![]() ![]() I’m not particularly young or good-looking, and I don’t find being “one of the gang” easy or comfortable. I assumed that successful youth choir leaders had to be young, good-looking, and popular with the kids. I came to Islington with no youth choir experience, full of apprehension about this part of the job. It was clear to me that I needed to provide the widest possible variety of music-making for this congregation. ![]() The warm, inclusive spirit and the compelling preaching at Islington immediately engaged me, and I resolved to build on these strengths. Their fairly traditional worship moved easily between formality and improvisation. When I arrived to take a position as minister of music seven years ago, I found Islington parishioners open and receptive to all kinds of music. The members of Islington United would say that music has always been an important part of the church’s life. In that time, the choir has grown from a tiny group of four fearless kids singing in unison to a four-part choir of about forty teens. This scene has repeated itself almost every Sunday morning for about seven years. The congregation at the 9:30 service responds to the choir’s leadership with enthusiasm. By 9:25, the Islington United Church Youth Choir (IUCYC) is on its way to the sanctuary, prepared to lead a full congregation in a hymn of praise. A parent checks attendance and solves last-minute problems. But they’re here, and as they warm up their voices and begin to sing, I’m reminded of newborn butterflies drying their wings and getting ready for flight. Most of them look sleepy many look as though they just stepped out of the shower. About forty teenagers have assembled in the choir rehearsal room at Islington United Church in west Toronto. The second section of the CD is entitled “Lullaby Land” and contains soothing instrumental versions of all of the songs “designed to encourage sweet dreams.It is 9 o’clock on a Sunday morning. When I gave the CD to my son and his wife, they were amazed at how well the name Kendall blended in with music. The first section of the CD contains 5 vocal songs into which your special child’s name is inserted: In place of “You” in the CD the name of your particular child is inserted. You are an angel, sent down to me from heaven above. When I played it, I was touched by the beauty of the vocals, instrumentals and lyrics and it made it seem so much more a personal meditation of thankfulness because it contained the name of my new grandbaby Kendall. When I received it I saw that “Kendall” was on a sticker on the front of case. I received this as a gift from my cousin when our first grandchild, Kendall was born. ![]() This CD beautifully expresses anyone’s love for a baby in prayerful songs of love and thankfulness. $20.00 for names already recorded $150.00 for names not yet recorded When her daughter Michaela was born she called her “a true miracle baby.” Erika writes “Watching her grow, I became ever amazed at the depth of my love for her and felt compelled to write this song expressing the overwhelming wonder and gratitude toward God and his willingness to answer prayer.” ![]() Erika explains about the title song “Glimpse of Heaven” that she went through two long years of unsuccessful attempts to have a child. There is no doubt that these songs are prayers. “Sister Song” is two sisters Heidi Bettich Kays and Erika Bettich Ward.These are all original songs composed by each of the sisters as they sang to their babies. You can have your child’s name inserted in this CD of lullaby type songs. ![]()
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