Some of the most rewarding experiences in my career as a music minister have been our annual youth choir tours. These trips with middle and high school students have been formative in powerful, life-giving ways. Our youth have grown closer to one another and to God as they traveled by bus throughout the United States, sharing the love of God through music, word, and deed.
These tours incorporated three main components: concerts, mission projects, and daily devotions. Beyond these three components, we also made time for relaxation and fun. I could write a book about the challenges and joys we shared together on these adventures.
A favorite tour was our trip to San Antonio, Texas. We sang concerts of traditional sacred church anthems with keyboard accompaniment for retirement communities, local churches, and at the Alamo. We sang a cappella anthems in a tiny San Antonio mission (amazing acoustics!), from a riverboat on the River Walk, and on a bus tour. Our concert at a hospice was particularly poignant. While we were singing, one of the residents quietly finished their earthly journey in a room nearby.
As we sang Jeffrey Ames’ stunning In Remembrance, the deceased’s earthly body was wheeled past our choir, covered by a simple sheet:
My tears linger at night, but joy comes in the morning light.
Luceat eis, Domine, lux aeterna, lux aeterna, luceat eis Domine, Domine
Lord, in your infinite mercy, grant them rest, rest forever more.
We contemplated this holy moment that night in our devotions. Our youth spoke of how meaningful it was to sing these words during the person’s last breaths here on earth. This was not someone we knew, but we all felt like we had sung them to heaven. See also the text of Dan Gawthrop’s lovely anthem “Sing Me to Heaven” below.
During times of crisis and of rest, our faith in God gives us stability, security, and permanence. Our faith allows us to replace doubt and fear with the certainty of God’s plan for us. This certainty gives us the strength and conviction to face life’s challenges knowing God is with us, and faith will sustain us. Hebrews 11:1 tells us “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” This passage goes on to list how faith sustained so many throughout Christian history.
Whether life is smooth sailing, every step is a struggle, or you are singing a loved one to heaven, doubt and fear can be replaced with the confidence of knowing God has a plan for us. Our faith indeed has found a resting place: it provides the spiritual foundation that cannot be shaken and allows us to live with the assurance that joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).
My Faith Has Found a Resting Place
My faith has found a resting place, not in device nor creed.
I trust the ever-living One; His wounds for me shall plead.
I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died, and that he died for me.
—Eliza Edmunds Hewitt
In my heart’s sequestered chambers lie truths stripped of poet’s gloss
Words alone are vain and vacant, and my heart is mute
In response to aching silence, memory summons half-heard voices
And my soul finds primal eloquence and wraps me in song
Wraps me in song
If you would comfort me, sing me a lullaby
If you would win my heart, sing me a love song
If you would mourn me and bring me to God
Sing me a requiem, sing me to Heaven
Touch in me all love and passion
Pain and pleasure, touch in me
Touch in me, grief and comfort
Love and passion, pain and pleasure
Sing me a lullaby, a love song, a requiem
Love me, comfort me, sing me to God
Sing me a love song, sing me to Heaven
—Daniel Gawthrop
Lux aeterna, luceat eis, Domine
Lux aeterna, lux aeterna, luceat eis Domine, Domine
Turn to me and be gracious, for my heart is in distress.
Turn to me and be gracious for my heart is in distress.
O God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?
My tears linger at night, but joy comes in the morning light. Luceat eis, Domine
Lux aeterna, lux aeterna, luceat eis Domine, Domine
Lord, in your infinite mercy, grant them rest, rest forever more.
—Jeffrey Ames
