Choirs

“Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to man that he should proclaim the Word of God through music.”—Martin Luther

I love what Martin Luther said about music. It reaches places inside of us that words alone cannot. Such amazing gifts God gave to human beings! Those who choose to use these gifts get a double-dose of blessing: first, it blesses the maker of the music, and second, it blesses the hearer of the music. And our kids of RLC have been steeped in blessing already this year!
First, the Cherubs began their year with a lively song called “I’m in the Lord’s Army”, containing movement and actions with a good beat. The song affirmed the idea that all of us as Christians have been enlisted as soldiers in the war against the forces of darkness. And you don’t need to march or shoot to do battle, either!

Next, the Praise Team has been busy since I last wrote a column! Our December was plum full of activity, including a couple of performances outside of the church; the opening act at the Winona Brass Band Christmas Concert in the brand-new RP auditorium, and as part of the Christmas program at the Houston Nursing Home. Both were great experiences for the kids to shine their lights outside the walls of the church and bring joy and Jesus to the greater community. And shine they did!

We returned from break with only two weeks to learn our new songs: “Be Thou My Vision/First” and “Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful”. The first featured Annika on piano, and some vocal harmony on the chorus. The combination of the classic hymn with Lauren Daigle’s contemporary piece made for a great message on how important it is to focus on Jesus first and always. The second piece was a Keith Green tune that he penned in the night while longing to be closer to the Lord; a love letter to Jesus, you might say. In fact, Green stated, “I didn’t know where to mail it, so I stuck it in my Bible.” Featuring Daisy and Beatty on guitar, the beauty and sincerity of this song makes it a favorite to sing any time of year.

On performance day, we held a call for new members in the form of a fun drum clinic led by Kerry K. We had several extra students come to enjoy the drums, and a good time was had by all. As we move into February, we are going to incorporate more instruments than ever before into a song: “Your Love, Oh Lord” will feature guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, and maracas! (We decided today that we need two-hour rehearsals.) The kids are growing so much musically, and spiritually, that it’s just awesome to be a part of it! However, when you add more instruments, more voices to balance it out would be great! So, encourage the singers in your life to be a part of this most awesome group! Blessings and love,

-Kristin Burdey