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(a juried craft and folk art sale sponsored by Bethany Lutheran Church Ladies Guild) is looking for exhibitors to participate in their 19th annual show to be held from 9:00 - 3:00 on Sat., November 8, 2008. This is held at 1550 S. Modaff Road in Naperville. The space is 8' X 10', tables are provided and the cost is $40.00. Deadline June 1^st. Additional spaces may be available after that time. Call (630) 357-2946 or (630) 961-2030 for more information.

The Lord’s song unites people of every language and nation (Rev. 7:9-10). So it is with the generations as well! One of the Cantor’s goals is to express the unity we have in Christ by involving youth with the adults of the congregation in our parish music groups. This model brings additional blessings for the high school students themselves, as activities in the church give them an opportunity to build friendships outside their own age group—just as they will need to do when they leave school. Most importantly, leading the Lord’s song together with other generations gives all involved a living testimony of faith which encourages both choir members and the congregation as a whole in the Gospel.

Last Thursday, seven Bethany youth came to sing with our festival choir, Proclaim. It was a great rehearsal, and we look forward to many more to come this year. You can read more about it below. Young people are also playing and singing with adults in our handbell, brass, woodwind and strings group. If you know any of these youth, please let them know how much you appreciate their service to Bethany. You can even join them in singing the Lord’s praises by coming to choir next Thursday night. There’s always room for more singers!

Several nights ago our church choir (of which my husband is the director and I am the accompanist) had its first rehearsal of the season. How good it was to once again be among these friends and fellow musicians, to see their smiling faces and hear the sweet sound of their voices singing our Lord's Gospel comfort. There is something remarkable about choir practice in its ability to make the world (at least my little corner of it) come to a screeching halt, if only for a little while. Somehow, for that hour-and-a-half rehearsal, everything else fades away and there is only the piano, the conductor, the choir, and the music on the page.

But last night was even more special than usual. Of the 32 singers in attendance, 7 of them (almost 25%) were high school students. In an age during which teenagers have a myriad of activities in which to participate (some worthy, some not), it was heartwarming to see these young men and women choose to spend their evening singing at church. How cool is that?

And yet it didn't happen overnight or by accident but as the result of seeds sown over time. My husband has been the cantor (director of music & worship) at our congregation for almost 8 years now. During that time (and throughout his career as a church musician), one of his dearest passions has been teaching children to sing, and particularly, teaching them to sing the hymns and liturgy of the Church. All of the young people who attended Thursday night's choir practice have grown up singing in my husband's children's choirs. They have parents who regularly bring them to worship and who actively participate in the life of the congregation. Now that they are confirmed, they are voting members of the congregation and are encouraged to participate as such. So rather than singing in a separate choir for high school youth, they are invited to continue their pattern of musical service to the church by becoming members of our adult choir.

As I watched my husband directing this first rehearsal of the year, gazing out at the faces of the young intermingled with the not-so-young, I knew that he was finding special joy in the presence of children who have been singing for him since they were 7 or 8 years old. I hope all those young people come back next week. I think they will. One of the most wonderful things about choir is that in the diversity of the participants it is a microcosm of the church and of the world. While the typical high school student today spends the majority of his time surrounded by people of his own age, that is not an accurate picture of real life. Choir on the other hand is a multi-generational activity. Several of the young people who attended, in fact, came with their parents, also members of the choir. The resulting scene, with old teaching young and young inspiring old, and the voices of all blending as they sang together the Lord's song, was a picture of heaven, where there will not be separate choirs (or worship services) for young and old but where all will sing together at the throne of the Lamb.

I'm looking forward to another little taste of heaven next week.


Bethany Lutheran Church 1550 Modaff Rd. Naperville, IL 60565 (630)355-2198	"Connecting People to Christ the Vine and Keeping Them Connected"
	Bethany Happenings
	"Crafters Paradise" (a juried craft and folk art sale sponsored by Bethany Lutheran Church Ladies Guild) is looking for exhibitors to participate in their 19th annual show to be held from 9:00 - 3:00 on Sat., November 8, 2008. This is held at 1550 S. Modaff Road in Naperville. The space is 8' X 10', tables are provided and the cost is $40.00. Deadline June 1^st. Additional spaces may be available after that time. Call (630) 357-2946 or (630) 961-2030 for more information. click here for application information Bethany Music Connecting The Generations The Lord’s song unites people of every language and nation (Rev. 7:9-10). So it is with the generations as well! One of the Cantor’s goals is to express the unity we have in Christ by involving youth with the adults of the congregation in our parish music groups. This model brings additional blessings for the high school students themselves, as activities in the church give them an opportunity to build friendships outside their own age group—just as they will need to do when they leave school. Most importantly, leading the Lord’s song together with other generations gives all involved a living testimony of faith which encourages both choir members and the congregation as a whole in the Gospel. Last Thursday, seven Bethany youth came to sing with our festival choir, Proclaim. It was a great rehearsal, and we look forward to many more to come this year. You can read more about it below. Young people are also playing and singing with adults in our handbell, brass, woodwind and strings group. If you know any of these youth, please let them know how much you appreciate their service to Bethany. You can even join them in singing the Lord’s praises by coming to choir next Thursday night. There’s always room for more singers! Harvest Time by Cheryl Magness Several nights ago our church choir (of which my husband is the director and I am the accompanist) had its first rehearsal of the season. How good it was to once again be among these friends and fellow musicians, to see their smiling faces and hear the sweet sound of their voices singing our Lord's Gospel comfort. There is something remarkable about choir practice in its ability to make the world (at least my little corner of it) come to a screeching halt, if only for a little while. Somehow, for that hour-and-a-half rehearsal, everything else fades away and there is only the piano, the conductor, the choir, and the music on the page. But last night was even more special than usual. Of the 32 singers in attendance, 7 of them (almost 25%) were high school students. In an age during which teenagers have a myriad of activities in which to participate (some worthy, some not), it was heartwarming to see these young men and women choose to spend their evening singing at church. How cool is that? And yet it didn't happen overnight or by accident but as the result of seeds sown over time. My husband has been the cantor (director of music & worship) at our congregation for almost 8 years now. During that time (and throughout his career as a church musician), one of his dearest passions has been teaching children to sing, and particularly, teaching them to sing the hymns and liturgy of the Church. All of the young people who attended Thursday night's choir practice have grown up singing in my husband's children's choirs. They have parents who regularly bring them to worship and who actively participate in the life of the congregation. Now that they are confirmed, they are voting members of the congregation and are encouraged to participate as such. So rather than singing in a separate choir for high school youth, they are invited to continue their pattern of musical service to the church by becoming members of our adult choir. As I watched my husband directing this first rehearsal of the year, gazing out at the faces of the young intermingled with the not-so-young, I knew that he was finding special joy in the presence of children who have been singing for him since they were 7 or 8 years old. I hope all those young people come back next week. I think they will. One of the most wonderful things about choir is that in the diversity of the participants it is a microcosm of the church and of the world. While the typical high school student today spends the majority of his time surrounded by people of his own age, that is not an accurate picture of real life. Choir on the other hand is a multi-generational activity. Several of the young people who attended, in fact, came with their parents, also members of the choir. The resulting scene, with old teaching young and young inspiring old, and the voices of all blending as they sang together the Lord's song, was a picture of heaven, where there will not be separate choirs (or worship services) for young and old but where all will sing together at the throne of the Lamb. I'm looking forward to another little taste of heaven next week.