Colin Buchanan and Lily's pre-school service

Lily's pre-school service was on two days ago. It's our third-last one, and is always on close to the end of pre-school term. Really fantastic opportunity for getting the gospel out to mums and dads.

This one was especially good, with a testimony from Sarah, one of the Hub club leaders about why she is doing gospel work rather than primary school teaching, and a clear message that "Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6) from Andrew Mitchell, Bruce Linton, Ruth, and Griz the Tim-Tam eating orange puppet.



The kids sang three songs, the best one being Colin Buchanan's Be Strong and Courageous:

Be strong and courageous
The Lord of the Ages
Holds all His little ones Safe by His side
Be strong and courageous
The Lord of the Ages
Holds all His little ones safe

Do not fear the fire
Do not fear the water
Do not fear the thunder
Jesus has conquered them all

...and so on. It reminds me of, and may be based on, Isaiah 43:1-2

Is. 43:1 But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.

and I have to say that this was the first time in attending four and a half years' worth of pre-school services at Christ Church Gladesville (actually, more like seven, seeing as how I worked there before Matilda was in the pre-school) that I have heard all the words. The childrens' singing was really sweet. Yay Miss Meriel, Miss Kathryn, Miss Karen and all the other preschool teachers for organizing it and giving up a Sudnay morning to be there.

It is a furphy that the only music children will really enjoy is noisy, bouncy, or boppy. Getting the kids to sing a song like this means the parents actually pay attention to more than noise, bounce and bop.