When I was a little girl, I always sang in the choir at church. One of my first church memories is singing “Go, Tell It On The Mountain†at a Methodist church in my hometown. For some reason I had a solo, and I think that was mainly because I wasn’t shy and wouldn’t cry if forced to perform in front of a large-ish group of people. (By the way, I’m still not shy and still don’t mind being in front of large-ish groups of people, but at this stage of life solos require, you know, talent, something that’s in short supply with me.)
As I got older, I continued to sing in children’s choir. Every Sunday afternoon, from the time I was 8 until I was 13 or so, Miss Kitty Morris would sit at the piano and lead us through songs like “Ten Thousand Angels†and “Pass It On.†All these years later, I don’t think there’s a single Sunday when I don’t think about Miss Kitty. She served us so sweetly and selflessly, and it’s because of her that I know all the verses to “Amazing Grace,†“Blessed Assurance,†and so many other wonderful old hymns.
By the time I got to high school, I wasn’t so much interested in hymns, though I did wear out a couple of cassettes of Amy Grant: The Collection. I spent the next fifteen years or so wrapped up in “my†music – Blues Traveler, Shawn Colvin, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Hootie and The Blowfish (and I still LOVE ME SOME HOOTIE, by the way).
But once I hit my 30’s, something happened. Maybe it was hormones, maybe it was pending motherhood, maybe it was just where I was spiritually – but I could not listen those old hymns without going into the ‘bout-near-ugly cry. I’ll never forget one particular Sunday when I was about six months pregnant with Alex, and we sang “Great Is Thy Faithfulness†in church. There was something so sweet about feeling Alex kick as I sang words I’d known since childhood, and I cried so hard that a lady who was sitting near us took pity on me and passed me some Kleenex. Don’t get me wrong – I do love contemporary music, but the Holy Spirit stirs something deep in my soul through the words of the old hymns, through the words that have been sung by generation after generation of believers.
About a year and a half ago, after an almost-20 year hiatus, I decided that I wanted to sing in a choir again. At our church you have to audition to be in the “oh-they-can-really-sing†group, but there’s another group called Celebration Choir that sings about once a month – no audition required. My neighbor E. and I decided that we’d go together, and I’m pretty sure that D thought I’d lost my mind just a little bit when I told him I was joining. He knows my singing “limitations†better than anyone since he has to stand next to me every week in church, but he encouraged me, thought I would enjoy it, and then worried, I’m sure, that I would bring untold shame and degradation to our family with my off-key song stylings.
I wish I had the ability to explain why, but going to choir that night was like going home. For all intents and purposes, I was 8 years old again – singing along with Miss Kitty in the choir room at my hometown church. We sang some newer songs at “choir practice,” but we also sang “Oh, Happy Day†and “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power.†And if you ever have the chance to sing either of those songs with about 150 people, I highly recommend it. It probably won’t change your life, but it’ll flat-out bless your heart.
Tonight, at 7:00, our Celebration Choir starts up again. For two blessed hours I’ll sing to my heart’s content and probably get in “trouble” a time or two for cutting up too much with the other altos. I’ll hit lots of wrong notes, sing in places where I’m supposed to be quiet, and pretty much make a mess of everything we work on – at least the first time through.
But I’ll make a joyful noise – though it may not be joyful to human ears – and I’ll treasure every single second of it. And when we sing an oldie but goodie – something like “Jesus Paid It All†or “Holy Holy Holy†– I’ll sing through tears, no doubt about it.
I think Miss Kitty would be proud.
Okay, I’m teared up and snivelling, wishing I could be there to belt ’em out with you. I’ve been songleader in our church for 25 years but I’d much rather sing alto or tenor with the choir, and often do. This year I’m assistant song leader, so I get to sing with the choir unless Bro. Ray is absent for some reason. Scripture and preaching have their place, but music stirs and speaks to my soul like nothing else does.
Have a sweet, sweet time tonight, BooMama, and make a joyful noise. :-)
THAT’S IT! — Where do you live? I am movin to your town girl!!!
So glad to hear you are doing the “church choir thing”! I have been singing in our church choir for about 7 years now and would not trade it for anything. Come Wednesday night, no matter how bad a day I have had, choir practice always uplifts me! Enjoy and have fun!
Oh I am so “with you” on every bit of this. We were raised on the old hymns and I don’t think ever really appreciated them until they became sort of passe in most of the churches. Now, I can’t get through the first verse with tearing up when we do sing the occassional hymn. I believe they must have been inspired by the Holy Spirit. My husband and I joined our church choir last year. He has a great voice – I don’t – but with over 150 other people singing I can get by. We practice tonight too. I have to drag my middle-aged self there, but once we start singing I am so glad I’m there. Blesses my socks off!!
OK now…I’m going to spill the beans here: Boomama REALLY CAN SING!!! And I know because I’ve heard her sing SOLOS many a time (though they weren’t exactly hymns…more like Broadway show tunes). Nevertheless, the girl can sing – don’t let her convince you otherwise.
I agree with you about the hymns. I love praise choruses, and there are times that they really get me, but the hymns are so rich in doctrine. My school-aged daughter and I attend BSF together, and something about hearing her sing these hymns really gets me emotional.
I have a vivid memory of singing in my church’s children’s choir when I was in about 4th grade. I don’t know why it stuck with me so, but it truly did. We were presenting what I guess would be described as a Christian-based musical, a grouping of song related to a theme. There was one song in particular that I will never forget; I think it was called “Share A Loaf Of Bread,” but I’m sure that wasn’t the official title. The tune is as clear in my mind today as it was when I was 8 years old. One line that always comes back to me is, “Share a loaf of bread with the hungry people. I want to be a loving friend.” Other ways of ministering to those in need were described in the song, always backed up with the line, “I want to be a loving friend.”
Side note: I’m not much of a choir person now; Boo can tell you that I can’t carry much of a tune–but I have been known to harmonize with Boo and the Indigo Girls in a car (btw, Boo, I thought I was singing alto all that time and you were singing soprano…shows what I know).
However, I believe something about that song and that setting had a profound impact on me…I believe that during the rehearsals for that musical, I became more aware of the feelings and needs of those outside my own sheltered world because of the words of that song…needs so unlike needs I had ever encountered.
That moment in time pricked my heart. That music certainly didn’t make me a great person; I am far from it. But, I think it made me a better person.
Above post from Anonymous should be from Daph-.
(P.S. I’m sorry if this correction post appears more than once.)
I’m an alto too! I love that you love music.
I’ve cried the ugly cry during the 3rd verse (I think) of Amazing Love…you know the verse…”a quickening ray…the dungeon filled with light…my chains fell off…I rose, went forth and followed thee.” It’s embarrassing. :(
I love to sing in the choir. LOVE.IT.
I read with a longing in my heart since
-there’s no choir near by here at all and
-I’m an alto that doesnt’ have a whole lot of talent. I was once told I could be a sucessful lounge singer.
But I know that feeling of getting all chocked up. I just cant go on. My aunt describes it as your Spirit so excited to be in the Presence.
I thank God the bible says to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” or else I’d have to keep silent! :)
For some of us, Music can speak to us in a way like no other. For sure! And those hymns from our youth are priceless treasures! Enjoy yourself tonight! We have our monthly worship night tonight, and so I will most likely come home with a hoarse voice. :-)
Did Merritt say you could sing broadway tunes??? Well sounds like I missed some big time fun on our little drive! ;-) And harmonizing with the Indigo Girls? Now that is a nice memory for me!
I didn’t grow up with old hymns (does anyone else think it should be spelled like: hymms?)
Anyway, when we do sing one of them I still end up in tears. Great is Thy Faithfulness does me in everytime.
I really enjoyed this blog. Your heart seems so sweet and yet lots of fun. It sounds like it would be a lot of fun singing in a choir with you. I hope you had a wonderful time tonight….
Go for it, enjoy yourself and bless the Lord!
I, too, am looking forward to choir again. I have been singing in the Chancel Choir in my church since Jordan was born (about 12 years) and it brings such enjoyment, such spiritual refreshment and just plain all around fun. I sing alto, too, and sit right in front of the director. Like you, I tend to get in trouble for talking a little too much, cutting up a little bit, but the good thing is, my choir director is usually right in the middle of it with me. Gee do we have fun!
What a great post. I am a terrible singer, but it doesn’t stop me from singing all day long..and now the kids do too. It’s a regular ole musical around here…except one where the voices aren’t very good! :-)
You sing it, girl!
How Great Thou Art, gets me EVERYTIME. I love to sing also (not talent, but love to sing). If you happen to drive by me, I am the one belting the song out in the quiet of my car.
This brings back such fun memories! I was one of only two teenagers who sang in our church’s tiny choir–and I can’t keep a tune–but oh, my word, did we have a great time! Those hymns are my favorite. Have a blast tonight!
I sang in my church’s children’s choir for years. My favorite memory is singing “All in an April Evening” with the SENIOR choir – it was practically Broadway I’m sure. Those adult voices made us sound great! As an adult I get so much more out of a church service if I can sing as well – singing is praying twice :)
Oooohh, Choir practice for TWO hours….???? how fun. I wish I could go too, and Yes, I’m another one who gets choked up (the ugly kind) at some of the oldies! I do love me some old time gospel music, too, girl!
Nothing, nothing, nothing like a wonderful song service to lift the heart closer to God and enjoy the company of fellow Christians. . .
I’m an alto, too, and I just love singing with the choir. When I was growing up, our youth director was also the music minister, and our youth group sang every time we met. His motto was “Make a joyful racket.” We most certainly did!
oh this brings back fond memories of children’s choir and youth choir growing up. did you ever do the musical “Down By the Creek Bank”? my favorite. will never forget the song “Germs, Germs, my invisible dog”…i’m singing it right now.
i’m sure you are finishing up right about now…and i’m sure you had a blast! keep on singing :)
I was just talking to my husband tonight about the older hymns. I absolutely love them too. You’re right – there’s just a stirring in the soul with some of them. I love that I can’t remember learning half of them…they are just there. They are one of the only steady “threads” of my childhood. Thanks for sharing.
In the last couple of months I have really been getting back into the hymns. My husband is one of the key leaders for worship at our church and I’m always bugging him about putting in more hymns, but he hasn’t been given the go-ahead from the elders yet. My 3 yr old daughter and I do BSF and she is learning Trust and Obey in her class. Can I tell you how sweet it is to hear her little voice belting out “When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way”
I love modern songs, but hymns (most of them) are just plain good doctrine. Singing about heaven and salvation and redemption and God’s Word. It just doesn’t get any better than that. I play the piano and a few weeks ago I was playing through my hymnal and got to Day By Day. I was bawling before the end of the first verse and my oldest daughter didn’t know what to do with me.
I, too, learned to sing in children’s choir. A wonderful woman named Deana taught me to sing harmony and, although I don’t see her often, whenever I do I thank her for the wonderful gift that she gave me because I still can’t hear a song, any song, without automatically picking up the harmony. Thank God for women like that.
Wow, what a walk down memory lane for me! My name probably gives it away but music has been a part of my daily life since I started breathing. (And it’s also true that my sister’s name was Melody!) Choirs, oh my goodness, church, school, community sing alongs… I’m an alto too and boy could we sing AND make trouble… :)
One of my favorite old hymns, which I often sing loudly when distressed, is “It is Well With My Soul.”
Great post! Some of the best worship time is during music. I love to make my joyful noise. One day I realized that the way I feel when I hear one of my children singing praises or hymns to God, especially when they didn’t know I was looking, is just a little smidgen of what God must feel. When I made this connection, it made my “joyful noise” times all the more special to me. o/
I grew up in the youth choir and I still miss those moments. I wish I had scrapbooked then.
Funny you should write about this. Lately, I have been considering joining our choir. I can’t sing worth a darn, mind you, but still, I might do it. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hey Boomama, good for you singing in the choir. I do as well. Our choir sings in 3 services every Sunday and practices for 3 hours on Wednesday nights.
We are doing a choir recording Sunday at a real live recording studio. I love the choir, it is such great Joy.
Oh, I quite often cry my way through those old hymns. There are plenty contemporary songs that I love and that bless my heart, but there’s just nothing like a congregation singing the traditional songs. “Blessed Assurance” just kills me every time.
Good for you for making a joyful noise whether it’s an in-tune one or not! I can’t carry a tune in a bucket, but I sing out loud and proud anyway, because one thing I know for sure — Jesus loves to hear me praise him in song no matter how I sound. :)
I do love the old hymns. There’s just something about knowing you’re in church singing the same songs your great-grandparents sang that is powerful. Great is thy Faithfulness is my all time favorite and my vision of what heaven will be includes angels singing I’ll Fly Away. :)
Hope you had a great time at choir practice. If I showed up to sing anywhere in public, I’d be asked to leave.
You painted a beautiful photo. I loved every moment of the journey. So mush so, that I wish I was there to hear you sing.
Sing your heart out. And hey, welcome home to a moment in your past that you enjoyed and that felt safe to you. You’ve found it again.
The last time I was in a choir they kept moving me around, trying to find a place to put me where I wouldnt throw everyone else offkey. But man I had a good time. Joyful noise – He doesn’t care as long as we’re singing, I’m convinced. Have fun!
There is something about choir practice that comes very close to perfect. I loved what you said about the old hymns-they often have that same effect on me.
I hope you had a wonderful time at choir practice! I feel the same way about those dear old hymns. They contain so much scripture. I hope that we never lose these great hymns of our faith.
Maybe the boo-hoo gene comes with the alto gene…I feel ya sister.
I guess I love the “classic” old hymns, but we have a weekly bet going on what century we will be singing in weekly at our church. Let me just say the 1600’s have not been good to us lately. I am ready for a little praise music!!
PS We had the song “I Don’t Know Why” by Shawn Colvin for our wedding song. LOVE it!
It’s ALWAYS the altos that do the cutting up!! :)
I’m sure Ms. Kitty would be proud too! Girl, sing it! The Lord doesn’t care what your voice sounds like! I wish we had a choir like that…I’ll just have to settle for our kareoke machine!
Those old hymns have the very same effect on me.
I would have made sure you were cutting up since I would have sat in the soprano section making faces at you!
That’s how I felt about singing in our Chorale (which was the “oh-they-can-really-sing” group). All the glory to God during the practice. All the fun and cutting up was just the bonus for participating.
Sing it, sistah!
I’m only 25 but I still love those old hymns that I grew up on down in Kentucky. I love to sing them anytime. Wish did some of them more often.
I love this post. I know what you mean. It’s the music that brings me back to church. I have a decent voice, but I rarely use it. But in church, with my favorites. — Man, what an experience. I swear it’s the holy spirit. Sometimes I start to cry. I can’t even stop – and there’s no way to explain it to the people in my pew.
That’s awesome! I feel the same way about hymns. . . They just move me down deep inside. Have fun and sing from your toes!!
I am so glad that you are in choir…sing your heart out.
During communion we sing hymns and I about started to BAWL when we sang (I lipsynced because I knew I’d cry) Because He Lives….UGH! I LOVE that song!
ENJOY the return to the choir!!! Should be fun!
Not many people who “can’t” sing would be willing to join a choir. Even the “everyone is welcome” choir.
You deserve a big YOU GO, GIRL! for doing it anyway. For making a joyful noise. For celebrating God’s presence.
Nice.
Well if Miss Kitty isn’t proud I sure will be. This is my dream to sing in a choir again. And, yes you read that right I said “dream”. :)
S., knowing you have singing limitations just blesses my heart. My mom sings BEE-U-tuffly, and I inherited narry a bit of that talent. But I love music and I love to sing it — just not alone and in front of other people. You’re choir sounds wonderful. Wish we had the same here. And I’m with you on those old hymns. There’s something special about them, besides just being old.