The theme for Children’s Sabbath, and the children’s choirs’ literature for this year, is Finding Your Voice … To Be Like Jesus. In choir, as children, we begin to learn to use our voice. We learn that we have a voice, and it is essential to the sound of the choir. We learn that our voice is not just functional; it is sacred, as we use it for worship. We can use our voice to praise God or to serve (or sing with) our neighbor.
As we sing, we learn to listen because we hope to sing on key. Singing is not just making a joyful noise; it is listening to the music of the song. It is listening to the other voices around us in the choir. It is crucial to listen to the voice of Jesus as we find our voice. It allows us to sing on key to the steadfast love of God, tuning our hearts to sing of God’s grace.
We will gather on Sunday, October 12 to celebrate the voices of the children of the church. They will invite us to join them in the Call to Praise. They will lead us in prayer. They will share the words of scripture. They will sing and offer thanksgiving to God. They will stretch their voices. They will practice using them. We will support them and encourage them as they do!
If we are listening, we will also hear the love of God in their voices. They will say something important to us. They will whisper timeless wisdom. They will sing about the love of Jesus. We look forward to hearing from them!
After worship, we will gather for our annual Churchwide Picnic. This year, we will gather at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park (190 Byrd Street). We will celebrate the voices of this congregation, as we eat, laugh, and fellowship together!
We are thankful for all of the voices of the congregation, as we are a part of a congregational choir, using our voices to give thanks for God’s grace both in worship as well as beyond the walls of the sanctuary.
-Tripp