Gathering song

➜Song: ‘Remember when we were slaves in Egypt!’ Words: © Sharon Moughtin-Mumby

➜Tune: ‘The old grey mare’ (traditional, also known as the tune for ‘I’m in the Lord’s army’).

 

"Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm." Deuteronomy 5.15

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"Pharaoh said, ‘You are lazy, lazy; that is why you say, “Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.” ’ " Exodus 5.17  

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In Week 1, skip the Gathering Song and go straight to the storytelling, which is longer than usual and introduces many of the ideas and characters from this song.

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If you’re introducing this song for the first time, you may find the following introduction helpful. We find it easier to learn new songs BEFORE giving out imaginative aids!

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We’ve got a new song to learn.

It’s the slaves’ song.

Let’s sing ‘my turn’ point to self,

‘your turn’ leader’s hands out to group.

 

Singing:

Remember when we were slaves in Egypt,

slaves in Egypt, slaves in Egypt.

Remember when we were slaves in Egypt,

slaves in Egypt, slaves in Egypt.

Then again, but with a different ending.

Listen!

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Remember when we were slaves in Egypt,

then God set us free!

Remember when we were slaves in Egypt,

then God set us free!

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Let’s try that all together.

Lead the children in singing:

Remember when we were slaves in Egypt,

slaves in Egypt, slaves in Egypt,

remember when we were slaves in Egypt,

then God set us free!

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Then we celebrate!

Let’s sing ‘my turn’ point to self,

‘your turn’ leader’s hands out to group again.

As you sing, wave arms in celebration.

Then God set us free! Then God set us free!

Then God set us free! Then God set us free!

Then we go back to the beginning again.

Let’s see if you can join in!

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Remember when we were slaves in Egypt,

slaves in Egypt, slaves in Egypt,

remember when we were slaves in Egypt,

then God set us free!

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We’re ready!

Continue with the rest of the material.

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If you’re using imaginative aids, ask two or three children to give them out at this point. Then invite the children to warm up their imaginations by exploring actions for different emotions. Example: Can you show me: happy? sad? excited? scared? angry?

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For our stories about Moses,

we need to go to Egypt.

Egypt had a powerful king called Pharaoh.

Who can show us powerful?

Lead the children in showing ‘powerful’.

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Pharaoh the King was very rich and very powerful.

Show me powerful again!

Lead the children in showing ‘powerful’.

Pharaoh had some amazing buildings!

Some of the tallest buildings in the world!

 

Can you show me tall?

Lead the children in stretching up tall.

Even taller! Higher and higher!

Pharaoh loved tall buildings!

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But he didn’t do any of the hard building work! Shake head

Pharaoh was a bully!

Once the children are familiar with this introduction you might like to ask them:

Can anyone tell me who built the buildings?

Accept the children’s responses and their language.

The ‘slaves’ – the poor people – had built the buildings.

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Let’s be the ‘slaves’ doing some hard digging work.

Let’s stand up.

Lead the children in standing.

Time to start digging!

Speak in a rhythm, digging on each ‘dig’:

Dig, and dig, and dig, and dig . . .

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Start singing to the rhythm as you continue digging.

Remember when we were slaves in Egypt,

slaves in Egypt, slaves in Egypt,

remember when we were slaves in Egypt . . .

Freeze!

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Once the children are familiar with this introduction you might like to ask them:

THEN what happened?

Can anyone remember?

Accept the children’s responses and their language.

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God sent MOSES to set the slaves free!

The people were so excited and full of joy!

Let’s show excited and joyful! Excited action

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Lead the group in continuing the song:

Then God set us free! Excited action

Then God set us free! Excited action

Remember when we were slaves in Egypt, Digging action

then God set us free! Excited action

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It’s hot in Egypt! Can you show me hot!

Lead the children in looking ‘hot’.

The slaves were tired and sad.

Can you show me tired and sad?

Lead the children in looking ‘tired and sad’.

But they had to keep on building . . .

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Lead the children in singing and digging as if tired and sad.

Remember when we were slaves in Egypt,

slaves in Egypt, slaves in Egypt,

remember when we were slaves in Egypt,

then God set us free! Excited action

Then God set us free! Excited action

Then God set us free! Excited action

Remember when we were slaves in Egypt,

slaves in Egypt, slaves in Egypt,

remember when we were slaves in Egypt, 

then God set us free! Excited action

 

The slaves were sore! The slaves were tired!

Can you show me sore and tired?

Follow the children’s ‘sore and tired’ actions.

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But Pharaoh the Bully shouted:

‘LAZY! LAZY! LAZY! I WANT MORE!’ Stamp foot on ‘more’

Let’s be Pharaoh and shout:

‘LAZY! LAZY! LAZY! I WANT MORE!’ Stamp foot on ‘more’

And the slaves had to work twice as fast.

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Let’s sing our song twice as fast!

Ready . . . go!

Lead the children in digging and singing at double speed.

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Remember when we were slaves in Egypt,

slaves in Egypt, slaves in Egypt,

remember when we were slaves in Egypt,

then God set us free! Excited action

Then God set us free! Excited action

Then God set us free! Excited action

Remember when we were slaves in Egypt,

slaves in Egypt, slaves in Egypt,

remember when we were slaves in Egypt, 

then God set us free! Excited action