Montreat, NC

Our Northminster group is busy, busy, busy and having a wonderful experience at the Music and Worship Conference.  Many of our adult participants are in choir or hand bells or both.  We attend several classes per day on church architecture, or art, or Bible Study.  There are so many choices it is difficult to decide what to attend.

The young people in our group had significant roles in last night’s worship service.  It was an Easter Vigil.  Our kids played animals in Noah’s ark and then they were Egyptians chasing the Israelites through the Red Sea.  Willy Boris and Emma Schlabach were Egyptians and they died in the sea very dramatically.  And Willy did it in a t-shirt that proclaimed- It is my brother’s fault!

We have a full blown worship service every day (sometimes twice a day) and we have experienced Holy Week- Easter and we’re heading toward the ascension.  Lots of great ideas may eventually show up at Northminster.

When we go back to our houses for lunch each day John Wright discusses the worship with the kids.  They get prizes for paying attention and being able to tell him-

The Greek word for communion

The Latin for Lord have mercy

The color of Lent

The meaning of strepitus

John naturally focuses on the musical portions of the service.  I ask them about the sermons.  The preacher goes for at least 25 minutes and sometimes more.  Yesterday morning was Holy Saturday Service and we learned about “Jesus descended into hell” and what that might mean for our faith.  The kids got it.  If you think children can’t sit in worship you are wrong.  These young people (fourth grade and up) are sitting AND LISTENING in services that routinely last an hour and 15 minutes.  

I am impressed with our young people and adults and what they are investing in this conference.  I am impressed with the quality of the conference.  I love the afternoon rain in the woods as we sit on the porch in rocking chairs.