Great forum! Thx!

I posted 4 videos today that are taken from a praise session with 6-11 year olds.
There's four on the team, Paul and Sarah lead the actions. Myself and Mack lead the music.
Plenty of actions, fast music, colourful words & God's love are the main ingredients.
tell us what you think. Ta.

www.soundclick.com/desertseeds

Well, I've at last released my own kids CD "All Aboard the Heaven Express". Bits can be heard on www.kidspraisesongs.co.uk . It's a concept CD with a train theme and there's even a pirate song in there.

The songs that were sung in church were great fun and I think the message stuck, which I believe is what counts with kids songs.

I was honoured when a reviewer recently described the CD as "every bit as good" as Duggie Dug Dug, Dave Godfrey and Ishmael, and "better than numerous other children’s albums (he'd) heard", so I'm encouraged by that!

I hope you have fun listening to the song samples.

Blessings
Chris

Yes Simon, I see what you mean!! I am a mum of five boys but have not led worship in the children's work for a very long time!!

This was what amazed me when I heard that the children were singing the song in their own homes. I'd never intended it to become a song for the children's work. This weekend it's the 5's to 12"s who will be performing the two songs together.

Thanks for all your info!

It's great to hear there will be a lot more on offer for them.

God bless your weekend!

Sue

I think kids worship is at an exciting time at the moment. There is some great stuff being written for kids that isn't the usual slightly cheesy Christian sing along - but songs of worship, adoration and praise to God.
This year, we're launching a new range of kids albums at New Wine - pushing out the boundaries in style and content. So look out for those!

Under New Wine, I am also setting up a new Children's Worship Songwriters network. The aim of this is to gather together on a regular basis key people who are passionate about kids worship, but also writing and using song in kids ministry in their local church. I have had so many 'demos' from people who have written a 'Childrens' song when clearly they have never led kids worship in their life! So I want to gather people who are passionate, and who can work together and strive for more - more goodness and richness in songs - more resources - and more great songs of worship for kids. Because still, on a National scale there are still only a few people with new songs being used and published - and I know there are more people writing or with a passion to write - and I want to use the resources I have to equip and release new songwriters. In fact we will be recording a new song written by a 5 year old from site at New Wine last year on one of this years kids album. The song is awesome!!

Also for new kids material check out the new Hillsong Kids album - Follow You - some great songs on there. Great Big God 4 is just around the corner from my mate Nige Hemming (DVD available now) . Also, Nick and Becky Drake - Big Family of God, and also (shamelessly!) my album is also available - God's love is Big from ICC, Wesley owen etc.

Anyway - bless you guys in your kids worship ministry.

The children in our churches need the truth in a singable and memorable way. This weekend ours have opted to sing the bridge and chorus of a song I wrote two years ago. The funny thing though is that it's a Christmas song called 'On that winters night'. I never expected the kids to pick up on it quite like they have!

I really struggled with the idea but then put together a new song that describes the Easter message for them. So now it's a medley that's hopefully going to help them understand the power and truth of the gospel and lift their eyes up to Jesus! I also took it from the minor into the major key so that there's a stronger sound of celebration!

I'll see if Sam can upload it onto the site. He's great at the techi side of things and sang the demo for me too. Thanks Sam!!

Sue

Funny, but most of those criteria should apply to songs for 'grown-ups', too.

Hi, I've been writing my own kids songs and am finishing off a CD called "All Aboard the Heaven Express".
Examples can be found on www.shoutlife.com/chrismedway

To join in this discussion, I think good kids songs should have a profound message put in a simple way so kids understand them. Songs should have catchy hooks so kids can mull over the words as they hum the tune days after singing it. Bible verses are often good to put to music as kids can remember passges that way. Using contemporary analogies or imagery is also effective as kids can relate to them.
Generally I think fast, bouncy songs are more effective for little people with lots of energy.
Just my 2c worth.
Chris

Actually, some 'grown-up' worship songs can be very wordy - and the wrong kind of words at that. There is a place for the 'stream of consciousness' songwriting that is very internalised about how the composer feels about his or her faith. But that would be more in performance-oriented songs. For community worship - whether children or adult or both - we need simple words and melodies that have a corporate meaning and a structured theology. I remember learning the creed at our Church of England primary school, and it had quite an impact on me. I knew the words were about something really important, and they had an epic quality to them. I realise now that I was beginning to worship in Spirit and in truth - without knowing it.

We are really lucky these days to have such a wide range ogf material. Personally i have found my children enjoy the hillsong and vinyard kids stuff. But moreover they enjoy many of the adult stuff we use. What we need to make sure ius that they understand what they are singing as even some kids stuff can be really wordy. My hearts desire is to see them worshipping in the spirit in there own way with no inhabitions. I've personally been encouraged as my own children have desired to write their own songs

This is all good stuff. Children love to join in when our worship is eventful and animated. They also love reflective times. We set up several installations in an all-age worship service, and dispensed with the usual 'set list' of praise songs. Instead, we offered a number of locations in the room where people could meditate, write down their prayers and thoughts, scribble on rocks with indelible ink and so on. The feature that some of the children loved was a little tent we put up, where they could draw or write. One child didn't want to leave the tent because it was such a nice atmosphere! Also, children's worship should be fun - but not flippant. We should not shield them from serious spiritual reality. They can engage with a depth and immediacy that we adults often lack. The writings of the old saints has a childlike quality to it, as they discover Christ in contemplation and have simple conversations with him at a deep level. I think we are all learning to be children again.

Hi there, am also looking for good kids worship so ordered 'God Rocks' CD, found some of the tracks really good. The kids at our church find worshipping with Flags helps them concentrate on worship in our service with the adults, it really works but you need lots of space for them to wave flags and ribbons. We even have teenagers turning their POI balls in our worship service. Its not just about the songs but them being involved in dance is an excellent way to encourage them in worhsip. We also us blow up instruments for them to 'pretend' being the band ! love Julia St.

Hi Sarah - yes, of course, I meant you! Just give me your church office address or whatever. And guess what? You've caught me in Ireland again! But I've been so busy working, I haven't had chance to tour around. One day I'll get to Limerick.

thanks Clive - did you mean my address or someone elses?!?

I have no hesitation in recommending material by the likes of Ishmael, Doug Horley, Jim Bailey, Julia Plaut, etc. There are others, too. Interestingly, I just logged onto the BBC website and the first headline that came up said 'Are we kid-friendly?' So the media is asking similar questions. Actually, some of the 'child-friendly' songs by Ish and co can go deeper than some 'grown-up' songs that might be a bit glib and shallow. Search around - you'll be surprised! Send me your office address and, if I come across any sample CDs, I'll send them to you.

If anyone has specific song suggestions on these kind of songs, I would love to hear about them!

I must say this subject is something I'm very interested in hearing opinions on! In all my years of worship leading, the single greatest challenge for me has been incorporating children's material into the sunday morning worship service. My pastor really wants everyone to be catered for on a sunday morning, which is tough to do when you've an age spread of 0-70!

I grew up listening to Psalty records but it's not like these were ever used in church either... Nowadays we find that up-tempo, exciting songs get the kids involved, often coming to the front and leading us in actions, like some of the material from Hillsong and some of the older stuff that has actions (Lord I lift your name on high). I like what you said Starlene, kids don't need watered-down versions of worship songs because they're as hungry (if not more so) for God's presence than us older people. So finding material that doesn't go over their heads, but engages them in a way that all of us can engage together in, is a bit of a challenge.

I have led worship in our church for 11 years, but many times the highlight for me is leading for the children Tuesday nights! They are so open and passionate. They are beginning to focus for longer periods of time, hearing and seeing things from the Lord. And it is so natural and normal to them! They don't have all the baggage of us "stuffy" adults. And just because they are kids doesn't mean they want watered-down, ditties. They are hungry for the presence of God and they can press into the Spirit with the best of 'em.

One recent album of children's worship songs that i've heard that is way better than many others is Nick and Becky Drake's 'Big Family of God' - check out http://www.bigfamilyofgod.com/ to have a listen, view videos of the actions to the songs, etc etc. It was produced by Matt and Dan Weeks and it's a cracking album of non-mindless tunes! Recommended.

Well - aint this site cool!
Anyway - Kids worship. where do we begin?!

Where are people at with kids worship? Is it something thats bursting with life in your church or as dry as a piece of toast!

Lets get talking!