Choir
The Bell Choir rehearsal is Wednesday night at 6:30 pm. All are welcome to join. The Chancel Choir rehearsal is Wednesday night at 7:00 pm. No singing experience is required, and it is not necessary to know how to read music. Contact Karen House, Music Director, if you play a musical instrument and are interested in sharing your skills, or if you would like to join the Hand Bell choir or Chancel Choir.
Children’s Music at CrossRoads
Kid's Quest is excited to announce that a children's choir is being formed at CrossRoads Church. It will be led by Karen House,our church music director. Ms. House has been working with the children for the last few weeks from 9:00 - 9:10, but the children enjoy it so much that we would like to extend the time in order to let the children explore more instruments and learn more songs. Ms. House is teaching both traditional Sunday School songs and others that connect with the Kid's Quest teaching units. She is introducing rhythm instruments from around the world and also teaching the children to ring hand chimes while they sing. American Sign Language will be used with some songs in the future. To allow time for all these activities, beginning on March 16 - Palm Sunday, Kid's Quest Choir practice will run from 8:45 - 9:15 am. Kid's Quest classes will begin promptly at 9:15.
Children's Choirs serve many purposes. You need not look far to see the fun and fellowship that children have together when they sing. They are learning to work together and be members of a caring community within the church. As a bonus, they are getting free singing lessons! But more importantly, children's choirs exist for three main purposes. First, the songs sung support a child's Christian Education. We pass on the faith to another generation of Christians through songs about the Bible and the seasons of the church. Second, choirs help children to worship God. Singing is a way in which the children can participate and be leaders in worship. They use music to express thoughts and feelings about God, and in doing so, they help the congregation worship God, too. We plan to have the children of CrossRoads participate in our services from time to time by singing the songs they know. Their music will be a blessing to all who listen. Third, being in a children's choir helps teach our children to be of service to God and to the church. When they sing in church, they are helping the church. It is a way for the children to use the gifts and talents which God has given them, and best of all, this manner of service can be continued throughout their lives.
Children's choirs are very important in the life of the child and the church! Please consider bringing your child or grandchildren to join the children's choir from 8:45-9:15 on Sunday mornings and to continue onto our Kid's Quest classes from 9:15 - 10:00.
A Word From Karen
I remember quickly fumbling through the journal I was reading to find the answer. Surely there was a solution to the problem! But there was nothing there. It was a braise teaser, to be sure. So I gave it some thought. The Bible has many references of praising God through music, and in particular through song. Psalm 150 tells us to “Make a joyful noise to God with songs of praise!” And Ephesians 5 tells us to “Sing the words and tunes of the psalms and hymns when you are together and go on singing and chanting to the Lord in your hearts, so that always and everywhere you are giving thanks to God who is our father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
For most of us, music helps us express our faith. Where commercials use music as a way to get our attention or to sell a product, the Christian who sings praises is not trying to sell anything or attract attention. Where words alone may be cheap or empty of true meaning, with music we can express our deepest feelings straight from our hearts.
George Gallup, JR., states this well in his religious survey, The Search for America’s Faith: “Music is the spirit’s universal language; it is the vocabulary of the soul, it becomes the chain link between people when everything else has failed. It is a divine sign that the church has a large future.”
To me, that is a beautiful set of images. To believe that music is how the spirit communicates with and through us places a huge importance on our praise in worship. And to think of music as the fabric that binds us together in spite of everything else that happens to us gives us all wonderful hope as a people of God. Unfortunately many of us, myself included, manage to go through the motions of singing our praises without really thinking about what we are doing.
John Wesley wrote many directions for singing which have been included in every edition of our hymnal since 1761. Some of my favorites are “Sing lustily and with a good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength.” Also “Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.”
It seems that if we come to worship God, then we come to praise God. So when we praise God, let’s not make it an empty act or a half-hearted attempt at singing. Let’s truly “Make a Joyful Noise with Songs of Praise!”
More From Karen
Have you ever had a song stuck in your head that wouldn’t go away?
Some Disc Jockeys call that a “default song,” one that you go back to when nothing else is playing in your mind. I can think of many that have plagued me over the years: little ditties on kids’ music CDs, Bible School songs, a phrase or two from some music I’m practicing. I usually get annoyed when something gets stuck in my head day and night, but there is one song that has haunted me for years that I don’t mind hearing again and again. It’s a folk hymn from Appalachia called “How Can I Keep From Singing?” I first heard it when I was living in Tennessee. A soloist with the original, plaintive mountain twang has a special appeal to it, but a congregation singing it in Missouri does just as well. It is in our supplement to the hymnal, The Faith We Sing:
My life flows on in endless song above earth’s lamentation.
I hear the sweet, though far-off hymn that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul; how can I keep from singing?
I think it beautifully describes how music is a part of my life. Music is a constant source of joy for me, an avenue of expression that is an integral part of my day. I go to the piano when I am happy; I sing and play when I am sad. Music is a source of comfort when my life is difficult. But I am not alone in my music-making. That sweet, far-off hymn is like an anchor for me, holding me and helping me to see life in perspective. It reminds me to be patient and helps me to sing prayers and praises to God. Can you hear it?
CrossRoads has a wonderful group of people who make music every week: the Chancel Choir. If you like to sing, please consider joining them. Previous choir experience is not necessary, only a love of music and a desire to join with others who also like to sing. The group meets at 7 pm on Wednesday evenings for about an hour and 15 minutes (babysitting provided). Laughter and fellowship is a big part of the evening, but the goal is to be ready to sing every Sunday in worship at 10:10 am.
If you are not a singer, then how about joining the Bell Choir? No experience is necessary to be a part of this group either. The group meets for 30 minutes each week, on the stage from 6:30 to 7 pm on Wednesday evenings. There is on the job training provided. It is fun and not nearly as hard as you might think! We mark and color code the music to make learning easier. Everyone should try it at least once!
For more information, contact Karen House. |
