This past Sunday, I was very excited to see our hometown church perform The Singing Christmas Tree. To understand exactly why this is so exciting, you would need to know my background. I grew up in the church, obviously, since my dad is a pastor. Our church was my second home. One of my favorite things that happened was our Singing Christmas Tree. I would go up to the church to watch rehearsals with my dad on nights prior to the performances. I sat, mesmerized by the lights, music, orchestra, and the extreme bigness of the tree!
The Singing Christmas Tree began at our hometown church in 1985 as a three tiered tree filled with the youth choir. Since then, it grew to include several more tiers, moved to the sanctuary filled with youth and adult choir members, and multi-colored programmable lights. It was a tradition in our hometown. People came to see it yearly. After 23 years, the tree was retired. I was sad. It was a lost tradition and a memory that meant so much to me. This year, The Singing Christmas Tree returned with eight brand new tiers, sitting nearly 30 feet high, holding around 75 choir members, and held over 50,000 programmable lights. The Singing Christmas Tree was back! How special and exciting!
My mom and I arrived nearly an hour early. If you know my mom, you understand why we just HAD to be there so early to "get a good seat." Ha! While we waited, I just observed every detail. We enjoyed the handbell choir's prelude music. We honored and remembered those choir members who served in our choir so faithfully....
Then...it began. My dad welcomed the congregation, as he has done 22 times before. I was brought back to the early years of watching this massive singing tree as a child. The lights were twinkling, moving, dancing. All colors were shining. It was the "Celebrate the Season Medley." As the choir sang carols and familiar songs of the season, tears welled up. I was moved. I was proud. I was overcome with a feeling of "being home for the holidays." THIS, my friends, was the beginning of my Christmas traditions growing up. THIS is my church family celebrating together and blessing others with heavenly singing, traditional carols, and moving songs.
I have to thank the church choir and our music minister, Royce Wilder. I must thank them for stirring my heart. For bringing me back. Back to what Christmas used to be. Back to traditions. From a person who hates change, I am forever grateful to have this moment of "home." As the children sang "The Gift Goes On," I was reminded of the years my brother, sister, and I participated as a part of our children's choir. The entire family was there...grandparents and all...every night, video cameras rolling for each performance. When the choir began "How Should a King Come?", I was smiling from ear to ear as I heard the catchy tune and watched the faces of the choir members. As Jennifer sang "Breath of Heaven," my heart was softened as I thought about how Mary must have felt. How scared she must have been. How much faith she had. But, OH MY! When the quartet got into "Glory to God in the Highest," I wanted to clap, dance, and stomp my feet. I almost screamed at the end like that lady in the back, but I chickened out! I felt like we needed a standing ovation for that one! And, to follow with "I Have Seen the Light!" Oh, the waterworks started again! A voice or two may have changed on that song over the years, but it will always be a special part of my heart for many reasons. Once again, I wanted to raise my hands and shout! I'm glad there were others who did. Maybe one day, I'll work up that courage to shout to the Lord during church. Ha! "Mary Did You Know" sparked a streaming of tears for my grandmother sitting beside me. There is just no sweeter part of Christmas than to shed tears over the overwhelming love of our Father, the amazing story of His birth, and the incredible journey of Mary. To follow that with "Behold the Lamb" was almost too much for this little heart of mine! As all the lights on the tree stopped their normal programming, shining only the dim white lights in the shape of a cross, one could not help but to worship. As the song progressed, and the cross got brighter and brighter, one's heart had to swell with love and thanksgiving for all He has done for us. What a blessing this song was!
After a time of commitment and prayer, there could not have been a better way to end the night than the "Hallelujah Chorus!" A sanctuary full of worshipers standing praising our God! Hallelujah!
I heard it said best on Facebook this weekend: "With all the drama, special effects, and attempts to dazzle at previous performances and other events as well, it was so comforting to enjoy just music - Heavenly music - praising the glory of God and the arrival of His Son."
So, thank you, to FBC choir! Thank you, Royce! Thank you to all who worked tirelessly to assemble, decorate, coordinate 50,000 lights! Thank you to those who played that beautiful music! Thank YOU ALL for blessing so many! Thank you for taking me back, bringing tears full of love, thanksgiving, and memories to my eyes! Thank you for being a shining light (literally) for our community...reminding us all of the true meaning of Christmas. Thank you for such a wonderful time of worship!
Thank YOU!
