Wednesday, December 30, 2009

December: Week Two.

Monthly Theme: My family is blessed when we remember Jesus Christ.
Scripture: "I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." (Job 19:25)
Weekly Theme: Jesus was born into a family. I remember Jesus when I partake of the sacrament.

Songs:

Silent Night

Oh gosh. I'm doing this way after the fact, and I can't even really remember what we did that day except... oh yeah. I'm remembering.

With Senior Primary, we started Silent Night on the pipe chimes with harmony! That meant that two kids would chime at the same time (ideally). I was a little nervous that they wouldn't get the timing down right, even though we've had numerous talks about rhythm and tempo over the last six months, but they did it! They got it down, nearly flawless, by the third run-thru! I was so proud.

I shared the history of Silent Night explaining that it was written in 1818 by a clergyman, Father Joseph Mohr, and the music by Franz Xaver Gruber. I told them that Silent Night is probably the most universally recognized Christmas hymn since it's been translated into over 100 languages. Then I shared the story of Silent Night's influence in the Christmas Truce in the trenches of WWI, and how the spirit of Christmas and ultimately, the spirit of Christ, can cause people to cease contention and express their love.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Stake Conference.

I won't have a lesson plan for this week since we have Stake Conference. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Rodolfo C. Franco of the Seventy will be with us. I'm looking forward to it.

I'll be back next week with more Christmas music and chimes. And maybe even another snowball throw!