Gathering Song
​
Gathering song: Option 1
Choose a Gathering Song according to which unit you’re in and the age range of your group. This Gathering Song can stay the same for the whole unit.
Gathering song: Option 1
âžœ Song: ‘God the Maker made the world’. © Sharon Moughtin.
âžœ Tune: ‘It’s raining, it’s pouring!’ (traditional).
​​
Imaginative aids are particularly helpful for this Gathering Song, encouraging the children to use their whole bodies to explore the weather.
​
Our world can have lots of different weather!
Who can tell us what the weather is like today?
Invite a child to respond.
​
If you’re using imaginative aids, ask two or three children to give them out at this point. Then invite the children to warm up their imaginations by exploring actions for different kinds of weather: rainy, snowy, windy, sunny, cloudy, rainbows, chilly, stormy (thunder and lightning), etc.
​
Introduce each verse of the song by inviting the children to show the kind of weather mentioned with their imaginative aids or their bodies, as exemplified below.
​
When using this song for the first time, you might find it helpful to introduce it by starting with the second half of the song, as these words remain the same every time. For example:
​
We have a new song about God the Maker.
Let’s learn some words
‘my turn’ Both hands to self,
‘your turn’ Hands out to group.
​
God the Maker made the world.
Both hands to self to show your turn
God the Maker made the world.
Hands out to group to show their turn
Thank you, God the Maker!
Both hands to self to show your turn
Thank you, God the Maker!
Both hands to self to show your turn
​
Now let’s add the tune:
‘my turn’ Both hands to self,
‘your turn’ again Hands out to group.
​
Sing the second half of the song, line by line.
God the Maker made the world.
Both hands to self to show your turn
God the Maker made the world.
Hands out to group to show their turn
Thank you, God the Maker!
Both hands to self to show your turn
Thank you, God the Maker!
Hands out to group to show their turn
Let’s try that all together.
Lead the group in singing.
God the Maker made the world.
Thank you, God the Maker!
​
We’re ready to add some weather!
Who can show me rain?
Follow the children’s actions for rain.
Let’s say ‘It’s raining, it’s raining, outside it is raining!’
It’s raining, it’s raining, outside it is raining!
Now let’s try singing that
and let’s add the rest of our song to the end.
Let’s show rain the whole time we’re singing.
​
Lead the children in their rain action as you sing:
It’s raining, it’s raining, outside it is raining!
God the Maker made the world
Thank you, God the Maker!
Continue from ‘Now let’s imagine it’s sunny outside’ below.
​
Let’s start off by imagining it’s raining outside!
Can you show me rain?
Let’s sing ‘It’s raining, it’s raining!
Outside it is raining!’
​
Continue with the action as you sing:
It’s raining, it’s raining!
Outside it is raining!
God the Maker made the world.
Thank you, God the Maker!
​
Now let’s imagine it’s sunny outside!
Can you show me sunny?
​
Continue with the action as you sing:
It’s sunny, it’s sunny!
Outside it is sunny!
God the Maker made the world.
Thank you, God the Maker!
​
Look! I can see a rainbow!
Can you show me a rainbow?
Let’s sing ‘A rainbow, a rainbow!
Outside there’s a rainbow!’
​
Continue with the action as you sing:
A rainbow, a rainbow!
Outside there’s a rainbow!
God the Maker made the world.
Thank you, God the Maker!
Oh my goodness, now there’s thunder!
Can you show me thunder with your feet?
And lightning! Can you show me lightning?
It’s stormy!
​
Continue with the action as you sing:
It’s stormy, it’s stormy!
Outside it is stormy!
God the Maker made the world.
Thank you, God the Maker!
​
Wow! Now there’s snow,
Soft, beautiful snow, falling all around.
Can you show me snow?
​
Continue with the action as you sing:
It’s snowing, it’s snowing!
Outside it is snowing!
God the Maker made the world.
Thank you, God the Maker!
​
And now listen. Put your hand over your ear
Lead the children in blowing to imitate wind.
Can you hear that?
Lead the children in blowing louder and louder.
It’s windy outside! Can you show me wind?
​
Continue with the action as you sing:
It’s windy, it’s windy!
Outside it is windy!
God the Maker made the world.
Thank you, God the Maker!
​
Yawn Who’s feeling tired after all that weather?
Let’s sit back in our place and go to sleep . . .
Lead the group in being sleepy.
Look! Point up Outside the stars are twinkling. Twinkle hands
Can you show me the twinkling stars?
Lead the group in twinkling with hands as you sing quietly and sleepily:
It’s starry, it’s starry,
outside it is starry.
God the Maker made the world.
Thank you, God the Maker!
End by falling asleep quietly and peacefully.
​
Gathering song: Option 2
âžœ Song: ‘God the Maker made the world!’ Words © Sharon Moughtin.
âžœ Tune: 'Aiken Drum’ (traditional).
​
Imaginative aids are particularly helpful for this Gathering Song, encouraging the children to use their whole bodies to explore the weather.
​
Our world can have lots of different weather!
Who can tell us what the weather is like today?
Invite a child to respond.
​
If you’re using imaginative aids, ask two or three children to give them out at this point. Then invite the children to warm up their imaginations by exploring actions for different kinds of weather: rainy, snowy, windy, sunny, cloudy, rainbows, chilly, stormy (thunder and lightning), etc.
​
God the Maker made the weather!
Let’s thank God for every kind of weather
with our God the Maker song.
​
If your group is singing this song for the first time, you may find the following introduction helpful.
Let’s learn the words to a new song
‘my turn’ Both hands to self
‘your turn’ Hands out to group
​
God the Maker made the world
Both hands to self to show your turn
God the Maker made the world
Hands out to group to show their turn
so beautiful, so beautiful!
Both hands to self to show your turn
so beautiful, so beautiful!
Hands out to group to show their turn
God the Maker made the world.
Both hands to self to show your turn
God the Maker made the world.
Hands out to group to show their turn
Thank you, God the Maker!
Both hands to self to show your turn
Thank you, God the Maker!
Hands out to group to show their turn
​
Now let’s add the tune:
‘my turn’ Both hands to self
‘your turn’ Hands out to group.
​
God the Maker made the world
so beautiful, so beautiful!
Both hands to self to show your turn
God the Maker made the world
so beautiful, so beautiful!
Hands out to group to show their turn
​
God the Maker made the world.
Thank you, God the Maker!
Both hands to self to show your turn
God the Maker made the world.
Thank you, God the Maker!
Hands out to group to show their turn
Continue as below.
​
Don’t worry about teaching the words for each of the weather verses. These are very repetitive, so that the children will pick them up as they go, and the tune is the same as the refrain.
​
Who can show us an action for ‘beautiful’?
Choose one of the actions. This will become the 'beautiful' action
And ‘thank you God the Maker’?
Choose one of the actions.
This will become the 'thank you' action
​
We’re ready to sing our song!
Lead the group in singing the song with the actions.
​
God the Maker made the world, Circle or other action
so beautiful, so beautiful! Beautiful action
God the Maker made the world. Circle or other action
Thank you, God the Maker! Thank you action
​
Introduce each verse by inviting the children to show the kind of weather mentioned with their imaginative aids, or with their bodies as exemplified below. You may like to find your own order and introductions.
For instance:
​
Let’s start off by imagining it’s raining outside!
Can you show me rain?
Continue with the action as you sing:
And today it’s raining! Children’s rain action
It’s raining! It’s raining!
And today it’s raining!
Thank you, God the Maker! Thank you action
​
You can either repeat the God the Maker refrain each time as indicated below, or you could move through the different weather verses without the refrain.
​
Example:
​
God the Maker made the world, Circle or other action
so beautiful, so beautiful! Beautiful action
God the Maker made the world. Circle or other action
Thank you, God the Maker! Thank you action
​
Now listen. Hand over your ear.
Lead the children in blowing to imitate wind.
Can you hear that?
Lead the children in blowing louder and louder.
It’s windy outside! Can you show me wind?
​
Continue with the action as you sing:
And today it’s windy!
It’s windy, it’s windy!
And today it’s windy!
Thank you, God the Maker! Thank you action
Refrain.
​
Now let’s imagine it’s sunny outside!
Can you show me sunny?
​
Continue with the action as you sing:
And today it’s sunny!
It’s sunny, it’s sunny!
And today it’s sunny!
Thank you, God the Maker! Thank you action
Refrain (if you choose).
​
Look! Now there’s snow,
soft, beautiful snow, falling all around.
Can you show me snow?
​
Continue with the action as you sing:
And today it’s snowing!
It’s snowing! It’s snowing!
And today it’s snowing!
Thank you, God the Maker! Thank you action
Refrain (if you choose).
​
Oh my goodness, now there’s thunder!
Can you show me thunder with your feet?
And lightning! Can you show me lightning?
It’s stormy!
​
Continue with the action as you sing:
And today it’s stormy!
It’s stormy! It’s stormy!
And today it’s stormy!
Thank you, God the Maker! Thank you action
Refrain (if you choose).
​
Listen! The thunderstorm’s stopped!
Look! Point I can see a rainbow!
Can you show me a rainbow?
Let’s sing ‘Today, there’s a rainbow!’
​
Continue with the action as you sing:
And today there’s a rainbow!
A rainbow, a rainbow!
And today there’s a rainbow!
Thank you, God the Maker! Thank you action
Refrain (if you choose).
Last of all, what did we say the weather was like today?
Can anyone tell me?
Can you show me ______ ?
Let’s sing one more time.
Let’s thank God the Maker for our weather today.
​
Continue with the action as you sing:
And today it’s __________!
It’s _____! It’s_____!
And today it’s _____!
Thank you, God the Maker! Thank you action
​
God the Maker made the world, Circle or other action
so beautiful, so beautiful! Beautiful action
God the Maker made the world. Circle or other action
Thank you, God the Maker! Thank you action
​
Gathering song: Option 3
Psalm 148
âžœ Song: ​ Based on ‘Praise him! Praise him! Praise in the morning, praise him in the evening!’ (Anon).
âžœ Tune: 'Praise him’ (Anon).
This material also features as one of the stories in the God’s Calling storybox (Book 3). If you are going to use this as your Gathering Song, you may like to tell it as the first story of the unit to give you enough time to learn it from scratch.
​
Appropriate for mixed groups of babies, toddlers and children up to the age of 9. Groups that only include children up to the age of 7 may prefer to use Options 1 or 2.
God the Maker made this beautiful world.
It’s time to praise God!
​
When singing the song for the first time you may find this introductin helpful:
It’s time to learn a song.
Let’s sing it
‘my turn’ Point to self
‘your turn’ Leader’s hands out to group.
Everyone: Point around praise God! Hands in the air
Everyone: Point around praise God! Hands in the air
Everyone: Point around praise God! Hands in the air
Everyone: Point around praise God! Hands in the air
​
Then it’s the same again, but this time the end is different.
Listen . . . ‘My turn’ Point to self,
‘your turn’ Leader’s hands out to group.
​
Everyone: Point around praise God! Hands in the air
Praise God! Alleluia! Hands in the air
Everyone: Point around praise God! Hands in the air
Praise God! Alleluia! Hands in the air
​
Let’s sing that all together!
Lead the group in singing:
Everyone: Point around praise God! Hands in the air
Everyone: Point around praise God! Hands in the air
Everyone: Point around praise God! Hands in the air
Praise God! Alleluia! Hands in the air
Who can tell me what Alleluia means?
Alleluia means ‘Praise . . . Encourage the children to join in God!’
Praise God! Hands in the air Alleluia! Hands in the air
If appropriate:
We praise God together here in church, but...
All groups:
We can praise God the Maker all the time!
We can praise God when we’re playing outside!
Can you show me an action for playing in the park?
This will become the park action.
I love playing in the park!
Let’s sing ‘In the park: praise God!’
​
In the park: Park action praise God! Hands in the air
In the park: Park action praise God! Hands in the air
In the park: Park action praise God! Hands in the air
Praise God! Alleluia! Hands in the air
​
We can praise God when we’re drawing!
Can you show me an action for drawing?
This will become the drawing action.
Draw-aw-ing: Drawing action praise God! Hands in the air
Draw-aw-ing: Drawing action praise God! Hands in the air
Draw-aw-ing: Drawing action praise God! Hands in the air
Praise God! Alleluia! Hands in the air
We can praise God with everything we do!
But not only we humans praise God!
The Bible tells us that other animals and birds
and other living things like trees and plants
can praise God as well!
Even the weather and the sun and moon can praise God!
​
You might like to use the following or invite the children to come up with their own ideas.
The animals all around us are praising God,
including the squirrels!
Let’s all be squirrels.
Squirrels love climbing!
Can you show me climbing like a squirrel?
Lead the group in being squirrels.
Let’s sing ‘Climbing squirrels praise God!’
Climbing squirrels: Climbing action praise God! Hands in the air
Climbing squirrels: Climbing action praise God! Hands in the air
Climbing squirrels: Climbing action praise God! Hands in the air
Praise God! Alleluia! Hands in the air
The flowers all around us are praising God!
Daisies are praising God when they grow!
Let’s show how a daisy grows!
Let’s curl up into a ball like a seed.
Lead the group in curling up into a ball.
​
First, we need to put our roots down.
Let’s show our roots with our fingers.
Lead the group in wiggling fingers.
We need to let our roots grow down deep.
Lead the group in wiggling fingers down.
​
Then, after 3, let a little shoot pop up.
1, 2, 3 . . . Pop!
Poke your hands up over your head like a little shoot.
Then start to grow up tall.
Gradually stand up, swaying like a growing stalk.
Taller and taller, onto our tiptoes . . .
Reach up with pointy hands and on tiptoes.
​
Let’s turn our faces up towards the sun!
Look at those beautiful daisies!
Let’s sing ‘Growing daisies praise God!’
Let’s show the daisies growing as we sing!
Growing daisies: Growing action praise God! Hands in the air
Growing daisies: Growing action praise God! Hands in the air
Growing daisies: Growing action praise God! Hands in the air
Praise God! Alleluia! Hands in the air
Choose from the following options or beyond as you explore different parts of God’s creation praising God and encourage the children to also make their own suggestions. Everything in the world praises God the Maker!
​
- singing birds Open and close index finger and thumb to show bird singing
- pouring rain Drum fingers on the floor
- frogs and toads Crouch and jump
- elephants Wave arm for trunk
- crashing waves Arms up and over to show crashing waves
- summer flowers Growing action
- crocodiles Open and close arms to show snapping crocodile
- wriggling worms Wiggle fingers or lie on floor and be wriggling worms
​
