1 Timothy 4:12-” Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” If you spent any time at Ruth Murdoch Elementary School during the week of February 14th-18th, you would have heard this text throughout the school.
Before Thanksgiving, the sixth graders started preparing to lead out Week of Prayer for the Kindergarten-5th graders. Pretty much every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, many of the 6th-grade students went to a special class with Pastor Ben Martin to prepare the lead speaking parts for the week of prayer. The lead speakers each presented lessons through Bible stories, science experiments, and personal experiences. The remaining students worked with Mr. Swack on preparing song services and on science experiments with spiritual applications. As Week of Prayer got closer after the Christmas break, the sixth graders could even be found spending their recess time practicing special music performances.
The 6th graders put on two sessions each day, one for Kindergarten-2nd grade, and one for the 3rd-5th graders. Each session started energetically, with the group singing “I’m In The Lord’s Army” and “The Battle Belongs To The Lord.” Following song service, a group of 6th graders would present a piece of special music. Special thanks need to be given to Mr. Martins and Ms. Gallardo-Diaz for working with the students on the music. This was followed by the lead speakers for the day. Each of the daily sessions concluded with all of the students being divided into six groups. Each group had a 6th-grade leader who led out in a science demonstration with a spiritual application. The science experiments included: The Amazing Balloon, Sticky Penny, Powerful Paperbacks, Liquid Layers, Star Search, Dry Cleaning. Each of the six groups closed with a prayer, and that is how the session each day ended.
It was evident that the K-5th graders looked forward to coming to the Week of Prayer sessions each morning throughout the week, as comments such as these were overheard:
“This was the best week of prayer ever.”, and “I can’t believe that the stick went all the way through the balloon without popping it!”
It was a great opportunity for the sixth graders to practice and enhance their leadership skills, as multiple students shared concerns of nervousness about speaking, singing, or playing instruments up in front of the other students, but realized that all of the preparation made it “not so bad” and maybe even enjoyable.
Please continue to pray for all of the students and staff at Ruth Murdoch Elementary School as we’re working to prepare the young people for lives of purposeful leadership.
Jess Swackhamer-6th grade homeroom teacher