Let God’s Children Sing

Over at Cranach, Gene Edward Veith has a discussion on children and the music they sing in worship — solid hymnody and liturgy vs. “cutesey wootsey” music.

It is a high responsibility to choose the music we place into the mouth of God’s people - whether children or adult. These songs should not be trite or cute, nor filler or fluff. The church’s song should be a faithful proclamation and preaching of the Word. No less should be tolerated.

I remember as a child singing Page 15 and Vespers from The Lutheran Hymnal and liked singing it although I didn’t understand everything. As a teenager, youth (that meant me) were supposed to be “in to” Contemporary Christian Music. I shortly gave that up and turned more and more to TLH because the hymnody had more content and was more relevant to me.

While I don’t have any children of my own, it is a joy to hear the voices of children sing the hymns of the faith and the liturgy, and belt out the Creed and Lord’s Prayer. Whether or not they know it, the children are learning what they need to know and who they are. It is the privilege of pastors, parish musicians, and the congregation to nurture this growth through hymnody and liturgy. In reality, though, it is really God doing all the work.

A great resource for teaching children hymns and personal enjoyment is the four CD set by the Children’s Choir of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ft Wayne, IN. The choir sings hymns and liturgy — no fancy choral settings. This is the Children’s Choir you hear occasionally on The Lutheran Hour. The CD’s can be purchased through St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Concordia Theological Seminary bookstore, or at Concordia Publishing House.

In short, let God’s children sing. Let them sing the hymns of our Lutheran heritage. Let them sing the liturgy that has nourished the church for hundreds of years. Let them grow through these hymns and liturgy.