This past week I was introduced to the music of a young man that really impressed me. He grew up here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (U.P.), in Ishpeming. He is a pop singer and quite good! His name is Adam Whittington. It made me think of all the young people that I know who make "joyful noises."
The congregation of Zion Lutheran, Skanee, where I serve, loves music. We have two annual music fests every year, both fund-raisers for other non-profit organizations: St. Vincent DePaul and Toys for Tots. In the tiny community of Aura, MI where I live we also have an annual Fiddler's Jamboree with people flocking from all over the mid-west to join in the music, either playing or just enjoying. We have a lot of musically gifted people right here in the local community. I especially enjoy hearing the young people. There have been some extraordinarily gifted young people who have contributed gifts of music to these various Music Festivals - making joyful noises, singing to the LORD, proclaiming His love for us through their music.
Some of them, like Jessica Dakota, have grown up and have moved out of the area. She was/is a number one fiddler, as well as pianist and flutist. Although, a member of another congregation, she was always willing to play at our special activities and at the Jamboree. After she left for college, I lost track of her, but I still listen to her Native Flute CD.
Courtney Clishe has been singing praises to God for as long as I've known her, probably about 14 years and she is still a teen! What an awesome voice she has! She also plays piano and guitar. She volunteers at both of our music fests every year to help support the local charities. More than once, have I visited a Nursing Home and she was there singing to the residents.
Lately, we've had a young lady, Kinsey LaFernier, singing special music for Worship with her mother, Missy LaFernier, as well as solos as a member of our youth choir at our Music Festivals. She's also been singing at the Aura Fiddler's Jamboree for a few years. She too, is awesome!
We have some tremendous musical gifts given to our young (and older) people here in this area. They work hard at their craft. I mention just a few. They use the gifts that God has given them to "sing to the LORD a new song." (Psalm 98:1 NIV). God indeed has done marvelous things through them!
As I read Psalm 98 this morning, I thank God for all the young people who are willing to share the gift of music that God has given them, making joyful noises, proclaiming all the deeds that He has done, proclaiming His Holy Name.
"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King." (98:4-6)
God's Peace - Pr. J
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