I love flipping through the Friend magazine each month and finding a NEW song! The April 2023 Friend contains a new song entitled Because by Shawna Edwards. If you want to teach a new song that’s perfect for Easter, try this one!
Find it in The Friend on the church’s website HERE. Print the sheet music HERE.
The text is beautiful!
1. Because He walked with men, I know the way.
Because He calmed the storm, I’m not afraid.
Because He bowed beneath all things, He lifted me above.
Because I know He died for me, I feel His love.
2. Because He conquered death, I’ll live again.
Because He is my Friend, I’ll follow Him.
Because He felt all grief and pain, He calms and comforts me.
And when He comes again, I’ll kneel before His feet.
Chorus: And I will praise forever
The Savior of the world.
And I will sing together
With all the Saints on earth.
Because He gave to me everything
He had to give,
I breathe, I see, I hope, I love, I live.
Find a sing along video for Because by Shawna Edwards here:
Note that there are a few word changes from music in the Friend and the music video/sheet music you can buy.
Hopefully a music video will be shared on the church’s Children’s Music Video section HERE soon as well.
Because Singing Time Ideas
Are you teaching Because by Shawna Edwards and have any singing time ideas to share? Leave a comment with your ideas! Here are a few shared on the Primary Music Leaders FB Group:
Melody Map
Sheri created and shared her melody map HERE.
Sign Language
Chris shared her idea HERE:
I used simple hand motions for key words in the chorus, and asked kids to listen for the answers to this question as they listened to it 1. What 2 things does the song say I can do to show gratitude for the things Christ did for me? (ans: praise the Savior of the world, sing with all the saints on earth) then I asked them to listen again for the answer to this question 2. What 5 things does the song talk about that Christ gave to me/did for me? (ans: breathe, see, hope, love, live) Finally, I asked them to listen again for the answer to this- 3. Of all those 5 things, which one do we hold our voice out the longest for? ans: (love). I sang & did hand motions after each question as kids listened. Then after answering and discuss meaning to the questions (I used the hand motions to help them remember the answers if they got stuck)and the kids stood and sang/did hand motions with me.
Suzette had the idea HERE to:
Add simple sign language for the chorus that says “I breathe, I see, I hope, I love, I live.”
Several more ideas HERE suggest using simple sign language/ASL. Someone else also suggested using wands to create actions that correspond to the words. Check out my post on using wands HERE.
More from the Friend
Make sure to check out all the other songs and material I use from The Friend in singing time HERE. These publications are a wonderful way to add a little more variety into your singing time!
These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Song Title > Because by Shawna Edwards.
