So God said to Noah, “That rainbow is a sign. It is the sign of the agreement that I made with all living things on earth.” Genesis 9:17 (International Children’s Bible)

For weeks, I have been thinking about rainbows. I honestly don’t know why. Ms. Lois and I haven’t taught the Noah’s Ark lesson, nor invited the children to color a rainbow, for quite some time. It wasn’t until two days ago that I saw a rainbow arching across the blue-gray sky after a late afternoon storm. At the summer camp where I once worked, one of our favorite songs to sing was the Rainbow Connection from the Muppet movie. I can still recall the pure exuberance with which we sang that song. I can’t seem to get that song out of my head lately, or watch enough YouTube videos of Kermit and others singing it.

Maybe I am thinking about rainbows and this song because they evoke messages of God’s promises, faith, connection, and possibility; things that I know we are all grasping for in these days of COVID-19. I stumbled across a young mother’s recent reflection of the Rainbow Connection song.

“As a family, we were having movie night, and we were watching The Muppet Movie 2 — the one so many of our kids have seen — and that song is in it, just like it’s in the original movie,” Liza shares. “I was halfway working and halfway watching, and when that song came on … you just have to stop when you hear it. It brought me back to a time when everything was more simple. This song taps into the power of dreaming and staying positive and connecting with each other. It reminds you that everything will eventually be okay. And, we need that right now.

We don’t know what’s on the other side of a rainbow, or this pandemic. But we are people of faith. Paul Williams, who wrote the Rainbow Connection said “There is immense power in faith. There is more beauty in the questions than there are in the answers.” While we ponder the questions, we can think about rainbows, God’s glory and God’s faithfulness. Even though we may not see the rainbow, we believe one is there. We can trust the Holy Spirit to unleash the creativity within each of us, to find new and innovative ways to safely connect and worship. We also have hope. There WILL be a day when we are back in the sanctuary, in Sunday School, and at camps, singing our hearts out! God made a promise to us, that everything will eventually be okay.

Merrill Noble
Director of Children’s Ministry

For directors, counselors and campers who may or may not be going to summer camp:
May God give you
a rainbow for every storm
angel wings to keep you warm
compassion for every tear
release from every fear
a greeting with a smile
a blessing for every trial
a friend for every frown
a hug when you are down
a promise for every care
answered prayers.
Amen
(By prayables)

Children’s Activity Suggestions
Watch a Muppet movie! Gather the family and a big bowl of popcorn. The original Muppet movie is available on Amazon Prime or through Disney Plus.

Break out the art supplies and make some rainbows! Whether it’s a crayon drawing, chalk pictures on the driveway, or a full-blown painted banner, every rainbow is a reminder that something beautiful always comes after a storm. Display rainbows in your windows, put one on the refrigerator, or mail it to a friend or relative.

Make s’mores and pretend you are sitting around a campfire. Sing your favorite camp songs, including the Rainbow Connection. Share stories about the ways God has been with your family and provided hope. You can make indoor s’mores using mini marshmallows. On top of graham cracker squares, place mini marshmallows. Place them under the broiler for a few seconds. Place ½ of a Hershey bar on top of the marshmallow, then the other half of the graham cracker. Enjoy!