Some well-known and newer items suitable for use during the Epiphany season lend themselves to more than just a straight sing through. Be imaginative! Don’t always sing the whole text. Remember too that pencil and paper activities for the young can be linked with what is being sung.
Valerie Ruddle offers some suggestions.
Darkness like a shroud (Graham Kendrick) - 170
Read the verses, sing the refrain.
Like a candle flame (Graham Kendrick) - 176
Use just the refrain as a prayer response.
Love came down at Christmas (Christina Rosetti) - 210
Prepare the letters LOVE (or the words GOD IS LOVE) for colouring with space for a picture border.
A special star (Lynda Masson) - 223
Prepare a five-pointed Epiphany star to be cut out. A letter of the word JESUS can then be put at each point.
Birth brings a promise of new life awaking (Marjorie Dobson) - 226
Read each verse separately, leaving space for comment or reflection between each.
Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (James Montgomery) - 228
Based on Psalm 72, the appointed psalm for Epiphany.
Mary and Joseph came to the Temple (Andrew Pratt) - 229
If you don’t fancy trying the new tune BENSUNAS, use BUNESSAN!
Riding out across the desert (Peter Ratcliffe) - 230
THE CAMEL SHUFFLE is a delightful tune which is sure to catch on quickly. It might be best if each four bar phrase is sung first by the leader and then by all. A procession of wise men with retinues around the church to the crib would be appropriate. The significance of the gifts could be explained.
The silent stars shine down on us (Herman G Stuempfle) - 231
These new words sing well to KINGSFOLD. A galaxy of stars might be created.
Joy to the world (Isaac Watts) - 330
Try a circle dance. Make two circles facing a partner:
Joy to the world, the Lord is come - hold hands with partner and walk clockwise (step-close-step-close etc)
Let earth receive her King - pass partners right shoulder and back to left (doh-si-doh)
Let every heart prepare him room - hold hands with partner and walk clockwise
And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing - outer circle dance round clockwise and inner circle go in the opposite direction
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing - turn on the spot, then face new partner ready for the next verse.