With Children's Appreciation Sunday, Confirmation, and Youth Sunday 2022 in the books, it's the perfect time to summarize what we have accomplished this year and what the vision for the future is. Let's give this blog post a lengthy subtitle: "The State of the Pinnacle's Children and Youth Music Programming Address."
Music in general has an unparalleled ability to unify, lift, move, energize, and transform us. Music in a church setting in particular has the ability to form and deepen our individual and communal connection with Christ. I strongly believe that engaging children in learning, collaborating, and delivering quality music teaches them perseverance, humility, patience and responsibility. Being a small but vital part of something larger than ourselves is the perfect description of group music making, but more importantly a metaphor for serving our church community, and ultimately - God. The goal of the Pinnacle Music Ministry is to involve all young Christians in making God-centered music which is meaningful, spiritually engaging, and theologically aligned with PPC's faith statement; music which has an important function in worship, legitimate quality, and which provides palpable communal experiences through intergenerational projects.
Intergenerational is the key word here.
The music we have delivered with children and youth in worship this year has been strategically and intentionally planned around the idea of intergenerational experience. We have incorporated a few old and new ideas:
1. We paired kids with adults.
On the World Communion Sunday in October 2021, Children Choir K-6 sang in a call-and-response fashion with the Chancel Choir. They sang 'Processional Alleluia', an anthem which brilliantly juxtaposes traditional African and Native American melodies. In April 2022 they led the adults in a contemporary anthem 'Palm Sunday Hosanna'. On Easter children and adult choirs joined forces to lead the congregation in singing the Honduras Alleluia. Inspired by the English cathedral chorister tradition, the kids took the soprano line in the Samuel Wesley's SATB anthem 'Lead Me Lord', and in collaboration with the Chamber Choir delivered a moving Ash Wednesday service.
2. We paired kids with high-schoolers in John Rutter's 'All Things Bright and Beautiful' on Children's Appreciation Sunday. Singing alongside the guest choir from Loma Linda Academy in California was a particularly exciting experience for our children, as they had an opportunity to experience beautiful music made by passionate choristers just a bit older than them.
3. We gave kids various liturgical roles in worship.
Beside reading prayers and serving as acolytes almost every Sunday, the children led the congregation in singing the musical procession "Sanna Sannanina" on Palm Sunday. Chimes and bells provided the musical leadership in the hymns throughout the year. While practicing their own chime and bell parts, the kids learned to sing what they played, absorbing our rich Christian tradition in such well-known hymns as 'Joyful, Joyful', 'Hark, the Herald Angels Sing', 'How Firm a Foundation', 'Come, Christians, Join to Sing' and 'All Things Bright and Beautiful'.
Throughout the year the Youth ensemble delivered inspiring choral and percussion arrangements of 'Carol of the Bells' and 'Carol of Service', and a steeldrum arrangement of 'For All the Saints'. They also participated in two large intergenerational projects with the Chancel Choir: as a steeldrum and drum ensemble in a powerful Kyrie from 'A Caribbean Mass' in February 2022; and just last Sunday as a handbell ensemble, alongside flute, piano and percussion, in the Asian hymn 'As the Wind Song'. These type of experiences not only teach our youth numerous musical skills, but give them experience of being embraced and supported by the adults in a high quality musical expression of faith. The adults involved delight in the opportunity to make music with the young ones. The benefits of intergenerational music go far.
Engaging children and youth in major worship services (Christmas, Holy Week and Easter) is a collaborative effort. It requires many helping hands, advanced logistics and flexibility on staff part. None of these would happen without the support of the wonderful Pinnacle team: Hillary Mackowski, Brandon Huenemann, Ruthie Wilde, Melissa Trafficante, Dr. Sonja Branch, Samantha Jorgensen, Jessica Pisarski, Helena McGinn, and Dr. Lorraine Brugh.
While we are planning our next season let me express this: the children and youth will continue being at the center of our teaching and music making. Making sure that the kids play important roles in the liturgy and are a part of intergenerational worship will continue to be our goal in the future.
