2:19 “ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart .” ( NIV ) What were some highlights ? How did you see growth in a heart of worship in your group , but also specific kids ? How did your team grow ? How would you define this year ? Give it a name . Pray and ask God to show you what next looks like . What do you believe is possible ? What are you
hungry to see those kids better understand and therefore engage with ? How can other leaders you ’ re mentoring grow and stretch in the months ahead ? I doubt you ’ ll figure out all these things over one cup of coffee , but I pray it ignites an ongoing process in you to seek the Lord for what He has for His church . Over the coming weeks and months invite Him into your strategy and plans . Listen to what He says and impresses on your heart .
So yes , this season of all things merry is busy but it ’ s also the pause we all desperately needed . I believe what ’ s to come in the new season ahead is greater than we could ever anticipate .
© 2022 Yancy Ministries , Inc .
Yancy Yancy is a worship leader and songwriter for kids that travels the globe doing family concerts and training worship leaders . Every week her songs are used in thousands of churches around the world . Her Dove Award winning music is all the things kids love and everything adults value . Her newest “ Little Praise Party ” album is “ Out of This World ”. Yancy has a passion to serve the Church which is why she created “ Heartbeat ”, a curriculum to teach kids the heart of worship . She recently authored the book “ Sweet Sound : The Power of Discipling Kids in Worship ”. She lives with her husband and sons in Nashville , TN .
YancyMinistries . com