Rotation.org Writing Team

JESUS HEALS TEN LEPERS

MUSIC WORKSHOP

PASSAGE

Story: Luke 17:11-19

Key/Memory Verse: Luke 17:15-16

PURPOSE

To praise God through music

Objectives for Rotation

See Bible Background.

Objectives for Music Workshop

Children will:

praise God with traditional and contemporary songs;

learn about a hymn's story

PREPARATION

Read Bible Background.

Materials List

• Bibles
  
• Cassette tape or compact disk of songs [Optional]
  
• Cassette tape or compact disk player [Optional]
  
• Hymnal(s) including “Now Thank We All Our God”
  
• Markers
  
• Newsprint or poster board
  
• Overhead projector [Optional]
  

Advance Preparation

Print the words to the hymn "Now Thank We All Our God." It may also be reproduced on an overhead transparancy, if desired.

For non-readers, make rebus-style posters with pictures for some of the words of any of the songs that are selected for the lesson.

PRESENTATION

Open – Introduction

Open with prayer.

Show the children the church's hymnal. Ask: Do you know what this is? This is a hymnal, the book of songs we sing from in our worship services. Do you have any favorite hymns?

Show the children how to find a hymn in the book. Refer to the Indexes and the Table of Contents.

Dig – Main Content

Have children turn to the hymn, "Now Thank We All Our God." Ask them to look at the words of verse one.

Ask: What does it mean to praise God with hearts? Hands? Voices? Read the words again, and this time put motions to them. Teach the tune if the children are unfamiliar with this hymn. Sing the verse with the motions.

Say: This hymn is about praising God, but at the time it was written, there wasn't much to be happy about. During the seventeenth century war broke out in Germany. This was a terrible time, and people sought refuge in the walled city of Eilenberg. For thirty years the people suffered with disease, famine, and death. Near the end of the war, Eilenberg was invaded by the Austrian army and twice by the Swedish army. The Swedish government demanded a huge payment from the people, who were all very poor. How could they pay? Their minister, Martin Rinkart, pleaded with the government to lower the amount. At first the government refused, but Rinkart and his parishioners got on their knees and began to pray and sing a familiar hymn. The Swedish commander was so moved he finally lowered the demands of the payment.

The people learned to praise God during a very hard time. Now we are going to read a story of a person who praised God at a difficult time in his life. Distribute Bibles and ask the children to turn to the book of Luke 17:11-19. Read the story together.

Ask: How was the leper praising God? Did he use his heart, hands, and voice? What "wondrous thing" was done for him? Let's sing this verse again, but imagine you are the leper. Use the motions created earlier.

Reflect – Closure

What did it feel like to sing the song as if you were the leper who returned to thank Jesus?

How can we show our gratitude to God?

Close in prayer.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

If contemporary songs are preferred, suggestions include "Shine, Jesus, Shine," "An Outcast Among Outcasts," "He is Exalted," and "Great is the Lord." Print the words onto newsprint or posterboard. The song "An Outcast Among Outcasts" is from this Bible story.

Adaptations – Younger Children

Contemporary choruses like "He is Exalted" or "Great is the Lord" may be easier to learn than “Now Thank We All Our God.”

Adaptation -- Older children

The contemporary songs may be more appealing than "Now Thank We All Our God," which has somewhat difficult language. Modify the discussion questions to fit the words of the songs. For example, in "Shine, Jesus, Shine" verse 2 says,"Lord, I come to your awesome presence from the shadows into your radiance; by the blood I may enter your brightness, search me, try me, consume all my darkness." Ask: When the healed man came back to Jesus, do you think he felt his "awesome presence?" Since he was a distance away from Jesus, was he coming "from the shadows into his radiance?"

Some of the contemporary songs are available in video form for projection. You may choose to use that format if it is available in your church instead of wordsheets.

SOURCES

Editors. The Presbyterian Hymnal - Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Songs. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press,1990, Page 555.

Editors. Sing the Faith. Louisville, KY: Geneva Press, 2003. Hymns #2022, 2070.2104, 2173.

Osbeck, Kenneth. 101 Hymn Stories. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1982, Page 173.

Wezeman, Phyllis Vos and Anna L. Liechty. “Now Thank We All Our God.” Hymn Stories for Children: Special Days and Holidays. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1994.

CONTRIBUTOR: Julie Burton