Angel choirs
Children's sermon
Object:
a choir and orchestra recording of Handel's Messiah, using the selection "Worthy Is The Lamb"
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever heard angels singing? (let them answer) I haven't either, but I always wonder what they might sound like. Maybe the reason we never hear angels singing is because it's so beautiful that we might not ever want to hear people singing again. The Bible has a few stories about angels singing. Can you think of a story about angels singing? (let them answer) The one I'm thinking of was around Christmas time. Some angels sang to some shepherds in a field. Do you remember what they sang? (let them answer) Glory to God in the highest!
I brought a recording today of a choir and they're singing something from the Bible that our lesson said that angels sang. Listen to it and see if you can tell what they're singing. (play the first part of the recording and listen with the children) Can anyone tell me what they're singing? (let them answer) They're singing, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain." Sometimes we call Jesus God's lamb. Slain is another word that means killed. Remember on Good Friday Jesus died. But then Jesus was alive again on Easter Sunday. But the song goes on. You'll hear lots of loud drums in this part. (listen to the next phrase) What are they singing this time? (let them answer) It says, "to receive power, and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing." It says seven different things! This is one of my favorite songs and I think I like it because it sounds to me so much like what I think an angel choir would sound like. Let's listen to the next part of the song. This part moves really fast. (listen to the third phrase) It goes so fast. Can you tell what the words are? (let them answer) Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb. The last part is several pages of the word "Amen." Let's listen. (listen to the "Amen Chorus") This is a truly wonderful piece of music. It sounds much better with a choir than it does with just one person reading it. Our verse says the angels were singing with full voice. I think that the man who wrote this music must have heard angel choirs to be able to write such a beautiful piece of music as this. Let's listen again. (if you have time, listen to the whole piece)
I brought a recording today of a choir and they're singing something from the Bible that our lesson said that angels sang. Listen to it and see if you can tell what they're singing. (play the first part of the recording and listen with the children) Can anyone tell me what they're singing? (let them answer) They're singing, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain." Sometimes we call Jesus God's lamb. Slain is another word that means killed. Remember on Good Friday Jesus died. But then Jesus was alive again on Easter Sunday. But the song goes on. You'll hear lots of loud drums in this part. (listen to the next phrase) What are they singing this time? (let them answer) It says, "to receive power, and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing." It says seven different things! This is one of my favorite songs and I think I like it because it sounds to me so much like what I think an angel choir would sound like. Let's listen to the next part of the song. This part moves really fast. (listen to the third phrase) It goes so fast. Can you tell what the words are? (let them answer) Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb. The last part is several pages of the word "Amen." Let's listen. (listen to the "Amen Chorus") This is a truly wonderful piece of music. It sounds much better with a choir than it does with just one person reading it. Our verse says the angels were singing with full voice. I think that the man who wrote this music must have heard angel choirs to be able to write such a beautiful piece of music as this. Let's listen again. (if you have time, listen to the whole piece)
