For those of you who are having difficulty imagining how praise banners could work, let me give you a brief introduction and some ideas for incorporating them into the kids worship time...then perhaps even into the main worship service(s) - with the approval of your church leadership.

Banners were used throughout the Old Tes-tament during gatherings by the children of Israel. Banners were waved as symbols of particular emotion of the people or to represent a certain attribute of God. Psalm 60:4 talks about God giving a banner to those who fear Him that is to be displayed because of truth. Why not allow children to make simple banners describing their favorite attribute of God that they can wave during a time of worship and/or singing?
	Click photos for enlargement

In Exodus 29:24 we discover that wave offerings were common in the Old Testament. I'm glad they are coming back in style! Fifty years ago people waved their hankies in worship...and in Africa, they still do (see photo and clips below). Today, most of us don't use hankies (thanks to tissues)...so it's makes banners an option in reviving a fading Scripture-based tradition.

Kids follow the example of the adults during this kids worship service (left). They initiated hankies for their American brothers and sisters.

VIEW QUICKTIME VIDEO CLIPS GHANIAN MEN & WOMEN DEMONSTRATE USING HANKIES IN WORSHIP. ----------- MEN     WOMEN

Ideas...

• Try using banners during fast or slow songs that aren't suitable for motions.

• Have kids make a variety of banners as little projects throughout the year to give them artistic expression...and to give the group a variety to choose from depending on what a song or worship time is focused on. This is creating a home-grown library that will serve future generations.

• Train adults to participate in this activity with children. Some people like to bring their own banners, while others like to be assigned to teams that rotate their responsibilities through a month/year...which happens to be a great way to train children by example.

• In some churches board members select large banners to wave over the congregation during worship depending on what the needs are and depending on what the Spirit is saying to the church.

• The introduction of this idea will most likely be distracting for some who are not accustomed to it and may actually be opposed by others as "over the top." However, as with anything else, the more it's done, the less attention it will attract. Eventually it will lead to assisting many who benefit from a physical reminder of God's love and the need to respond. **Be sure to clear adding this element of worship with your leadership if you think there may need to be some education about the purpose and need for it, etc.

Submitted by: AC (c) 2006