Welcome! I’ve been practicing a cantata with friends from my church on Sunday afternoons for the past five weeks. We’ll perform the cantata on December 16 at Fallowfield United Methodist Church. Maybe you can come.
It’s titled “The First Noel,” by Joe E. Parks. Trinity United Methodist Church’s Living Christmas Tree sang this cantata more than 20 years ago.
I’ve always loved music. When I was a baby my mom discovered the way to get me to sleep was to play classical music on the radio.
I come from a very musical family. My mom sings beautifully in our church’s choir. She’s a contralto, as was her Aunt Roberta. Mom toured Europe with the Ohio State Fair Choir as a teenager. My Aunt Joanie did, too.
My grandpa, the late Reverend Dr. John Louden, had a gorgeous baritone voice. He sang professionally and was trained in Philadelphia. But when God called him to the ministry, he put his music career aside. God blessed him richly for his obedience. Grandpa Louden also played the violin and piano.
I sang constantly as a kid. I sang “Jesus Loves Me” with a friend during the Vacation Bible School program when I was three. I sang in the school chorus in fifth and sixth grade, then again during my senior year in high school.
I spent countless hours singing to my children as infants and toddlers while trying to get them to sleep. I spent hours walking around my house when my son was teething or my daughter just plain refused to sleep.
I sang hymns most of the time. My children have special songs that I always sang to them at bedtime.
My daughter’s is “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” and my son’s is “Because He Lives.” I often rocked them to sleep while singing “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” or “In the Garden,” too.
I rarely get to sing in church now because I play hymns on my trumpet as well as playing the offertory with our church’s pianist every week. I’m so grateful for my church and the opportunity to not only sing and play my horn, but praise God in these ways.
The Psalmists urge us to sing praises to God. The entire book of Psalms is a hymnal. Can you imagine Jesus as a boy singing Psalms at the temple? I’m sure He did.
Jesus and the disciples sang a hymn after The Last Supper (Matthew 26:30), just before He went to the garden.
According to a footnote in a friend’s Bible, Psalms 115 through 118 were traditional hymns to sing after the Passover meal.
Psalm 118:22 reads, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (NIV)
Jesus is the cornerstone. Isn’t it amazing to think that He sang a song about Himself just before going to the cross? I’ll bet this revelation startled and moved the disciples once they realized this.
As we approach the Christmas season, we’ll hear more and more music that celebrates everything from Jesus’ birth to snowmen and sleigh rides. But we can use this season as an opportunity to intentionally sing Christmas carols that glorify our good and great God.
Have a wonderful week. Blessings!