Shawna Edwards wrote this beautiful song and because I love her music so much, I actually fell in love with the clip before it was fully released. In that time, she changed the words up a bit. So this post will have two options for you. The finished song, and the first version. Let's start with the finished published version.
Flip Chart NEW version
I actually created hand motions and the flip chart before she released her song because I was really excited to teach it with the lesson titled "Surely the Lord is in this Place" for the Old Testament. This week, that was the first week in March. Since then, I have updated the flip chart to match her words. As a tip, if you are viewing this from your phone, click the three dots in the upper left hand corner and select "print layout" for easier viewing. Here ia the file:
Hand Motions: NEW Version
Here is the hand motions that I came up with for this version of the song. I do a mix of ASL with the goal of teaching them the meaning behind the words. One of my favorite parts to emphasize is the use of the ASL word "wander" for "wherever I am He'll be there" because whether or not we are drawing closer to him or wandering from Him, He is always there, ready to comfort us and help call us to Him. Also, I emphasize that the ASL sign for "covenant" can help remind us of the position of our father's hand when he says the sacred prayer when we make our first covenant of baptism. Definitely take the time to point out a few key words in the song as you sign them. It can really help the message of the song stick in their hearts.
Practice Video
Here is the video Shawna Edwards released in case you are making a YouTube playlist for your primary kiddos to practice at home. I find listening to it as I sing kids to sleep or go througout my days doing housework, can really help the song stick in my head. The more you can memorize it, the stronger of a teacher you will be. So hopefully it is helpful to you. Also if you need to purchase the music or anything else, you can access her site here: https://shawnaedwardsmusic.com/collections/the-covenant
Flip Chart OLD Version
This is the original version of the song. There is no practice video that you can share with your primary, so just keep that in mind if you choose to teach this version of the song. I think the original music is no longer available to purchase as well. I am mostly sharing it here for me and the few who may have already purchased the original version and fell in love with the song in it's original state. While both versions are great, the words "the covenant will keep me safe in His care" would make me cry every time I practiced this song before the new version was released. So that is why I chose to teach the original. The new version also cuts out the part that says we are "part of the house of Israel" and that was important to me too. Definitely choose which version is easiest for you! As a tip, if you are viewing this from your phone, click the three dots in the upper left hand corner and select "print layout" for easier viewing. Here is the file in case you need the original flip chart. :
Since I am teaching the song this way, I also made a version of the song with just the words (mostly). I decided to add a few pictures on some of the pages to help the pages fit together better. Here is that file:
Hand Motions OLD Version
Here are the hand motions I came up with before the new version was released. I think the biggest reason I had a hard time switching to the new version was because of the ASL for "safe" made me think about how Satan would tell us that covenants bind us or limit our choices, when in reality covenants free us. They give us the chance to become the best version of ourselves we can possibly be and also allow God to pour out more blessings than we could possibly imagine. Here is that video in case you want to use it.
That's all for now! As I come up with more ideas, I will be sure to post them here :)
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