Canopy of God's Love
Posted by KArmstrong

We used a parachute in our first introduction of Rotation Workshops to the parish. It was an idea we had seen at a local informational workshop put on by a church in our area. The two leaders of our Children's Church school carried out a dialogue of trying to get the parachute (referred to as the Canopy of God's Love) up so all the children could experience how great it felt to be under it. The dialogue went on as we realized we couldn't do it on our own to include our minister, some parents and others from the parish. It was a good demonstration, meant to show that many, many people were needed to lift the Canopy of God's love, just as many, many people were needed to lead our workshops and teach our kids!! We then handed out a simple survey asking what skills or interests people had that they could share. Unfortunately it didn't result in a lot of volunteers, but we're still working on it!

CANOPY OF GOD’S LOVE (Luanne’s Version)

Materials : several roles of coloured streamers – yellow, orange, red (for around 70 people we used one extra large roll and one regular size roll – but next time I did this I would have more than one roll going to speed things up).

Say:

• 1. Does this church building on it’s own represent the body of Christ? (No)
• 2. What makes up the body of Christ? (the people)
• 3. Let’s see how many people it takes to make our church do God’s work properly.
• 4. When I say something that makes you part of our church family raise your hand.
• 5. You will be tossed the streamer, keep holding it in one hand, with the other hand toss it to another person whose hand is in the air, and so on, until everyone will eventual be holding onto a continuous chain of crepe paper.
• 6. “Tosser Says – “Share the Good News”
• 7. Catcher Says – “The Holy Spirit Is In Me”
• 8. Let’s see we need: (each church would make up a list suitable to their congregation)
  a. a minister
  b. Parish Nurse
  c. Steward
  d. Mission Committee
  e. Ministry & Personnel Committee
  f. Bible Study
  g. VBS
  h. Treasurer
  i. Sunday School Teacher
  j. Sunday School Children
  k. Nursery
  l. Health Cabinet
  m. Member from Eldad (sister church)
  n. Choir
  o. Organist
  p. Helping Hands
  q. Men’ Breakfast
  r. Trustee
  s. Parent
  t. Grandparent
  u. Visitor
• 9. It’s takes all of us to make up the Church. When we are all taking part, participating, spreading God’s message of forgiveness and love it covers the church with the Canopy of God’s love.
• 10. Let’s see how great it feels to be under the Canopy of God’s love.
• 11. On the count of 3 let’s all raise ours hands that are holding the streaming in praise to God.

Notes:
Have a camera on hand to record the moment.