Worship Arts Camp? What’s that? Great question! Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Burnsville, MN hosts a full day camp learning about all aspects worship from digital drawing to reader’s theater, from music to worship itself. Emily Hagen, Children’s Choir Director, oversees the camp, and my role along with Pastor Paul Gauche was as the Creative Writing teacher.

We used two stories over four days to guide our work:

Story 1: Widow’s Coin found in Mark 12:41-44. Jesus is with his disciples and notices rich people giving lots of money, and a widow giving just two small coins. Jesus says this woman gave more than the rich people because she gave all she had. We can do this in the way we live, not just with money: When you practice living for God, you discover that whatever you do—work, play, read, sing, listen, whatever—can be a way you worship God with your life. How can you live for God?

Story 2: The Foolish Kind in 2 Chronicles 10. When Solomon’s son Rehoboam became king over Israel, the people pleaded with him to make their lives easier. He received counsel on both sides of the issue, but rather than acting on the advice of his father’s wise advisers, he acts on the foolish advice of his friends. This causes a split in the nation of Israel, creating Israel and Judah. Who do you know who is wise? Who do you listen to?

For creative writing, kids learned about different aspects of the liturgy including prayers of the people, greeting of the church, confession, and blessing. We played an opening game, learned the originality of that worship element, and then practiced writing our own prayers, confessions, and blessings.

Pretty fun:

Writing Prayers: Mark 12:41-44 (The Widow’s Coin)

Question: How do you live for God? We can pray – for ourselves, for others, for the world.

Writing Greetings or Welcome Statements: Mark 12:41-44 (The Widow’s Coin)

Question: How would you welcome these two individuals into your church? Different? The Same?

Writing A Confession: The Foolish King (2 Chronicles 10)

Question: Who do you listen to? How do you live with others? How do you ask and receive forgiveness?

Writing Blessings: The Foolish King (2 Chronicles 10)

Question: What does it mean to be blessed?

Absolutely going to do some of these things for my own congregation this fall!