Yesterday a friend asked for some song actions that she could do in church with the kids. I made videos that she would be able to learn and copy the actions from - with so much enthusiasm (occasionally a little too much!)
AndI couldn’t help but think about how good actions songs are: for kids, for me and for all of us. Here’s why:
They remind us that worship is not synonomous with singing. It’s a mistake we’ve all heard and, probably, all made. So often, in fact, that we don’t even notice it anymore. Our worship leaders are those who sing and/or play guitar; worship conferences focus on new songs and bands; a time of worship is a time of singing. And while all of those things can be worship they are far from all that worship is. To worship means to bow our whole selves to someone. Music and singing help us with that - but action songs remind us that it is not only by what we sing but by what we do that worship God.
They help us to think more deeply about what we’re singing. So this applies most strongly to the person who comes up with the actions but the little things about actions help us to think through what it is we’re singing. For example ‘You’ can be directed outwards to the congregation as in ‘May the Lord bless you and keep you’ or up to God ‘You are the one who saves’. How can you get across the meaning of our sin being taken away, or what it means to follow Jesus with a gesture: you can’t capture it but what can you do that shows a part of this? Having to think that through or simply doing it as you sing the words can improve your understanding more thanthe wordalone would.
They are for everyone. There’s a reason we do action songs with kids, it’s because little ones can’t read, and while they might learn the song with enough repetition they can copy the actions straight away. For the hearing impaired actions can be a help connecting with a song (particularly if you’re church doesn’t have a sign language interpreter) and I rely heavily on sign language for action ideas. It can also help communicate ideas to foreign language speakers (as one myself, I would love to have some visual clarification on what I’m singing).
It’s fun! Movement is good for your body, looking in front of others and not caring because they look silly too is great for your mental health. Besides when we all do it do we even look silly. For those of us who can’t carry a tune in a bucket it’slovely to be able to join in and contribute to communal sung worship. Our bodies do not merely contain or carry our sould they are one with them and can express what we’re feeling - so why would we hold back on our fullest expression during a song of praise?
Does everybody have to do actions? Does every song require actions? No, of course not. But we shouldn’t limit them just to children’s songs as though they didn’t benefit adults as well.If I’ve convinced you to try it - for yourself not just for kids - here are some ‘grown up’ songs that lend themselves well to actions:
My Lighthouse - Rend Collective
One Way, Jesus - Hillsong
Höher - ICF Worship - The German version is better than the English one If you can understand it.
Man of your Word - Maverick City Music
This I believe (The Creed) - Hillsong
Every Giant will Fall - Rend Colective
Enjoy yourself!
(and the evdence of too much enthusiasm for actions below)