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Welcome to the 11th Family Worship Newsletter, 30 November,
1999
http://www.familyworship.org.uk
Previous newsletters are available on the website archives at
http://www.familyworship.org.uk/newslett.htm#archive
Contents
========
With relentless "Humour spots" in-between every item...
FW Site stats
Recent site additions
Coming soon
Story behind the song
Family Worship is like a good meal
Songwriters' encouragement
Check out...
Newsletter information
FW Site Stats
-------------
Visitors picked up further in November to an average of 200 per day.
Newsletter subscriptions are up to around 900 people - welcome to new subscribers.
Recent site additions
---------------------
New FTP facility. If you play mp3 files and are familiar with FTP (File Transfer
Protocol), then do check out the new Family Worship FTP site, which contains
a huge number of songs in mp3 format for free download. ftp://familyworship.org.uk
- also available for download is a single text file containing lyrics to all
the songs.
Brown Bear Music, contributors to the FW series, and one of the UK's hardest-working
contemporary christian bands, are now featured at mp3.com - check out http://www.mp3.com/brownbearmusic
- if you like Matt Redman, Delirious and the World Wide Message tribe, then
you'll like BBM!
Thanks for the feedback on the trial video clip - we will be making some slight
changes to the format and loading several clips during December, so check back
in the new Millennium for a wide range of dances and actions to a number of
the songs!
http://www.familyworship.org.uk/video_clips.htm
The second kids only newsletter was published recently (featuring another great
competition - these children have all the fun...) and subscriptions are approaching
the 100 mark. This is a great way for children to network around the world,
so if you would like to subscribe on behalf of a child, email kidsonly-subscribe@familyworship.org.uk
with "subscribe" in the content, or use the form at http://www.familyworship.org.uk/kidszone.htm
Humour spot
===========
A Sunday school teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew.
She would occasionally walk around to see each child's artwork. As she got to
one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without looking up from her drawing the girl replied, "Don't worry, they
will in a minute."
Coming soon
-----------
As a development in one of our key objectives to support and encourage songwriting
at a grass-roots level in the church, we're excited to launch a new section
on the FW website called "Songwriters Showcase" - as the name implies,
this will be an opportunity to present songs from a wide range of christian
writers. For further details, see the Songwriters' Encouragement section below,
or check out http://www.familyworship.org.uk/showcase.htm
Humour spot
===========
Did you know that "Year Two Thousand" is an anagram of "A year
to shut down"?!
Story behind the song...
------------------------
This month, the Lord's Prayer, from "Teach us to pray", (which has
been at number 1 in the mp3.com "Children's Spiritual" category throughout
November)
There have been countless settings of the Lord's Prayer throughout the ages,
and our version is simply another attempt to fix the words in the minds, and
hearts, particularly of children. I was startled to discover that in the UK
now, well below half of the children know the words to this prayer. Turn back
the clock only a few decades and you would have probably been hard-pushed to
find a child who didn't.
The key to the prayer, of course, is that it is a pattern for the kind of things
we should be praying for every day, and it is not enough in itself to simply
repeat the words as some kind of formula or mantra. We need to discover the
power of prayer for ourselves, and teach it to children as a lifestyle.
On a practical note, at least this song has a clear answer to the chicken and
egg question often asked of writers - which came first: the music or the lyrics!
You can request this song by email from
http://www.familyworship.org.uk/songsby.htm
listen to it at
http://www.familyworship.org.uk/songs.htm
and a full-CD quality MP3 file is now available at
http://www.mp3.com/familyworship
Talking of the Lord's Prayer, those reading this newsletter outside the UK may
not be aware that the current number 1 song in the UK national pop charts is
a setting of the Lord's Prayer to the tune of (wait for it...) Auld Lang Syne!
Sung by Cliff Richard, the song reached the top spot against all the odds, because
most of the major radio stations refused to give it airplay. Despite that (and
it's another demonstration of how secular our society can be), the song has
flourished, and I thank God that it will be an opportunity for the powerful
words that Jesus taught to be heard at the turning point of this millennium.
Humour spot
===========
"And what will you do when you grow up to be as big as me?" asked
the father of his small boy
"Diet"
Family Worship should be like a good family meal
------------------------------------------------
*** This article is written by Graeme Young, author of the popular FW
songs "Crossing Over" and "God, you can use me". Graeme
lives in Scotland, and has a wonderful ministry to children and children's leaders.
Check out his own website at http://www.youngresources.purplenet.co.uk
***
Family Worship is meant to be different from other times of worship. just as
Family Meals are not the same as Children's parties or Adult Dinner Parties.
Children's parties are geared completely for children, and the adults involved
adjust their behaviour accordingly to fit in with the party. Adult Dinner Parties
are geared for Adults who have been invited. Children are not normally included,
but if they are present they are expected to fit in with the needs of the occasion.
Family Meals, however, are for everyone - from the youngest to the oldest -and
should be relaxed. enjoyable and satisfying for them all.
When arranging a Family Worship time or a Family Service. we are aiming for
the "Family Meal" type of experience. (There are other times of worship
when the "Children's Part" or "Adult Dinner Party" are the
appropriate style to follow).
Here are some of the features for Family Meals which apply equally well to times
of Family Worship:
ORGANISATION
- Family Meals are arranged at times when everyone can be present
- The organiser of the meal knows the various needs of the different members
of the family
- The aim is for a meal that the whole family an enjoy
PREPARATION
- A number of people can be involved in planning the menu
- Children as well as adults could help to prepare some parts of the meal
- Somebody makes sure that all the necessary ingredients are there in time
SETTING UP
- At the meal table there is an equal place for everyone
The best seating arrangement is considered (eg. very young children are best
placed next to a parent)
- An attempt is made to keep the time clear of other business which could be
dealt with at another time
MENU
- The main course is something which nearly everyone will like, with a variety
of other dishes that will appeal specifically to different members of the family
- Special provision is made for babies, and anyone else for whom the main course
is not suitable
- A surprise or two is especially appreciated, particularly by the children
CONVERSATION
- The emphasis is on interaction between the ages - no one group should dominate
the time
- Family Meals are good times to "catch up" with one another and build
relationships
- The range of conversation can be very wide - from laughing and joking, to
serious issues that need to be discussed
ATTITUDE
- Discipline needs to be enough to keep order. bur not place unnecessary burdens
on people
- Openness - the contribution of each member should be valued. honoured and
listened to
- Flexibility - anything can happen when a family gets together, so there should
be room for a great variety of things, including the unplanned, to happen
A Family Meal that has gone well and has been appreciated by everyone present
is a great joy to Mum & Dad. In the same way, applying these guidelines
to our times of Family Worship should result in a family who are blessed, and
a Father who is delighted with his children.
Humour spot
===========
A man walked into a hardware store and asked for a chain saw that would cut
6 trees in one hour. The salesman recommended the top of the line model. The
man was impressed, and bought it.
The next day he brought it back and says, "This chainsaw is defective.
It would only cut down 1 tree and it took ALL DAY!"
The salesman took the chain saw, started it up to see what was wrong, and the
man said, "Hey, what's that noise?"
Songwriter's encouragement
--------------------------
This section of the newsletter has often generated the most feedback, and we've
been delighted to make contact with a number of songwriters, and to receive
demos of songs. A new section will be starting up soon on the FW website called
"Songwriters Showcase", which will exist to provide a place where
writers can make demos of their songs available, and provide some background
about themselves and the songs. This will be provided free, and the aim is simply
to provide an outlet for songs from a grassroots level in the church to be heard
more widely.
If you have songs that you would like us to consider for inclusion in this section,
then please visit http://www.familyworship.org.uk/showcase.htm
for details on how to submit songs, or simply send a blank email to showcase@familyworship.org.uk
Humour spot
===========
An efficiency expert was giving a lecture on how to save time, and he concluded
his lecture with a note of caution. "You don't want to try these techniques
at home."
"Why not?" asked somebody from the audience.
"I watched my wife's routine at breakfast for years," the expert explained.
"She made lots of trips between the refrigerator, stove, table and cabinets,
often carrying a single item at a time. One day I told her, 'Darling, why don't
you try carrying several things at once?'"
"Did it save time?" the person in the audience asked.
"Actually, yes," replied the expert. "It used to take her 20
minutes to make breakfast. Now I do it in seven."
Check out...
------------
Graham Kendrick will be releasing a major new album in the new year called the
Millennium Chorus, and there is a great new congregational version of one of
the songs, "This is the year", on his site, where you can also register
for details of the Millennium Chorus initiative, which includes a 24 hour global
TV satellite broadcast of all the songs on 31 Dec/1 Jan. http://www.grahamkendrick.co.uk
There is a new church drama site just started up at http://www.dramaletters.com
- do check it out. If you know of other drama sites, the please drop me a line.
Check out an interesting UK ministry at http://www.shekinah.org.uk,
and another at http://www.homemadejam.co.uk,
and a good new church site at http://www.homestead.com/newhaven_elim/homepage.html
Don't forget to check out "Whitewings", based in the Isle of Man,
who will be making a tour of Russia in January 2000, and will be singing a couple
of songs from the latest Family Worship album, "Teach us to pray",
at an international festival there. Their website is at
http://homepages.enterprise.net/whitewings/
They are looking to complete the fundraising necessary for this trip, so if
you have a moment to pray, or a heart to give, then go ahead!
River of Life Discount Christian Bookstore, US distributors for the Family Worship
resources are now online with a site featuring a great range of worship recordings,
songbooks, etc. Check it out at
http://www.riveroflifecbs.com
Don't forget that Family Worship, as well as loads of other "grass roots
level" ministries are featured in the christian sections of mp3.com - http://www.mp3.com/familyworship
and new this month, http://www.mp3.com/brownbearmusic
If you have a website that you would like us to cover in future newsletters,
please email newsletter@familyworship.org.uk
Humour spot (last one...)
-------------------------
The preacher's young daughter asked her mother; "Why does Daddy always
pray before he preaches?"
"Well," said her mother, "he's asking God to help him"
"Oh - well why doesn't he, then?"
Newsletter information
----------------------
This newsletter is written by Mike Burn and is published by Family Worship Resources,
part of Ichthus Christian Fellowship, London, UK Copyright 1999, Mike Burn.
Inclusion of links and quotations does not imply full endorsement of the contents.
The newsletter may be forwarded or reproduced in full or in part providing that
the source is acknowledged.
To subscribe, send an e-mail to
newsletter-subscribe@familyworship.org.uk with subject blank, and subscribe
in the content, or go to http://www.familyworship.org.uk/newslett.htm
To unsubscribe send a blank e-mail to
newsletter-unsubscribe@familyworship.org.uk
Send comments or queries, or suggested articles or links for inclusion in future
newsletters to
MikeBurn@familyworship.org.uk
Thanks for reading, and if you've made it this far, or even if you just skipped
to the end before hitting delete, blessings to you in Jesus' name
Mike