Ages 4 and 5 JUST A LITTLE PRAYER Just a little prayer, that s all Will ease your troubled mind, Will touch the very heart of God Will help you to unwind. Just a little prayer, that s all It doesn t take much time, But when you re through you ll be amazed How things work out just fine! Millie Torzilli QUIET TIME I need some quiet time with God To help me through the day; A little time to read His word, A little time to pray. From this I gain the strength need To carry me along; It lifts me up on wings of joy And gives my heart a song. Sandra Lytle PSALM 117 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us:and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD. BEAMS OF SUNSHINE Do an act of kindness, Gladden someone s day; Give a smile to someone Passing by your way. Share a thought with someone, It could mean so much Little beams of sunshine Brightening lives you touch! Beverly J. Anderson
Ages 6-8 A Poem of Hope by Helena Fehr I feel the arms of God around me, as I lay on my bed at night. Asleep, I feel the Angel's touch- I'm surrounded and held tight. I don't know why it is, that God should love me so, that he would send His only Son, to hang there on Death-row. He guards me night and day, always bringing love and hope. Somehow, I know I will survive, for He will help me cope. As a father has compassion on his child, so my Lord has compassion on me. I know I can count on him- There is nowhere from His love I want to flee. PSALM 23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Ages 6-8 THANK YOU, LORD Thank you, Lord, for loving us No matter what our ways. Thank you, Lord for staying near Until our end of days. Thank you, Lord, for answering us Each moment that we call, Thank you, Lord, for giving us Gifts both great and small. Thank you, Lord, for keeping us Safe from every harm, And thank you, Lord, for holding us So gently in Your arms. Eva Marie Ippolito SERVICE IS NOT SPELLED SERVE-US Prepare my heart for serving, Let my spirit heed Your call; In obedience to the Father, Our Lord and King of all. Fill my thoughts with You, Lord, Renew my mind today I give you full control, In the things I do and say. Take these hands You gave me, And use them for Your good To glorify Your Kingdon, In the ways I know I should. Remove all doubt within me, Lord, I trust You ll find a way, To mold me in Your image As I walk with You today. Author unknown
Ages 9-10 Participants may use costumes, visual aids and/or makeup to depict the theme of the poem. LITTLE BLACK BOY, LITTLE BLACK GIRL Little Black Boy, Little Black girl Open your eyes to a bright new world There are those who would say your destiny s set and the past is prologue so that s all you will get They say your life will be filled with disappointments and strife that you shouldn t expect to live a great life They say drugs will kill you and your mother s a wreck you father s been replaced by a welfare check You re homeless, hungry and uneducated at best and it gets even worse, the older you get But I don t buy it, deny it I know it s not true what you achieve is limitless and entirely up to you Little Black boy, little Black girl Open your eyes to a bright new world I see doctors Black and full of pride I see astronauts along for more than the ride I see teachers determined to change children s vision To broaden horizons beyond television And writers and artists and musicians who show the many directions Black people can go Black man, Black woman create a bright new world A world that reflects you, Black woman, man boy or girl I HEAR MY MASTER CALLING ME I hear my Master calling me; His voice, it sounds so sweet, And though I feel my strength is gone, I rise onto my feet. I feel His presence moving near; I sense His endless love. I feel His peace fall on me, Descending like a dove. I turn to see His beauty, Light reflected on my face. I stand in awe and tremble, As I think upon His grace. I turn away and suddenly afraid All my faults He ll find, But He looks on me with kindness That gently renews my mind. I ask Him, Why do You love me? For I m wretched, truth be told. He takes my hand and answers, I m returning You to the fold. Maranda Musick
Ages 9-10 PSALM 1 FAITH Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Our lives are spent in circumspect We should script each page with care, And wonder if the words we say Are written down somewhere To keep account lest we forget The past things we ve spoken of. So I prefer to choose my words By wrapping them in love. For little words are measures of The faith that we let grow. Our daily satisfactions come With the degree of it we show. Believing isn t what we are It s something that we do, Practiced whenever things go wrong To help to get us through. Faith is more than getting past Those things that cause us fear; It s also knowing in good time That God is also near And likes to have communion with Each person day to day. Faith is more than wish and want It s also what we say. Nancy Watson Dodrill
Ages 11-12 Mother To Son Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor- Bare. But all the time I'se been a-climbin' on, And reachin' landin's, And turnin' corners, And sometimes goin' in the dark Where there ain't been no light. So, boy, don't you turn back. Don't you set down on the steps. 'Cause you finds it's kinder hard. Don't you fall now- For I'se still goin', honey, I'se still climbin', And life for me ain't been no crystal stair. Langston Hughes Invictus: The Unconquerable William Ernest Henley Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud, Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find me, unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.
Ages 11-12 FAITH FOR THE CLIMB Dark clouds are forming once again To hide the lofty mountain top And as I climb its timbered slope, I feel a tiny, falling drop. The rain has come to raid my hope Of finding refuge from the storm. Yet as I scale the mountain s height, Sweet words of scripture start to form. The Word of God reveals insight; Gives wisdom and encouragement As those dark clouds up in the sky Soon fail in their discouragement. Oh look upon the mountain high And know our hope is not from there And lift your hands in joyful praise Because our God is everywhere! PSALM 150 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. He watches us throughout our days And comforts us within the night; He will not slumber, will not sleep, For we are lovely in His sight. The One who calls from deep to deep Firmly stands before the door And we are safe within His keep Both now and then forevermore.