Tag: worship cartoon

Categories
church cartoons holiday

We Gather Together

We Gather Together Headline

Thanksgiving is coming in the United States. So there is nothing better for me than to dole out another Thanksgiving cartoon! It’s like an extra helping of oyster dressing and cranberry salad.

The church I grew up in felt obligated to sing We Gather Together each Thanksgiving season. The challenge was that the worship leader would sing it the Sunday before the holiday. To a child, that seemed an eternity away. We might as well sing a Christmas Carol while we were at it! Of course, that came the next Sunday. My poor immature mind couldn’t take this hymnal time warp every season.

The hymn wasn’t exactly kid-friendly either. The first verse was a lot to take in. There isn’t even a chorus! It didn’t exactly roll off the tongue for me.

“We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.”

Theodore Baker 1894

So this year, I decided to modernize it a bit. Here is my version:

Cartoon of a couple singing a hymn. It's a parody of "We Gather Together."
Published in the November 2021 CHOGNews.

I realize “scones” is a little high class. But “donuts” didn’t have the same ring to it. Besides, I know a dear lady at one of our previous churches that makes the best scones. Whenever I bit into one, I felt quite grateful.

So have a happy Thanksgiving! enjoy a warm gathering and some scones. It may cause you to break out in singing.

I drew this cartoon for the November 2022 CHOGNews.

Categories
children's ministry cartoons K! Magazine Kidzmatter Magazine Magazine worship

Kids Worship in Mysterious Ways

Cartoon of two adults watching a dancing boy. One adults says "I didn't know you could breakdance to 'Amazing Grace.'"
Published in "K! Kidzmatter Magazine"

One of the things I will miss this morning is the unique ways kids will sing and dance with worship music. I’ve seen kids do The Worm. Others are experts at The Floss. The creativity flows when the music plays. I’ve heard some adults complain that it could become less of the worship experience and more of aerobic activity. That’s fine with me. Keep the kids engaged.

When I drew this, I thought of the many times adults try to make kids behave like little adults. Sure, Amazing Grace is a wonderful hymn and is rich in its meaning. But it is difficult to get a seven-year-old to sit still and sing all six verses slowly and solemnly. Sooner or later, one of the kids will break out into dancing.

Cartoon of two adults watching a dancing boy. One adults says "I didn't know you could breakdance to 'Amazing Grace.'"
Published in “K! Kidzmatter Magazine”
Categories
cartoon

Do You Do What the Song Says?

Cartoon of two men in church. One has his hands lifted. The other says, "Do you mean when the song says, 'We lift our hands in praise,' you actually do it?"

A few weeks ago, I was in church singing with the congregation. One song had the lyrics, “We lift our hands in praise.” So I did it. My eyes were closed at the time because, well, that’s what I sometimes do when I get into the music. When I opened them, I was surprised there were just a few others doing what the song says. Scandalous!Cartoon of two men in church. One has his hands lifted. The other says, "Do you mean when the song says, 'We lift our hands in praise,' you actually do it?"

This morning, I am probably in church doing the same thing. A few decades ago, I may have been self-conscious about it. Maybe I still am and that’s why my eyes are closed. Regardless, if I am going to sing a praise and worship song, I’m going to do what it says. If I don’t what’s the point?

I drew this cartoon for the September 2019 Church of God Newsletter.

Categories
cartoon Christmas church cartoons holiday worship

Please! No “Santa Baby!”

cartoon of a man saying to a guitar player, "For Christmas worship, don't you dare play, 'Santa Baby!'"I can’t help it. I love Christmas music, especially this time of the year. But Santa Baby is one Christmas song I have grown to despise. You may like it, and that is fine with me. Just please, PLEASE don’t play it in front of me one more time. If you do, I’ll have to drown it out with Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer!

Categories
children's ministry cartoons

Getting Your Worship Face On

cartoon of a guy talking to a pouting boy. They guy says, "Well! Someone doesn't have his worship face on!"
©2014 Kidzmatter & Speartoons Inc.

Sometimes, when I teach, I like to scan the audience while the kids sing during worship. Frequently, I will find kids that are getting into the music. But I also find the one or two faces that clearly do not have their “worship face” on.

Continue reading “Getting Your Worship Face On”