Song for Sunday: A Penguin Drinking Tea

Today we have a silly children's song, the kind that helps get the wigglies out of small, active kids.

So how did it become a Song for Sunday? It played a prominent part in our tour of the Lower Ninth Ward. We had been to Gavez' Goodies and seen the barber shop, grocery store, future laundromat, and future internet cafe. We'd been to the memorial with it's poles, model house, and engraved stone. Then we went down to the area where the Make It Right Foundation, Brad Pitt's organization, had built homes. Awesome homes with eco-friendly systems and the ability to float if the waters rise.

It was there that we met Jo'an, a boy of about 8 who showed us how well he could ride his bike and how fast he could run. He just happened to be out when we walked by and decided to be friendly. So down by the levee, in front of the spot where the barge went through, we decided to entertain him for a few minutes. One of our group lead us in this song, with Jo'an joining in. It was fun.


Here's how it goes:

Leader:  Penguins Attention! (all stand to attention)
Leader: Penguins Begin! Right arm (all move right arm out and back, slapping thigh lightly)

All: Did you ever see a penguin drinking tea?
Take a look at me, a penguin you will see.


Leader:  Penguins Attention! (all stand to attention)
Leader: Penguins Begin! Right arm, left arm (all move both arm out and back, slapping thigh lightly)

All: Did you ever see a penguin drinking tea?
Take a look at me, a penguin you will see.


Repeat, adding right foot, left foot, turn around and nod your head.


We didn't get video of our group singing this, but here's a link to a video of the Girl Choir of South Florida doing it.

 

 What children's action songs do you like?

Roads, Walls & Soldiers' Toilets: Reflections on History and Survival

Yesterday, we drove down a Roman Road. It was very straight and, after nearly 2,000 years, very usable.

Of course, over the milennia it has received maintenance, upgrades, paving and modern markings. All over Britain there are ancient Roman roads still in use.

We took that Roman Road to an ancient fort called "Housesteads." Really, a ruin. You can still see the outlines of many buildings. From an archaeological perspective, it is remarkably well preserved, but trust me, you don't want to use these toilets. Though the latrine was built to the highest level of sanitation technology known in the world at that time, it is now a curiosity, useful only to teach us about the past.

Preservation is a wonderful thing, as is learning about the past. Ruins are one way to recognize our history and to feel connected to those who came before.

But there is an even greater connection, a living connection, when we are still using the items our ancestors made. I have seen this in the castles, church buildings and cathedrals we have visited, too. Some are simply museums, showing old items and teaching facts -- often in creative and interactive ways. I love re-enactors!

Others are stil residences, places where people live, eat, laugh and cry. Or they house vibrant congregations who continue the tradition of worship. They don't live and worship exactly as their ancestors however. They have electricity, running water, projectors, updated language, new styles of music, different clothing, new forms of art and communication mixed in with the old. Historical, yet living. Renewed and transformed, yet connected to centuries past.

How is your church or organization? Is it a museum to the past or a living community? It's worth thinking about.








+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CYC does a good job of balancing tradition with renewal. It's a 100 year old ministry to teens. Send your highschoolers along to this amazing two weeks in August on the southern coast of Maine. It's not too late to sign up for our 100th anniversary conference that starts August 2, 2015.  

Eco-Challenge Part 8: Feed the Bag Monster... NOT!

This is another Go to Zero Challenge.

In the next few weeks can you get down to using zero plastic grocery bags?



Probably the best way to do that is to acquire canvas bags that can be reused for years.  Some grocery stores even give you a mini-rebate for each bag you bring and use. The bags don't take up much space when empty. They can be folded into each other and kept in the closet.




Don't forget to take those reusable bags to the hardware store and the department store as well.


The bag monster is a light-hearted way to draw attention to the prevalence of single use plastic grocery bags.

Here's a link to a video clip:

For more info: 

Plastic Bag Statistics

History of the Plastic Bag

A Guide to Safe Reusable Grocery Bag Use



This is my 29th post for the April 2015 Ultimate Blog Challenge.

At the Christian Youth Conference at Ocean Park one of the Statements of Purpose is 
"We cultivate an active enjoyment and stewardship of God’s creation and a respect for the beauty of God’s world." Please consider this quality discipleship training program and experience of Christan community designed for high school students. August 2-15. 2015 on the beautiful southern coast of Maine. Scholarships available.