Decorations

Use a black and white color scheme and anything to do with music— sheet music, music stands, instruments—and hang music notes from the ceiling. Have Salvation Army brass music playing as background music.

Snacks

For a fun little snack purchase some Bugles.

History

There’s nothing in the world like the sound of your favorite song. It just gets into your head and your body and makes you move. Or maybe it takes you on a journey to a faraway place and time, where you languish in a memory gone by and people who are no longer present. Our favorite songs can lift us out of depression and make an otherwise horrible day suddenly seem not so bad. World Music Day celebrates music in all its forms and the impact it has had on the world and the human spirit.

History of World Music Day – June 21

Music has existed for as long as mankind has found its voice. Every culture of the world has its own form of music, as distinct and unique to its area as its language and cuisine. World Music Day started 37 years ago in France. In 1982, France’s Ministry of Culture dreamed up an idea for a new kind of musical holiday. They imagined a day where free, live music would be everywhere—street corners and parks, rooftops and gardens, store fronts and mountaintops. And unlike a typical music festival, anyone and everyone would be invited to join and play music or host performances. The event would always take place on the summer solstice, June 21. Amazingly this dream came true. France shuts down on the summer solstice and the musicians take over. Three decades later, the holiday has spread throughout the world and is now celebrated in more than 120 countries, including the United States. (makemusicday.org)

How To Celebrate World Music Day

The best way to celebrate World Music Day is to spend the day listening to all your old favorites, and if you’re truly feeling adventurous start exploring YouTube for music from different cultures. You can explore Finnish and Hungarian, Italian and Mongolian, and then start digging into the local music of other cultures. With sources like these, it’s easier than ever to explore the panorama of musical experiences the world has to offer, and you can do it all from the comfort of your own home. Of course, you could always pick up an instrument and start adding your own voice to the choir

Play the following YouTube videos and discuss the memories that come to mind as you listen to these hymns. Investigate the date and the reason behind each song.

“In the Garden” (Medley) – Sandi Patty https://youtu.be/0u17k750_CA

“Because He Lives” – The Gaither Vocal Band https://youtu.be/2Oz_caE8oQE

“I Surrender All” – CeCe Winans https://youtu.be/rfkzzG2wAdc

A Resting Place

Play the Hymn: “My Faith Has Found A Resting Place” by Lidie Edmonds, which is available on YouTube.

Has your faith found a resting place? Saving faith is much more than a commitment to a creed, a church, or a doctrinal system. It must be a commitment to a person—Jesus Christ. Doctrinal statements and creeds are important in defining and delineating truth, but they must never replace a personal relationship with “The Truth.” We can get so caught up in the religiosity of credal statements, interpretations and arguments, or church traditions that we lose the sense of simple, child–like trust in Christ and His written Word.

This was the concern of the apostle Paul. “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3). Again and again we must take inventory and determine what is the real foundation of our spiritual lives and the source of our resting place. Is it in Christ or merely a creed?

Little is known about the author of the hymn “My Faith Has Found A Resting Place” or the source of the tune other than it is an old Norwegian melody. The hymn in its present form first appeared in the hymnal Songs of Joy and Gladness, published in 1891. It has become increasingly popular in recent years as a testimonial hymn in church services. May it testify of your faith in God.

Verse 1: My faith has found a resting place—not in device or creed; I trust the ever living One–His wounds for me shall plead.

Verse 2: Enough for me that Jesus saves—this ends my fear and doubt, a sinful soul I come to Him — He’ll never cast me out.

Verse 3: My heart is leaning on the Word—the written Word of God; Salvation by my Savior’s name—salvation thru His blood.

Verse 4: My great Physician heals the sick; the lost He came to save; for me His precious blood He shed; for me His life He gave.

Chorus: I need no other argument, I need no other plea; it is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.

Discuss each verse of this hymn and the meaning of each. Share with one another the faithfulness of God as we find Him to be our resting place.

Read the following verses: Job 19:25,27; Psalm 31:19; Isaiah 32:17; John 14:6; 1 John 5:13.

Prayer Time

Pray as a symphony! Lift your voices together and pray for the person next to you all at the same time. This wonderful chaotic time of prayer will make a musical symphony to the Lord on behalf of each of you.

Resources

https://www.facebook.com/makemusicday

The Power Of The Arts In Sharing The Gospel

https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/music-and-creative-arts/music-resources