Like a child at home

This morning greeted us with bright cheerful sunshine, perfect for Easter Sunday and full of the promise of spring. We had a lovely church service today that was both powerful and peaceful. It was all about Christ, His resurrection, and His atonement. I especially enjoyed singing with the choir.

I joined our church choir about two years ago. Growing up I always thought I was terrible at singing, and always avoided it. But through the years I've come to peace with it, and have actually enjoyed singing hymns in the congregation. I still don't sound 'great' but I sing passably well, especially when there are others around me to blend in with. I've found that singing with the choir has been surprisingly rewarding.

Today we sang three songs. One that was particularly poignant was "My Shepherd Will Provide My Need," by Isaac Watts which is based on the 23rd Psalm. We were accompanied by a young oboist and flautist who played beautifully. These are the lyrics to this piece:

My Shepherd will supply my need,
Jehovah is His name.
In pastures fresh He makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.

He brings my wand’ring spirit back,
When I forsake His ways.
And leads me for His mercy’s sake
In paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death
Thy presence is my stay.
One word of Thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.

Thy hand in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread.
My cup with blessings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days.
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise.

There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come.
No more a stranger nor a guest,
But like a child at home.

I really fell in love with this piece as we learned during practice this last 3 weeks. I especially love the last stanza and the imagery it invokes; of being where you truly belong, loved and safe. Jesus offers us that love; when we come to Him we can feel like a child at home.

Christmas choir and Lorraine's birthday

I sang in the choir for our church Christmas program. I don't have a great voice, but I have learned to sing better, and I've really enjoyed participating in choir. It was nice sitting up on the stand with the other choir members (and ever-faithful Ian) and listening to the words of Christ and singing about his birth during the Christmas season. It was a very peaceful and joyful experience. We sang the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah and the very end. I love the power, praise, and joy in that song.

The Christmas hymns never fail to move me. The whole congregation met together again for the third hour and we sang all the Christmas songs in the hymn book, from page 201-214. Jesus came into the world and lived so simple and humbly. It kind of makes the Santa materialistic thing look pretty shabby in comparison.

Later in the afternoon I took Lisette, Miles, and Ian to the nursing home which is near our neighborhood. The primary children sang Christmas songs to the residents. It was really beautiful to hear the innocent children sing of Christ. I'm sure those are the voices He loves to hear best.

The kids also came with me and we gave out some yummy chocolate mint cookies that Melinda had baked. They seemed to have so much fun. I don't know if it was just entertaining to them, but just maybe they felt joy in serving others.

In the evening we went to Annette's house to celebrate Lorraine's birthday. Scott felt very loved because everyone went out of their way to make non-dairy dishes that he could eat (Scott has milk allergies.) Everyone had fun catching up and the boys loved playing with all of Matthew's Nerf weapons. He has quite the arsenal.

Here are some photos of the festivities. Notice that Ian so helpfully blew out most of the candles for his grandma.