Slideshow image

From Intern Beth…

 

As the days begin to warm up and the sun shines down on us, I hope that the worst of the snow and cold is behind us as we begin moving toward spring! I want to extend a big thank you to all of you for your generosity in supporting my seminary journey. From your continued encouragement to your generous scholarship, I truly am so blessed to be a part of your church community throughout my faith journey. Thank you for following God’s call to be a church that embraces and fosters others in following God.

 

One of the things I got to do this past month, that may not necessarily be an Indiana specific tradition but that I experienced while here, was attending Winter Jam. Winter Jam was started in 1995 and has grown to be the largest Christian music tour through the US. Gathering alongside a stadium full of people who all came together to worship and sing of God’s praises was such a powerful experience. The evening was filled with contemporary Christian artists performing, some pastors leading prayers, and a speaker who shared about his mission work across the world.

 

Throughout the festival and in the weeks that followed, still listening to the artists from the event and more, I am continually pulled into Psalm 98. The Psalmist declares “make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord. Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it” (Psalm 98:4-7).

 

Sitting in the stadium worshipping and singing with thousands of people is a very different way to worship and experience God than worshipping in church on Sunday mornings, but I also realize that neither way is better than the other. From the shouts of praise singing along to Chris Tomlin to the babies that cry out during church, it all is a joyful noise to the Lord. From the drums and guitars that fill stadiums to the organs that play out in sanctuaries, they all sound out the melody of the Lord. From the many people who fill entire stadiums to the families we see each week at church, all those in the world gather to praise God. As we all continue gathering in praise and worship, my hope for you this next month is that God leads you into breaking forth in joyous song and singing praises.