Gathering Song: Option 1

Tune: ‘Wide awake’ © Mollie Russell-Smith and Geoffrey Russell-Smith, also known as ‘The dingle, dangle scarecrow’. It is now published by EMI Harmonies Ltd.

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Skip this Gathering Song in Week 1 as it features as part of the Interactive Bible Storytelling. Even if you’re not using Week 1, see the material on Book 2, p. 171 for learning this song for the first time.

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Let’s tell the story of Easter Day with our song.

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On Good Friday, Jesus died on the cross.

Let’s hold our hands out in love like Jesus on the cross.

Lead the children in stretching arms out to the side.

His friends took Jesus’ body down from the cross.

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Let’s be Jesus’ friends.

Lead the children in miming holding Jesus’ body gently.

They put it gently into the dark cave

Lead the children in miming placing Jesus’ body in the tomb,

and rolled the stone across.

Lead the children in rolling a large stone across.

They went home feeling very, very, very sad.

Nothing happened for one whole night and day after that.

But then the night after, something very, very special . . .

something amazing happened!

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Lead the children in curling up on the floor or crouching to sing:

When all the world was sleeping

and the sun had gone to bed . . .

up jumped Lord Jesus jump up with hands in the air

and this is what he said: hands out, palms up

‘I am risen, risen, risen, wave hands high in the air

I have won us a new start! ‘New Start’ sign (p. 355) over head

I am risen, risen, risen, wave hands high in the air

I have won us a new start!’ ‘New Start’ sign over head

Repeat.

  

Gathering Song: Option 2

 

We’re going to sing a song

that is full of the Church’s ‘Alleluia!’ shout of joy now.

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If your group is singing this song for the first time, you may find the following introduction helpful.

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Let’s learn the words to a new song,

‘my turn’ point to self,

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

 

Singing: ‘Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia!

Let’s praise the Lord!

Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia!

Let’s praise the Lord!

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And again: ‘Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia!

Let’s praise the Lord!

Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia!

Let’s praise the Lord!

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Then our words go the other way around!

Singing: Let’s praise the Lord! Alleluia!

Let’s praise the Lord! Alleluia!

Let’s praise the Lord! Alleluia!

Let’s praise the Lord! Alleluia!

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Singing: Let’s praise the Lord! Alleluia!

Let’s praise the Lord!

Let’s praise the Lord! Alleluia!

Let’s praise the Lord!

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Let’s try that all together.

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Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia!

Let’s praise the Lord!

Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia!

Let’s praise the Lord!

Let’s praise the Lord! Alleluia!

Let’s praise the Lord! Alleluia!

Let’s praise the Lord! Alleluia!

Let’s praise the Lord!

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Repeat until the children are confident. If you feel the group is ready, you could split the group as indicated below, or you may like to leave this for another week.

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We’re going to split into two groups.

Split the group in half, making sure there are confident singers in both groups.

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Over here indicate clearly is the ‘Alleluia!’ team.

Over here indicate clearly is the ‘Let’s praise!’ team.

You’re going to sing the ‘Alleluias!’ Point to the ‘Alleluia!’ team

You’re going to sing the ‘Let’s praise the Lords!’ Point

When you’re singing, you can stand up!

When you’re not singing, sit down again!

And remember.

We’re going to show ‘Alleluia!’ with our whole body.

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Let’s raise our hands to sing ‘Alleluia!’ and ‘Praise the Lord!’ Arms in ‘V’ shape

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Let’s go:

Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia!

‘Alleluia!’ team stand to sing with arms raised

Let’s praise the Lord!

‘Let’s praise’ team stand to sing with arms raised

Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia!

‘Alleluia!’ team stand to sing with arms raised

Let’s praise the Lord!

‘Let’s praise’ team stand to sing with arms raised

 

 

 

Let’s praise the Lord! ‘Let’s praise’ team continue standing to sing with arms raised

Alleluia! ‘Alleluia!’ team stand to sing with arms raised

Let’s praise the Lord! ‘Let’s praise’ team stand to sing with arms raised

Alleluia! ‘Alleluia!’ team stand to sing with arms raised

Let’s praise the Lord! ‘Let’s praise’ team stand to sing with arms raised

Repeat.