Music's Place in the Sunday School

The music of Christmas is ringing in my ears, literally and figuratively.

On this eve of the Nativity celebration, I've been to church every day for almost a week. I've heard traditional hymns accompanied by piano, organ, and orchestra; I've heard contemporary renditions of familiar and unfamiliar Christmas music sung by a guitar-led praise band and by a throng of children singing to a contemporary recorded accompaniment track. As I type this blog post, I'm listening to an eclectic list of Christmas music used as part of "The Advent Project," a devotional site produced by Biola University.

Where Are You Headed? Where Are You Going?
Note that these are two very different questions. The first is very intentional. The second allows considerably more latitude and indifference; the place you arrive is not necessarily your intention.

Have you considered what your congregation intends as it offers music in the Christian education program and opportunities for worship led by or for its children? It occurs to me that, for all too many families in our churches, the breadth of exposure to sacred music is extremely narrow. Music, especially the Church's music, may rarely be heard in the home, except as required in this season as sound track for the seasonal episodes of one's favorite TV series or program. This puts the Church in an interesting position on Sunday morning as it forms the perception and practice of sacred music for this generation and the next.

I will leave for another time the rationale for one kind of content over another. (I do caution though that, whether by design or accident, the Sunday School's choice of music will lead somewhere.) Let me offer though at least three things to consider as you choose Sunday School music, in this season and others.

• Variety: Through the centuries, thousands of musicians and song-writers have expressed their faith through music, in all kinds of settings, cultures, and circumstances. Use at least some of your Sunday morning music time to acquaint children with music expressions that are not new, but are new to them. 
• Accessibility: Provide opportunities for music participation that are geared to every age level and ability. Teach small children refrains and short segments of liturgy. Let those who cannot sing accompany music with percussion, hand chimes, and other musical instruments. Encourage participation by everyone, and join in with the children as they sing.
• Quality: Seek always to provide the best possible music experience, and challenge children to always contribute their best vocal and musical talent. Emphasize beauty, not just volume.

Martin Luther is quoted as saying, "He who sings prays twice." Let music express the Gospel, and remind the children you teach that our music is a gift of praise to God.

God's blessings as you teach God's children to sing His Word.

Let's Sing?

Do your Sunday School children sing? Your preschoolers? Your elementary students? Your junior and senior high students?

What do they sing? Hymns? Popular Contemporary Christian Music songs?

To what style of music do they respond? Live piano accompaniment? Live praise band? Full-production recorded songs? With vocals or just accompaniment tracks?

I'd love to really hear your answers to those questions, but I expect I'll have to do a survey to really get the answers. It is enough if I can get you thinking.

The Lutheran Christian congregation spends a lot of time in worship singing! Garrison Keillor says it is one of the things Lutherans do best. He claims Lutherans are trained from birth to sing hymns in four parts.

There was a time when the epitome of Lutheran worship experience was accompanied by pipe organ. My guess is this may no longer be the case.

Thesis: One goal of a child's Sunday School experience should be to prepare the child to enjoy full participation in the worship of the congregation as an adult. (Note the emphasis on enjoy.)

So . . . think about these things:

• Are your congregation's children in worship each week with their parents? If so, they are learning how adults worship and growing into that practice. How can you help them?
• Is the musical experience the children have in Sunday School (1) similar to, (2) complementary to, or (3) distinctly different from the worship experience they will have as adults? If you pick door number three, how will they ever make the transition? Are they going to enjoy full participation in worship as adults?

How you choose to do music and singing in your Sunday School will have an impact on the future worship life of your congregation.

God bless you as you teach His children to sing!

Music in Sunday School

I've had several discussions recently with fellow editors at CPH about the role of music in Sunday School and what resources congregations need in this area. So I'm bold in this post to offer a couple of comments and then ask a few questions.

Music Is One of God's Gifts
Music is mentioned throughout Scripture, from Genesis (4:21, Jubal, "father of all those who play the lyre and pipe") to Revelation (5:9, "And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You . . ."). Paul writes some of my favorite words in Ephesians 5:19: "Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and make melody to the Lord with your heart." God wants us to sing!

Music Teachs the Faith
Martin Luther, and scores of church leaders who came before and after him, recognized the power of music as a tool for teaching the Christian faith. Among his nearly 30 hymns, Luther included several intended to teach the six chief parts of the Small Catechism.

Music Is Integral to Worship
It is hard for me to imagine a worship service without music, and, for me, the sung liturgy and heritage of hymns in the Lutheran Church are some of its great treasures.

It makes sense then for us to use and teach music in Sunday School. So let me ask a few questions.

What is the connection between Sunday School music and worship music in your congregation?

Where will the next generation of Lutheran Christians learn the great hymns of faith? Will they?

What style of music to you prefer to use in your Sunday School? Why?

What music resources are your looking for to use in Sunday School? (I'd really love foryou to tell me about this. I'm in an improved position to address this kind of need.)

Blessings as you teach God's children His Word!