THE Methodist School of Music organised a “Festival of Lessons and Carols” that included a three-day Children’s Choir camp and carol service from Dec 13 to 16, 2006 at Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church. The event was co-sponsored by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids.
Eighty-seven children from Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, Kay Poh Road Baptist Church, Toa Payoh Methodist Church, Toa Payoh Chinese Methodist Church, Bethel Presbyterian Church and Queenstown Baptist Church participated in the event.
Led by the children campers themselves, the daily morning worship was a lively blend of simple liturgy and music. This gave the participants a taste of what worship leadership is all about.
Each participant was assigned to one of four interest groups: Percussion – incorporating rhythmic studies using drums, shakers, bells and woodblocks; Hand Chimes – where the children learned to accompany anthems/hymns; Sound Exploration – where they explored the various ways of using the voice, body, and found objects to produce sound; and the Angklung – an Indonesian bamboo instrument which one has to shake in order to produce the sound.
On the last day of the camp each interest group presented the pieces its members had worked on. Competitive games also spiced up their experience, encouraging sportsmanship and teamwork.
A distinct feature of the camp was a fixed four-hour daily rehearsal for the Festival of Lessons and Carols. This enabled the children to process what they had learnt, such as good singing posture, proper focus and projection of tone, discipline, and more importantly, their role during the festival itself.
The “Festival of Lessons and Carols” was designed in conjunction with the camp. During the camp, the choirs came together and rehearsed under the Festival Director, Dr Pearl Shangkuan from Calvin College.
Dr Shangkuan made it clear to the children that they were the worship leaders for the festival. She explained that
the readings, the anthems and the hymns comprised the sermon. She encouraged them to believe in their ability to convey the message to the congregation. It was hoped that with repeated emphases, the children would appreciate their roles in the worship life of the church.
Fourteen children were chosen to read seven lessons: two from each church, one reading in Mandarin, and the other in English. Parents, their respective choir leaders and the camp staff saw to it that the children rehearsed their parts.
Evidently, the cooperation among the Festival Director and staff, parents and various choir leaders paid off and drowned all previous anxieties. The children fulfilled their roles in worship leading so well that many were impressed and encouraged by what children could do.
During the festival, various instruments were incorporated, providing colourful accompaniments: the organ, trumpet, flute, trombone and the timpani accompanied the congregation. The piano, violin, hand chimes, cowbell, bongos, maracas, crow sounder, triangle and finger cymbal accompanied the anthems in various forms. The festival proved to be an enjoyable and enriching experience for all the children.
Judith Mosomos is Lecturer in Church Music at the Methodist School of Music.
