Worship Music 4 May 2008

Youth Sunday! Our kids have spent several weeks designing the liturgy, writing the prayers, and learning the music. And three seniors have sweated over their share of the sermon. The big day is here this week at both services. Interestingly, the kids opted to have both services in the sanctuary. They also settled on some very traditional worship elements. But they also asked the Prophets to lead the music. Just goes to show you can’t predict kids!

Worship will begin with “Blessed be your name,” “You are holy (Prince of peace),” and Rick Founds’ “Lord I lift your name on high.” The kids then asked if we could sing the Schalk/Vajda hymn “God of the sparrow, God of the whale” to open. Not a tune generally associated with the “youth of today,” but then again…We actually spent some quality time with this hymn for a few weeks back in the Fall when Gateways was launched. I’m thinking they are remembering that encounter with the song fondly, and want to renew the congregation’s familiarity with it. The kids also asked to sing “Wherever I may wander” (NEW ENGLAND) in the liturgy. This song they learned, I feel certain, under the tutelage of Mrs. McMillan in children’s choir years ago. Way to go, Mrs. Mac!!

The kids are exploring the notion of lost- and found-ness in the service. Gateways kids are doing a dance piece between the readings, choreographed by themselves. They “had” to have “Amazing grace” (AMAZING GRACE) after the sermon. Aaron’s Bells (our youth handbell ensemble) are ringing at the offering Neil Harmon’s Rondo Maestoso. This was a festival piece for last fall’s youth event in Richmond; we wanted to go but couldn’t pull it off. We are going on record now that we want to go to the festival in ’08 (November 21-22 in Richmond again; the music’s on order guys)! Scott K. did a really neat bit of artwork based on Psalm 23, which will be our cover art for the guide to worship.

The worship service will conclude with Dennis Jernigan’s “You are my all in all.” GiveVoice (our youth choir) will help the Prophets lead the music for worship. The organ will be silent on Sunday (that doesn’t happen often!). The service will be heart-felt for sure, so congrats to our kids for taking the lead in putting it together and bringing it off. To God be the glory!