Believe it

or not, I keep some of your newsletters and bulletins for quite a while,

referring to and reading them over and over from time to time. Many of

the pastors' messages are inspirational in nature and some continue to

give me a "boost" when I need one.

Some of you

include little booklets with scripture readings for special times like

Easter and Christmas, and these have found their way to my bedside table

for daily and nightly reading.

Given John

Hatcher's topic this week, I thought I'd add my two cents worth of "Hear!

Hear!" in approval of what he's saying, and also share with you the

words of one of your own out there Barbara Hood, music director at National

Heights Baptist Church.

Barbara writes

fairly regularly in the church newsletter, "The Messenger,"

and a few months ago, had the following to say about old hymns, new contemporary

'praise' songs, and the music of the church in general. Barbara began

and look out over the congregation, observing their faces during the singing.

She says:

"On a

recent Sunday, one of the highlights of the service was to look out from

the choir and to see one of the younger children in the congregation joining

in every word of the 'Gloria Patri' and the 'Doxology,' as well as seriously

following all of the words of the hymns that we sang.

"I recalled,

as a child, how those hymns and responses have stayed with me as an adult.

Although I may not have understood all of the theology at that young age,

those things led me to search and question the roots of our beliefs as

Christians.

"Because

many churches in the 20th century have done away with hymnals and have

substituted trite and repetitive music and choruses, our next generation

will be deprived of much solid teaching which results from our church

music.

"Hopefully,

we will not be among those who have chosen 'entertainment' for worship.

May we continue to teach our wonderful children the hymns and spiritual

songs that will stay with them through life, and will give them strength

and joy through all phases of life."

Well said,

Barbara. You won't get any argument from me on that one.

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