SARANAC, MI (December 14, 2005) – The success of a Creative Worship Arts Camp earlier this year has led Saranac Community Covenant Church to start a weekly program for students in grades 3-5.
“There was lots of interest from the families,” says Julia Carr, pastor of worship arts. “The kids who are coming are real excited.”
Carr says she chose the particular age range because older students become increasingly involved in school activities. Every week, the students work on singing, drama and dancing. Once a month, they work on an art project. The classes are held from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. each Thursday.
“We begin with dance because the kids have so much energy after school,” she says. “They got real excited about the dance.”
The program began November 3 and the students’ work has focused on participating in a church Christmas production. In addition to singing songs with dances and performing drama, the children’s art project involved working on the production set, Carr says. The students also will perform a spring musical.
The kids develop skills in the arts, but the classes are important in other ways, Carr says. “Because they’re focusing on things in worship, it connects their spiritual lives with things they can do,” she explains. “We discuss everything and how it relates to church and God.”
Carr says she hopes the children’s work will be incorporated into various worship services throughout the year. She also would like to see the children have the opportunity to demonstrate their work in other area churches.
A handful of kids are participating, but Carr expects the number to grow now that people have seen the students’ participation in the Christmas program. She adds that starting out small has helped her to develop the classes.
The arts camp was held in August and included children ages 9-13. The students were able to choose two of five options for the week-long, half-day camp, says Carr. Each day was divided into two sessions.
Participants could choose from sculpture or drama in the early session. The second session offered video, music or drawing. The projects were then included in a worship service.
To learn more about this unique ministry opportunity, call the church staff at 616-642-6322. More information also is available at the church website at Saranac.
Copyright © 2011 The Evangelical Covenant Church.