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Pastor's Page

Posted on August 2, 2007 ...

Our Sanctuary Choir is nearing the end of a well-deserved break. Their sabbatical is a bit longer this year in order to allow Lanny Green to go on his honeymoon! (It is a small concession we are happy to make for him and Leah.) We all owe a debt of thanks for the extra work of our ensembles and praise band in providing worship leadership during these weeks. We appreciate them for going the extra mile.

As pastor, I value so much the contributions that choirs, ensembles, musicians, and soloists bring to our worship experiences. Personally, inspiring music has marked much of my worship history. In fact, my first experience as a worship leader was not through preaching, but rather as a voice in all kinds of choirs. Today, I thoroughly enjoy sitting on the front pew in our sanctuary and listening to the songs of praise our choir offers. Their voices rising to the heavens help inspire my heart during the moments just before I preach. As our entire congregation sings hymns and praise choruses, they provide the foundation upon which we join our own voices.

Sanctuary Choir rehearsals will resume again in the choir loft at 6:45 p.m. on August 15. This is a great time for folks to begin (or begin again) this key role of worship leadership. If God has gifted you with musical ability, I ask you to add your voice to this ministry. A strong choir says much about the heart and soul of a congregation.

On several occasions I have been told that studies indicate most first-time guests in a church decide within the first 10 minutes of a worship service whether or not they will return to that congregation again. So in the matter of first impressions, the choir has a greater influence on church growth than the preacher! Being a part of our choir not only will enhance our ministry but also bring you a greater blessing during our worship time. Jay

Pastor's P.S. Mark your calendar: On August 26, North Cleveland Baptist Church will celebrate its Seventieth Anniversary. A single morning worship service will feature every decade of our congregation's history. Afterwards, we will enjoy a covered dish lunch, followed by a special dedication service of our new outdoor amphitheater. Check out next week's SPECIAL EDITION NEWSLETTER for more details.