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Why We Encourage Singing at West Portal Lutheran

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God’s grace and peace to all in Christ Jesus!

 

Especially to you, new parents and families of West Portal Lutheran - a wholehearted welcome. We rejoice to have you with us and look forward to growing together with you in Christian love.

 

As new families join our community each year, a question that often comes up is: Why do we encourage our students to sing in West Portal Lutheran’s worship services? By now, you may have received the schedule for the year; if you have not, you will soon. We encourage you to mark these Saturdays and Sundays in your calendars now. Beyond the worship service, you can make these days special times for your families. Go out for lunch afterwards, play a board game, spend time as a family; just a suggestion.

 

We encourage students of West Portal Lutheran School to sing for several reasons.

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• Singing provides opportunities to thank and praise God, and to proclaim His goodness to all who hear. We find an example of this in Exodus 15, when God’s people sing, “Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea.” (Exodus 15:21 NKJV).

• Singing provides opportunities for us to confess the good things God has done for us, as individuals. For example, King David sang in a psalm (a song), “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities.” (103:2-3)

• Singing helps teach the Christian faith. God Himself encourages us in this when He said to Moses, “Write down this song for yourselves and teach it to the children of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 31:19) In another psalm, King David said, “This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.” (102:18) St. Paul and St. Peter also cited Christian hymns in their letters.

• Singing helps not only teach but also reinforce the faith, so that our students may become “rooted and built up” in Christ, which is our theme this school year. (Colossians 2:6-7)

• Singing, and music in general, helps form well-rounded students. It engages the mind and the body and gives strength to our students as whole people. 

• Singing is fun. As many of you do, I also have small children at home. When they are happy, they are often singing. Many adults, likewise, can be found humming or singing or whistling. God has given us the gift of music, also, for us to enjoy. 

 

We are so grateful for every West Portal family. The WPL community is a blessing from God and a true treasure. We encourage you, students and parents, to join your voices with us in song to our compassionate and loving God.

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Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jacob Swenson