You Will Need:

• Embroidery hoop - any size can be used, we prefer 8 inch.

• Christmas tree icicles - you will want the type that comes attached together like a fringe.

• Glue

• X-Acto knife

• Ribbon or puff paint

Making Your Hoop:

1. Separate the embroidery hoop parts, so that you have an outer hoop and an inner hoop.

2. Glue the Christmas tree icicles to the outside of the inner hoop. Make sure you are gluing at the top of the icicles, right where the attaching header starts, not at the outer edge of the header.

3. Attach the outer hoop over the inner hoop and icicles. Make sure it is tight

4. Trim off the excess header part of the icicles.

5. Decorate the outer side of the outer hoop by gluing on ribbon, or making a design with the puff paint.

6. Optional Step: You can write a scripture verse inside your praise hoop.

Note: The icicles will get bent, tangled and torn off after a while. You can remove the outer ring, cut off the bad icicles, and put new ones on at any time.

Alternate Construction:

• One additional way you can make a hoop is to use narrow fabric ribbons. This allows you a lot of variation in color, is more durable, but requires much longer to make.

• Another alternate way of making a hoop is to use wide gift wrapping ribbon. Again, this allows you a lot of variation in color. Once the ribbons are attached, you can tear the ribbon into strips.

Using Hoops:

Hoops work best with slow, worshipful songs. If you try and use them on fast songs, they have a tendency to fall apart much faster. The glittery movement of the shiny material in the hoop wonderfully symbolizes the Glory of God being in the house.

Hoops can be used individually. However, we prefer to use them in matched pairs.

Movement of the hands is usually mirror image of each other, making the pattern of Glory all around the dancer.

During a slow worship time, it can be especially appropriate to kneel while using the hoops.This allows the dancer to show reverence to God while he/she is worshipping Him.

Although you can move your hands in any pattern, here are a few basic patterns to try:

• Wave - In tabernacle worship, there is a grain offering that is given by waving it before the Lord. This is called a “wave offering.” To do the wave offering, place your two hands close together, as if you are holding up a gift to God, and wave your hands back and forth above you.

• Crossing Wave - This is similar to the Wave offering, except the hands start spread apart in worship, and cross each other, moving back and forth.

• Loop - The two hands make circles in opposite directions so that the hands move from being close together, to far apart. One hand will be moving clockwise, while the other is moving counterclockwise. This gives a wonderful appearance of the glory cloud.

• Opposed Loop - This is similar to the Loop, except the hands are not quite moving in synch. Essentially, you want the two hands about 180 degrees apart from each other, so that one is up while the other is down.

• Drawing Circle - This is a small vertical circle made with the hoops before the face. The circle should be done in a way as to be pulling something from God down, and into your face.

In addition to these movements, you can make any sign language movement with the hoops in your hands. Or, just worship the Lord while holding the hoops in your hands. The addition of the glimmering from the hoops will make any movement seem more glorious.

FINGER RINGS

You Will Need:

• 1” Diameter curtain rings (either plastic or metal will work)

• 1/8” to 1/4” Wide ribbon - several colors

• Scissors

• “Fray Check” or clear nail polish

Making Your Finger Rings:

1. Cut the ribbon to length. For children, four feet long works well, for adults and teens,six feet long works well.

2. Apply “fray check” to the ends of the ribbons, so that they will not unravel as you use the finger rings.

3. Tie the center of the ribbons to the finger ring as shown in the diagram. You can either stack the ribbons, and tie them with one knot, or tie each ribbon onto the ring individually.

Using Finger Rings

Finger rings are the simplest items to use. We always use these in matched pairs. No special movement is necessary, Just place the finger rings on your middle fingers, and praise the Lord. Clapping, waving of hands, and any other movement you make in praise and worship now takes on a dance type effect.

If you are involved in specific choreographed dances, or dancing in the Spirit, the addition of finger rings can emphasize your movements. Even in a dance where the dancers are holding hands, the addition of the finger rings can add a touch of tabernacle colors to the costumes.

SCARVES

You Will Need:

• Commercially manufactured scarf, or thin fabric to make your own.

• Serger (if you make your own)

Making Your Scarf:

Scarves can be used in one of two sizes. A normal commercial scarf is usually about 18” square. This would be used with one hand.

You can also make a large scarf. This would be big enough so that you can hold it in both hands. To determine size, make your arms go out from your body so that they make a 120 degree angle. Measure the distance between your hands. This is the proper size for the long dimension of your scarf. The short dimension should be half of the longer one.

Using Scarves:

The small scarf in held in one hand, usually the right hand. As you dance before the Lord, wave the scarf and make circles with it. Essentially, the scarf is the lead for any arm movement you make. Much like the finger rings, the scarf will exaggerate any movements you make.

The large scarf is held by the thumb and forefinger of both hands, holding it at, or near two corners. Use your arms to make the scarf flow as a banner before the Lord. Turns are especially nice, allowing the scarf to flow similar to a flag.