Alleluia, Sing Noel! (English)

“Alleluia, Sing Noel!” is a Christmas concert theme combining Hallelujah Oratorio Society and SBC Chorale in the Esplanade on 30 November 2008. Before the concert was begun, I really prayed and asked God that I could really sing all the songs in the concert from the bottom of my heart.

When the introduction of the song ““Tapestry of Carols” was played by the small orchestra, I really wanted to cry (but of course I could not do it because I still have to sing right?) This introduction was so grand and it is a call for the Christians to come and worship God joyfully because Jesus is born for us. “Tapestry of Carols” is a medley song of some Christmas carols such as “O Come, All Ye Faithful”, “Joy to the World”, “The First Noel”, “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”.

There is one song that touches my heart since the first rehearsal until the performance which is “Sleep, Little Lamb”. The melody of this song is so beautiful and talks about the shepherds who were keeping watch over the flocks at night but they were joyful after seeing and meeting Jesus who was born in Bethlehem. This song also asks us to worship Him, the King and shout “Hosanna” for the mighty King.

Each song was sung beautifully by the choir until we reached the last and closing song which is “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel Messiah. When the choir started to sing this song, the audience started to stand up and my tears dropped. I saw the greatness of God through this song. Every heart is praising the Lord and saying “Hallelujah, He is King of Kings!” Finally this song was sung 2 times as encore.

After the concert, we gave thanks to the Lord. Once again, my tears dropped. This tear was a thanksgiving tear for the blessings that God has given since the rehearsal until the concert. God has given opportunity for me and all the choir members to take part in this Christmas concert and shared the blessings with those who heard it especially for us who sang it.

One thing that reminds me and each of us to always pray to God whole heartedly and it will be given to us according to His will.

Alleluia, Sing Noel! (Indonesia)

“Alleluia, Sing Noel!” adalah tema konser natal Hallelujah Oratorio Society dan SBC Chorale concert di Esplanade, 30 November 2008. Sebelum konser, saya benar-benar doa sama Tuhan agar saya bisa menyanyikan semua lagu dari dengan sepenuh hati saya.

Ketika intro lagu “Tapestry of Carols” dimainkan oleh instrument piano, trompet, & orkestra, saya benar2 merasa ingin menangis (tapi saya tahan2 untuk tidak menangis soalnya kan harus menyanyi). Intro lagu ini begitu megah dan merupakan sebuah ajakan atau panggilan bagi setiap orang Kristen untuk berhimpun dan menyembah Tuhan dengan penuh sukacita karena Yesus telah lahir bagi manusia. “Tapestry of Carols” ini medley dari beberapa lagu natal “Hai, Mari Berhimpun”, “Dunia Gemar & Soraklah”, “Noel”, dan “Dengar Malaikat Nyanyi”.

Ada sebuah lagu yang paling berkesan buat saya dari selama latihan hingga konser yaitu “Sleep, Little Lamb”. Melodi lagu ini sangat indah dan kata-katanya berbicara tentang para gembala yang menjaga domba-dombanya di malam yang gelap dan dingin tapi mereka bersukacita karena telah melihat Yesus yang telah lahir. Lagu ini juga mengajak setiap kita untuk menyembah Dia, Sang Raja yang baru lahir dan berseru “Hosana!” bagi Yesus yang teragung.

Lagu demi lagu dinyanyikan oleh Paduan Suara, solois, dan orkestra hingga lagu terakhir sebagai lagu penutupan yaitu “Hallelujah Chorus” dari Handel Messiah. Ketika PS mulai menyanyikan lagu ini, semua penonton perlahan-lahan mulai berdiri, saya benar-benar menitikkan air mata. Saya melihat kebesaran dan keagungan Tuhan melalui lagu ini. Setiap hati memuji Tuhan dan berkata “Haleluyah, Dialah Raja Segala Raja”. Akhirnya lagu ini dinyanyikan 2x sebagai encore.

Selesai konser, kami berdoa bersama. Sekali lagi, saya menitikkan air mata ucapan syukur terbesar kepada Tuhan karena Tuhan telah memberkati konser ini dari persiapannya hingga malam konser. Tuhan juga telah memberi kesempatan kepada saya & setiap anggota PS untuk dapat menyanyikan lagu natal dan memberi berkat kepada setiap mereka yang mendengarnya dan terlebih lagi ketika lagu-lagu ini juga boleh menjadi berkat bagi setiap kita yang menyanyikannya.

Satu hal yang juga mengingatkan saya dan setiap kita yaitu untuk selalu berdoa dengan sungguh-sungguh kepada Tuhan, minta kepada Tuhan dan Tuhan akan memberikannya kepada kita sesuai dengan rencana-Nya.

Biblical Foundations

Part 4: Biblical Foundations

Biblical foundation is very important because the Word of God is the principle of every Christian’s living. Music ministry should be based on the Biblical foundations because the church can not run the music ministry without tracing what the Bible says about music ministry and the importance of music ministry in the Bible. In the Biblical foundations, we can see from three different aspects how the music ministry relates to the Bible and how the music ministry based on the Bible.

Firstly is the Biblical foundation in God’s creativity. The Bible records many passages for God’s creativity in His works. God created everything for both aesthetics and functional (Genesis 1, 2 and Colossians 1:16-17). He creates things for men to enjoy and to show that God has provided the creations to fulfill the need of men (Genesis 15:5; Job 12:7-10). It also reminds men for God’s faithfulness and caring for men. The Bible tells us the first people who created the art and became the musician (Genesis 4:21-22). Knowing about God’s creativity and the original of the music are important because the Bible does not only record it for the sake of literature and knowledge but it gives us understanding and different view for who God is and why God creates and gives art for men.

Secondly is the Biblical foundation in the Old Testament. The Old Testament helps us to understand how music was presented in the history. It also gives us knowledge of the social functions of music and the use of liturgical in life of the people in the Old Testament. It also gives us knowledge of the origin of the music ministry. It is important to know because God is actually who planned and ordered for establishment in the music ministry.

Thirdly is the Biblical foundation in the New Testament. This Biblical foundations show us that music was a significant part of the culture and the New Testament Christian church and the goal of music is not aesthetics, but as vehicles of spiritual expression. It also tells us about the function of church music and the variety of songs that we can use in the worship service in the church which are Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19).

Understanding the Biblical foundation is very important. It reminds us to always return to the principle of music ministry which is the Bible. It also helps us to us see the history and the development of the church music and how God’s hands are in the history of the church music.