The Sacred Grove : A Dramatization

Variety is the spice of primary singing time.  We haven't acted a song out in a while so that's what we're going to do this time with "The Sacred Grove".

It utilizes a lot of children, which is helpful for those wiggly days.

First verse: (As I introduce the song with what it's about I will be unrolling a roll of green streamers upon the ground in front of me, engaging the children's interest :))

• "The sacred grove was green and fresh, the morning sun shone bright around"
•  The children will makeup the sacred grove, holding branches.

I cut poplar-shaped leaves (cause I think the shape is pretty) out of green construction paper.

 

To fix them to the branches, which I collected from our backyard after pruning our out-of-control apple tree, I used 28 gauge wire taped to the back of the leaf and twisted around the limbs.

The relatively soft wire made the leaves bounce a bit when moved.

The sun will be a large circle of cardboard with yellow fabric taped to it.  A child will hold it up.  (I love to take advantage of children's visuals by using big ones when I can).

•  "As Joseph knelt in fervent prayer, as Joseph knelt in fervent prayer"
• green streamers will be on the ground where a primary boy will be show us how reverently he can kneel with head bowed, arms folded, and eyes closed
• "Upon that sacred ground"
•  Point to streamered ground under foot

Second verse:
Picture of First Vision
Picture of Joseph kneeling
Make sign with FEARS written on it in interesting text

And a picture of an animated heart will be rejoicing, also made into a sign for the children to hold.

I'm not thrilled with the way these turned out but it's alright.  It gives the children a visual to aid memorization and also gives them something to hold.

Lyrics

1. The Sacred Grove was green and fresh,
   The morning sun shone bright around,
   As Joseph knelt in fervent prayer,
   As Joseph knelt in fervent prayer
   Upon that sacred ground.
2. The Father and the Son appeared.
   They spoke to him as with one voice.
   Their message answered all his fears,
   Their message answered all his fears
   And made his heart rejoice.

Text: Joan D. Campbell, b. 1929
Music: Hal K. Campbell, b. 1927.
(c) 1969 IRI. Arr. (c) 1989 IRI


To learn it the following weeks it will develop into more of a dramatization. 

First verse:

• The children with branches will hold them high above their heads and sway like the breeze with the rhythm of them music.
1. "The sacred grove was green and fresh"
• The child with the sun will then join the sway with the sun
• "The morning sun shone bright around"
•  The branches and the sun will hold still and face the kneeling Joseph
• "As Joseph knelt in fervent prayer, as Joseph knelt in fervent"

• The children with branches and sun will then draw back into a line opening the view of the sacred ground that Joseph is kneeling on (fan out away from Joseph)
• Upon that sacred ground

Second verse:

• A child will hold the picture of the First Vision and with the first two beats of verse advance upon the grove, leaning into Father and Son, approaching the kneeling Joseph.
• "The Father and the Son appeared, They spoke to him as with one voice"
• A child will hold "fears" up and on the word "fears" lower it, both times (up and down, up and down)
• "Their message answered all his fears, Their message answered all his fears"

• And a child will gently and slowly push the rejoicing heart picture out from in front of them.
• "And made his heart rejoice"