If you want to teach a song about the keeping the Sabbath day holy, this would be a great choice. It is one of our new hymns in Hymns- for Home and Church #1035. You can get a copy of this song here. You can also find the history of the composer and some activities for classes or families here.
Music Method
This song shares the same chorus after each verse. When this happens, I like to teach the chorus first, so that we have some success after working hard on a verse later. There are some musical lines that repeat in the chorus, such as “On this day of peace and rest” and “And His love will light my way”. This would lend well to use a music map drawn on the board or a poster. A music map is where you draw a note or some symbol in the up or down or repeating patterns that shows how the music moves. You can use this method on the last two phrases of the chorus, but they are slightly different so be aware of that.
A Few Tips For Teaching
This is a very gentle song. I would suggest using ribbon wands or scarves to help with your teaching. These tools make it easy to imitate the gentle flow that accompanies the melody. I wouldn’t change the patterns you choose to use too often. That will keep the children focused on the message of this song.
Gospel Teaching
I have added a little bonus idea with the use of the flipchart. I know many people don’t like to teach with a flipchart, and generally I don’t focus heavily on them, but I do hang them. I have found that it really helps with the teachers, older children, guests and new converts. I feel whatever it takes to have children sing, I will do! Anyway, back to the bonus idea. This song talks about keeping the Sabbath day holy. In between my teaching of this song, we will discuss why we should do that and ways to keep the Sabbath day holy. Maybe they can share some ideas they do in their families. Then I will ask them to think about something they could change in their life right now to keep the Sabbath day a bit holier.
I plan on cutting some paper into strips and giving some to each teacher with a pencils. For the last few minutes of singing time (or randomly during) , I will let the children write or have their teacher write what they would want to do to keep the Sabbath Day holy. It could be their gift to their Savior. Then they can insert the papers on the chorus flip chart behind the gift. I hope that makes sense….
Visual Aids
You can download a copy of the flipchart here
Here is a video for you to practice with!
Happy Singing!