Day 15 - Youth Music

Friday, March 9, 2007

God’s Word

“Your love, O Lord, forever will I sing; from age to age my mouth will proclaim your faithfulness.” — Psalm 89:1

Jesus Loves Me

Picture… Cambridge Lutheran offers music groups for youth of all ages: Lil’ Splash Singers, Rejoice Choir, Praise Choir, EverBlest Choir, Logos Chimes, Covenant Bells, and SpiritWind Band. Children and youth choirs have been an important part of this congregation for over a hundred years.

The scriptures, especially the Psalms, are full of musical references telling us to praise God with singing, with instruments, with dance. Children love music, and the truths of the Gospel taught through children’s choir songs usually last a lifetime. My grandfather, Rev. V.E. Boe, poet, musician, and pastor, compiled the Primary Hymn Book, published by Augsburg in 1936. It is a treasury of children’s songs and hymns, as well as scriptures and prayers for use in the home or Sunday School. I still draw on the Primary Hymn Book for use with the Praise Choir during Logos.

We sang this hymn written by my grandfather last year during Lent: “I would follow Jesus, and I know I may, I would follow Jesus, as a child may do, For I hear him calling, and he shows the way. Be to all my comrades kind and pure and true. I would follow Jesus, that my tongue may speak would follow Jesus, this shall be my prayer; Words that carry comfort to the sad and weak. Dwell thou deep within me, prompt me everywhere.”

From the old strains of “Jesus Loves Me” and “This Little Light of Mine,” to the lines of the newest praise and Christian rock songs, through the sounds of clarinet, trumpet, drums, chimes and bells, children and youth are encouraged, taught, and honored for their participation in worship.

Prayer… In our Praise Choir we pray this prayer together (from the Primary Hymn Book): Dear God in heaven, we thank you for our Logos time. We are glad to come and learn your word and to sing and pray together. Bless us all and help us to keep you word in our hearts, that as you children we may always love and obey you. In Jesus name, Amen. — Arne Everson

— Submitted by Arne Everson