Arts in Ministry Blog

“The first thing we know

about God is that He created;

and not only created,

but created out of nothing!”

 Being able to make a joyful noise unto the Lord is not only a command, but priceless blessing!

I grew up as a “missionary kid” and was very involved in my parent’s ministry (New Life Ministries) to poverty-stricken African American families living in the projects of West Jackson.

My mother jokingly called my three younger sisters and I her “forced volunteers”. One of the many perks of being home schooled was that I was around to see my parents live what they preached. But not just to see and hear, but to do as well. I had a hand in practically every aspect of ministry, from food distribution to Bible studies, from Christmas plays to fundraising.

Dance and music were two other important areas of my life. I have danced for 15 years and played piano for 17 years, as well as having taken both drawing and voice. In a very interesting series of events the Lord brought me to Belhaven Collage as a Piano Performance major in 2005.

After switching to Music Composition I graduated with a BA in Music. Besides these student positions I’ve also taught both ballet, piano, swimming, and written music for my previous church, Grace PCA of Byram.

As I begin my life with you here at Covenant I’d like to give you the very short version of my convictions regarding life as a Christian and to bring your attention to a few necessary criteria to live a well-rounded and Christ-centered life. The first thing we know about God is that He created; and not only created, but created out of nothing! (The heavens declare the glory ofGod; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Psalm 19:1) Everything He created was beautiful and good. These are some of the first things we learn about God. What is the first thing we learn about Man? That he was created by God himself, and in His own likeness! We were created to be creative like our Father and to enjoy communion with Him! Communion with God, we know, is of utmost importance, but in order to live obedient lives we know we must love and interact with those around us: first to our families, secondly to the body of believers, thirdly to our neighbor, and fourthly to the world. 

Here we see true community and true worship: not socializing, but fellowship. Not shallow art,

but art with a purpose. We all have this calling; to redeem, to create, to love (not a feeling, but a

commitment!) Consider Colossians 3:16. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing

one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in

your hearts to God.” Psalms are God’s own words, written down by David. What are hymns and

spiritual songs? Music created by God’s people! Let this beautiful picture of a body of believers

committed to each other in true love and mercy, worshiping Him with our God given creativity

and voices, be your new vision!

The scriptures tell us that Heaven will be God’s people communing with each other and with the

Bridegroom, and that we will be singing His praises. Let’s not wait till then to sing to Him a new

song together! I am so thrilled to be here with you, to worship with you, to live life with you.

Please do not hesitate to come by my office and just hang out. I look forward to furthering our

relationships!

-Landrie H. Ethredge, Director of Arts & Ministry 

WHY A CHILDREN’S CHOIR?

Let’s look at children as:
Singers
A child’s voice offers a beautiful and unique sound, and children just love to sing!
Col 3:16 “Christ’s message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and
instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs;
sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts.
Leaders Exercising Dominion
What children have to offer is substantial. Their experiences in the Spirit are just as
important as those of adults. There is, then, no room for patronizing or undercutting the
role they fill. Christ goes so far as to give children as an example (Matt 18:2-5)
Psalm 8:2 “Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength
because of your foes to still the enemy and the avenger.”
Excellence Pursuers
You often hear that so and so was “born with” or “born without” the gift to sing, but the
fact is we are all commanded to sing to the Lord! All children have the potential to get
better, and to sing with excellence all children need instruction (Col 3:23-24)!
Matt 25:21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You
have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of
your master.’”

Citizens of a Community
Thank the Lord for fellowship! We were created as relational beings. There are so many important reasons for and aspects of community.
Col 3:16 “Christ’s message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all
wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts.”
Educated Christians
Music is an incredible way to cement biblical truths into the minds of children. One can easily recall bible songs
learned as a young child. These scriptures will stay in their minds and hearts for a life time.
Duet 6:5-9”You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your children, and shall talk of them when
you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
In-tuned Worshipers
Singing to the Lord is an excellent way to experience God. St. Augustine said, “He who sings prays twice.
Matt 21:15-16 “but when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the
children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him,
“Do you hear what these are saying? And Jesus said to them, “yes; have you never read, ‘out of the mouth of
infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”
Members of a body
Children can and should me an active member of the body of Christ. A choir is a great way to enable children’s
participation.
1 Cor 12:12-13 “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body,
though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in on Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jew or
Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”
Servants
Leading the congregation in worship is such an easy way for children to serve both their fellow believers and the
community. Worship is after all one of the very reason we were created: to worship God!
Luke 9:46-48 “An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But Jesus, knowing the
reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child
in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among
you all is the one who is great.”
Artists
As I spoke about in last months “Spire” we were all created as creative beings created in God’s image. Our God loves
beauty and loves being creative (Psalm 19:1), just look around at the things He has made!
Get 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he
created them.”
Music is certainly fun, but that is not the only reason to sing. Music time is a time of worship, learning the words of
God, communion in truth and spirit with Christ and their peers, an incredibly unique way to express emotion, and
so much more!