10 minute read
Sunday, August 30
AUG 30
Singing the Word in the Home: A Moment of Opportunity
Kristyn Getty 1
Why should families sing the truths of Scripture together? What’s at stake here?
Psalm 78:4 says:
We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
We have been created to sing and to benefit from all the gifts God brings to us in all of our lives but specifically in our spiritual lives. We are told over and over again in the Bible to remind ourselves of God’s Word every day. This is not only because we need it more than any other voice we listen to, but also because we are prone to forget so much! Singing is a wonderful way to remember all that should never be forgotten. I still have to sing the alphabet song sometimes to remember what letter comes next. What are the ABCs of the Christian faith? What are the ideas and stories and promises we need to form in our own minds and hearts? Let’s sing those things. They will remain with us longer and deeper if we do! The voice of the local church is grown and supported by the voice of the families and friendship groups that form the local church. When we understand and practice singing at home, we develop a more robust singing culture in church.
2
How did the pandemic influence your approach to family worship this year? What changes did you make, and why?
We have been singing and reading the Bible and praying together as a family for several years now, so in some ways nothing changed. But we have valued it more and the pandemic has brought to the foreground big questions that we had more time to consider. Starting the family hymn sings on Tuesday nights was a new feature. We told the girls it was a special way we could tell others about the Lord as a family and encourage others to sing during this time. We have also used this season to encourage our oldest daughter to learn how to do devotionals and read the Bible for herself.
3
This current season is a unique window of opportunity: how would you encourage families to build new habits?
Simply start being intentional about filling your home with songs of the Lord. All lyrics carry messages and they affect us in lots of ways. Find songs that speak truth to your kids, songs they love, and start singing the songs yourself. We have loosely taught our kids a hymn each month and use that timeframe to learn the melody and some of the words (our younger kids are still quite young). We also let the lyrics open up conversations about spiritual things and let them ask questions. Sometimes Keith will bring the guitar into their room but
more often than not we play the song on our phone and sing along or we just sing a cappella. Later this year we are going to share our hymn of the month list for 2021 and a few resources around them for anyone who would like to follow along with us. It’s not complicated, but over these last months we’ve seen the huge value of it as we have realized how many hymns the girls now know and how much is packed into those lyrics.
4
Does someone in the family need to have musical talent for singing together to work well? What advice do you have for families who do not consider themselves musical?
I think we need to redefine what singing is and what it is for. Our culture tends to idolize the solo and the soloist and the performance. Singing is not just for those who are good at it or like it. It is not a spectator sport but a participatory habit—both a duty and a delight. Singing sits beside the reading of the Bible and praying. It is the calling of every believer.
The great thing about congregational singing is that it is just that: congregational. The Holy Spirit encourages us as we hear one another’s voices. We are agreeing on the same things, reminding each other, giving strength to each other. So, to teach this in our homes helps build confident singers in the church family.
5
How do you decide which songs to teach your girls, and then how do you introduce a new hymn to them?
We tend to pick hymns that are easy to sing with no accompaniment and that also introduce key ideas around God’s Word and Christian living. We pick both older and newer ones. We start playing them around our home. We often start with a chorus if there is one and over the course of a month build on that. Some months we learn most of the verses; other months we’ll maybe go after one or two. This year we did A Mighty Fortress. It has a longer more complex lyric so we focused on verse 1. The great thing is that a good hymn does not easily date—this one is hundreds of years old! So the girls are learning a little of something that we can come back to again and again. They can build on what they know and sing it throughout their lives. The great Christmas carols do this too.
6
For some, family worship can seem overwhelming. What advice do you have for how to make this practice not only attainable but fun—something that you look forward to each day?
Love it yourself. That is key. Keep coming back to it. Even if you miss a few days, pick it up again. Find a good time in the day to focus a few minutes on it and then you can let it form a soundtrack for everything else going on.
7
If a family wants to get started, what steps should they take next?
Curate a list (or copy ours!) of hymns you want your kids to know. Start playing them and pick one to focus on. Chat to your kids about singing the way you would tell them about prayer or reading the word so they begin to grasp what it is and why it is important. Then simply start singing!
AUG 30
Sunday, August 30
SCHEDULE All times CT, all sessions stay available on-demand after broadcast
4pm
4pm
4:15pm
4:40pm
5:30pm
6:20pm
7pm
7:30pm
8:30pm Children's Leadership Forum
The Children's Leadership Forum, presented by the Virginia Martin Howard Foundation, seeks to equip families, children's ministry directors, children's choirs, teachers, Sunday School volunteers, and everyone who cares about children to lead the next generation to treasure the rich hymns of the faith and sing the Scriptures. This year's Children's Leadership Forum features 5 parts—follow along in the schedule (all times after 4pm are approximate).
Opening Singing
Singing led by the Getty Family from the Grand Ole Opry
Part 1: Family Hymn Sing
Talk by Keith and Kristyn Getty: "Family Hymn Sing" Singing led by the African Children’s Choir
Part 2: Children and Singing
Interview and Hymn Sing with Joni Eareckson Tada on singing, suffering, and heaven | Conversation with Noemi Guerrero, Rogers Peralta, and Carlos Garcia on equipping families to sing | Interview with Ruth Chou Simons on family devotions and helping boys sing | Singing led by the Getty Family from the Grand Ole Opry
Part 3: Children and the Imagination
Interviews on "The Bible and the Imagination" with Sally Lloyd Jones, Phil Vischer, and Rick Dempsey Singing with Sandra McCracken
Part 4: Children and the Bible
Interview and song with Michael W. Smith | Talk by Paige Benton Brown: "The Centrality of God's Word in Our Homes"
Talk by Keith and Kristyn Getty: "Five Ways to Build Family Singing During COVID" | Singing led by the Getty Family from the Grand Ole Opry
Live Family Hymn Sing
Join the Getty Family for a Family Hymn Sing live in their backyard!
(Start time is approximate—event begins immediately after the Live Family Hymn Sing) Join us for a special evening with Christian Healthcare Ministries featuring music from Shane and Shane recorded at their home church, Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas. The evening will include many hymns and songs along with a special presentation from our exclusive sponsor, Christian Healthcare Ministries.
VISION: CHILDREN’S LEADERSHIP FORUM
—PSALM 104:33
The vision of Getty Music is to join rich theology with timeless artistry in congregational singing for the whole family of God.
If congregational singing is the privilege, joy and calling of every believer whatever their age, the Sing Leadership Forum aims to help pastors, children’s ministry leaders and families in:
Passing on the rich heritage and resources we have in the hymnody of the church Grasping the unique opportunity music and lyrics bring to teach children the Christian Faith Teaching our children what it means to sing to the Lord and each other as part of the church and witness to the world
As we look at our four children, we are eager that they grow a lifelong love for singing deep songs of the Lord. We are eager to teach them a song list that everyday is deepening the roots and blossoming the fruit of the gospel in their lives. We are eager that they would use their singing voices as a testimony to the Lord and His Kingdom while they are young and throughout their lives. We know you are eager for that, too!
Getty Music Greatly Acknowledges the Generosity of THE VIRGINIA MARTIN HOWARD FOUNDATION
For making the Getty Music Children’s Leadership Forum possible.
It is through their support, in honoring the legacy of Mrs. Virginia Martin Howard, that we have been able to reach thousands of educators and children's ministry leaders with training in deep theology, timeless artistry and teaching children to sing for life. We are deeply grateful for this organization, for whom a primary mission is to support, develop, and encourage sacred music.
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SPEAKER DATE TOPIC
THE WONDER AND POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD
MONDAY, AUGUST 31
ith my whole heart i seek you; l e t m e n o t wander from your commandments! i have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. blessed are you, o lord; teach me your statutes! with my lips i declare all the rules of your mouth.
PSALM 119:10-13
