Guess the impending bad winter weather didn't deter the people from coming to church this morning.
This morning our church's musical ministry (all three choirs [adults, teens, and children's], selected soloists, musicians) and the drama team put on their annual Christmas Cantata, entitled "Sing Joy!". They did an absolutely fantastic job!
It made me glad to come to church this morning. I could tell that everyone had put in a lot of extra practice time to ensure that the Cantata would go smoothly. It did. The choirs and soloists sang with gusto, the actors and actresses were sure of voice and delivered their lines perfectly, and the musicians enjoyed playing for the congregation (and guests). It was very enjoyable!
One of the teenage soloists didn't sing today (turns out that she has a very bad head cold), so her replacement sang in her stead and blew the audience away with her soaring high soprano voice as she belted out "O, Holy Night". Her singing was so strong and pure it sent chills down my spine. It was absolutely beautiful! Some people were so touched they began crying; you could see them wiping their eyes or hear them sniffling every so often.
The musical ministry really hit home with the message with Christ's birth (which is the main reason for the Christmas season). Nearly twenty five people went up to the altar after the pastors talked about salvation and how it ties in to the Christmas season. I know the angels in Heaven are celebrating tonight; and I know that for these twenty five new believers, it will probably end up being the best Christmas of their lives because they now have hope and a future!
The Cantata will be performed again in its entirety in two weeks; next week is the children's Christmas presentation ("Christmas Hang Ups"). If people missed it today, they have another chance to see it in two weeks. I know more people will be touched by the message; I know I was!
I will have to try to get my husband and my kids to come to church with me. They don't know the Lord like I do, and I would love for them to see this Cantata. It just might open up something in their hearts and cause them to accept Christ after they repent of their sins. I would love to see them go to Heaven when Christ comes; I don't want to be the only one in my family who goes!
If this musical drama can reach 25 people, I am sure it can reach plenty more, including my very own family. It behooves me that they don't know Christ because as for me, I can't imagine my life without Him!
What a wonderful Christmas present it would be for me! In fact, that is my dearest wish: for my husband and sons to accept Christ as I did twenty years ago, when I was only a girl of seventeen!
