Summer Songs of Praise

SUMMER SONGS OF PRAISE

CONNECT - for mid-week/Home League groups

Worship Session - Special Days

Create a singing event - outdoors!

Summary

Invite members, friends and guests
Create a 'top ten' favourite hymn list
Worship the Lord with gladness

Invite a local community choir or music group to join in and sing some hymns and worship songs
In advance ask members to submit their request songs and Scripture readings
Ask some members to prepare a Scripture reading or to share a personal story, an anecdote or a reflection based on hymns or singing
Encourage members to invite family, friends, corps and church members to come along for the afternoon
Compile your group’s ‘top ten favourite hymns’ based on members’ top three favourite hymns
Prepare song sheets so people can sing along
Set up a ‘mock’ picnic table, with garden chairs, sunshade etc
Prepare to play the song ‘We’re all going on a summer holiday’ by Cliff Richard
Have ice creams ready to distribute at end of the afternoon

Online groups

Compile a play list of recordings and videos of members’ favourite hymns
Invite members to share in a favourite summer treat at the end of the session

Please be aware of allergies.

The phrase ‘songs of praise’ has been around a very long time, even all the way back to King David’s time. In the Bible we find that David wrote many songs to help him praise God and we continue to praise God through songs and music to this day.

When you say ‘songs of praise’ many people will also think of the television show on the BBC. The show started in 1961 and is the longest-running series of its genre. The show uses inspiring hymns and songs to bring people together, to worship and praise God and to share uplifting stories of faith.

In this spirit, create an event to encourage fellowship and worship, with each other and with other groups, through the medium of songs and readings. Let’s spend a summer afternoon singing God’s praise together.

MUSIC

Fill the afternoon with music! Start by playing the song ‘We’re all going on a summer holiday’ by Cliff Richard as members and guests arrive. Don’t forget to hand out song sheets for those who wish to join in.

Spend time together singing and listening to the chosen hymns and songs.

ONLINE GROUPS

Screenshare the videos and recordings of your group’s requested hymns and songs.

In between songs, invite members to share memorable moments of hymn and song singing and favourite pieces of Scripture.

ANNOUNCE

Don’t forget to announce the group’s ‘top ten favourite hymns’.

EAT

After the session enjoy ice creams together.

ONLINE GROUPS

Share a summer treat together.

Song of Songs 2:11-12

Climate change seems very much a modern-day issue, although it is something that has been happening over many years of mistreatment of our planet. As a result, the seasons might seem to blend in with one another, and flooding and gales are more prevalent in the UK than snow and ice once were. Some people might recall the winter of 1947 when huge snow drifts kept many people snowed in. There might be memories, too, of cold bedrooms and bathrooms and slipping and sliding on icy pavements.

So … let’s banish such thoughts with the Bible reading.

‘See! The winter is past;

the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth;

the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves

is heard in our land.’

(Song of Songs 2:11-12)

Whatever the weather outside today, we can enjoy a summer songs of praise time together. We can join in worship of our God as Psalm 100 instructs us:

‘Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures for ever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.’

It is because of these promises we can today praise God for the blessings of the past and thank him for the assurance that his love and care will guide and protect us for the days ahead.