The Iron Rod

I'm excited about the hymn this year, "The Iron Rod." # 274.  The program outline suggests leaning the chorus only but I like to learn the whole hymn.  If you begin with the chorus, the children will sing it out and love it - which is the goal.

You will need:

• a rod - you can use a dowel rod or sturdy stick
• word strips of "strong," "bright" and "true"  Punch a hole in the top or side and tie a string through each word strip.
• word strip of "Word of God"

"Hold to the rod, the iron rod"  - sing the phrase and show the "rod"
"'Tis strong and bright and true"  -  String each word strip onto the rod as you sing the word.
"The iron rod is the word of God"  - tape the word strip of  "Word of God" onto the rod as you sing the phrase.
"'Twill safely guide us through."  - Sing this phrase then ask the children what it means - "guide us through what?"  Hopefully they will answer: through this earth life.

Explain to the children the "'Tis" means "it is" but we only have one note so we sing "'tis."  Ask them if they know what "'Twill" means.  Then explain that it is short for "it will."  Again, there is only one note so it is a contraction of "it will."  (You don't have to be that technical if you don't want to be.)

Sing the chorus several times allowing the children to but the word strips on as you sing.