In our Wednesday Bible Study night class I mentioned a song sang during my childhood days when the choirs routinely observed a processional at the beginning of the service. I can still see it, as if I were there at this very moment. Three different choirs proceeded to the choir stand. The Gospel Choir, donned in white robes, marched up on the far-left aisle of the sanctuary and took their place on the same, set apart side in the choir stand. The Senior Choir, the largest of the three, clothed in black robes made their way down the center aisle to the middle choir section of the choir stand. The Chancel Choir, wearing scarlet red robes, made up of young adults, proceeded in perfect cadence with the other two choirs, and took their place on the right side of the choir stand. There was no “Praise Team,” and no arsenal of musicians, just a piano player and an organ player. Yet, there is no doubt in my mind that this was not just religious ritual, they came to have church. Praise God!
The song I mentioned Wednesday is entitled, “To Me It’s So Wonderful.” One of the faithful sisters in the class recalled the song and she commented that her grandmother, now 104 years old (Hallelujah!), the oldest living alumni of the renowned Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, she used to sing during the procession of the singers, Some persons form the younger generations today may view that song a retro or old school processional song. Now, they may not sing it today when you go to worship, but let me present them to you, give you some meaningful words to think about, meditate on, as you make your way to church today.
“TO ME, IT’S SO WONDERFUL! TO ME, IT’S SO WONDERFUL. TO ME, IT’S SO WONDERFUL, TO KNOW THAT JESUS IS MINE.
WHEN I SHOULD FEEL LONELY, OR I SHOUD FEEL SAD, I’M SO CONTENTED AND MY HEART IS GLAD. JOY BELLS ARE RINGING, IN MY HEART I’M SINGING, IT’S WONDERFUL TO KNOW HE IS MINE.
WHEN I AM DISCOURAGED, OR I’M FILLED WITH GLOOM; GOD SENDS HIS ANGELS TO SING IN MY GLOOM, I JOIN THE SINGING, FOR I CAN’T
DECLINE; IT’S WONDERFUL TO KNOW HE IS MINE.”
Enjoy your worship experience today! Enjoy being in the special presence of the Lord! Have a wonderful time! Be blessed!
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
P.S.
We need to bring back that “retro/old school” song in this new day!