June Note

In a few weeks, our choir will be taking the summer off but will resume practice again in the fall. At that time, we will begin practicing our Christmas musical for 2023. I want to thank our choir for all of their hard work and to let them know; it’s so good to have them back singing together again in our worship services. As the summer progresses, we will announce a resume date for our practices so stay tuned and make plans to join us this fall. Let’s continue to rebuild and grow our choir!

I recently read a story about the strong impact that hymns have on small children. I would like to share it with you this month. A children’s program at a church had started a new weekly class that provided child care and a Bible curriculum for young children while their parents enjoyed a “parents night out.” One of the songs that was sung each week to the children was the familiar old hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” The song was first written as a poem by Reginald Heber more than two hundred years ago. Heber’s widow found the poem among her husband’s papers after he died. Thirty-five years later, a music publisher rediscovered the four-stanza poem, put it to a melody, and in 1861 created the popular Christian hymn.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee.

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Several weeks after the start of the new program, a young mother shared with the teachers how while running errands one day, a toddler’s voice started singing from the back seat of her car. The toddler sang, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God all mine be.” The old hymn is still relevant today – even for toddlers!