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BY CARRIE MADREN

Song is a beautiful part of worship. Melodies convey meaning, lyrics become mantras of faith. Songs near and dear to our hearts speak truth to the soul in a way that plain spoken words cannot.

Tom and Becki Price have been leading the Joyful Noise! youth choir at Oakdale Emory UMC in Olney, for 19 years, a tenure that came to a close Dec. 18, the last time they led the choir in Sunday morning worship before their ministry continues in new ways. That last Sunday was a day of celebration ― and a few tears ― as current and former choir members joined voices, for the last time, to sing “Pray for Me,” a song traditionally sung in May as a farewell for the seniors. “Pray for Me” is about taking different life paths but staying connected through prayer ― “The road He chose for me is not the road He chose for you, but there’s a greater love that holds us.”

I joined Joyful Noise! 19 years ago ― the year choir began ― and sung through my high school years; since those five years, I’ve enjoyed watching the youth choir grow and thrive with new faces.

Not only did I learn harmonies to Christmas carols and melodies to dozens of new songs, I learned how to make my soft soprano blend with a group. Each rehearsal was a lesson in learning to be a part of something larger than myself ― a team that could accomplish much more than any individual voice. I learned that singing out in praise and worship, and in the spirit of sharing the Good News, is extremely satisfying. And each song we sang brought a beautiful aspect of God’s love and mercy to me in new ways.

As a group, we generated sponsorships for hundreds and hundreds of children across the world through Compassion International. Having that worthy purpose made it easy to sing during times when we didn’t feel like it, times when we were tired.

The songs I learned as a youth in Joyful Noise! stuck with me through my college years and beyond. When I felt discouraged or blue, just recalling some of the melodies from my days in the Joyful Noise! choir lifted me up. “The House that Mercy Built” calls to mind the power and steadfastness of God’s love ― “We’ve nothing left to fear, we live in grace … here in the safe embrace of God.”

“Jesus Will Still Be There” was a sweet piece that would come to mind when I felt alone and reminded me that Jesus always has an arm around me: “… when it looks like you’ve lost it all, and you haven’t got a prayer, Jesus will still be there.”

“This Day” reminded me to stay in the present, and that each day is an opportunity to seek God.

Joyful Noise!’s mission is to have fun and praise the Lord. And that we did. “O Bless the Lord My Soul” is a jazzy, fast-tempo piece from the show Godspell, and the first year of choir, we did it with kids cartwheeling down the center aisle and running past the pews into place on the risers. You can’t sing it without bursting with energy and excitement.

I learned that singing to God can be both strong and rhythmic ― making you want to clap and dance ― and as soft and sacred as winter’s first snow, such as the achingly beautiful “If I Had,” and “I Wonder as I Wander.”

Moreover, song has staying power. Melodies learned and sung together will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Song also brings Scripture to memory and light. “Trust in the Lord” was sung on the very first tour, and the Proverbs 3:5 verse “Trust in the Lord, with all your heart, and never lean on your own understanding…” is easy to remember set to song.

This unique youth choir ministry offered us opportunities that both moved and amazed us ― singing in the National Cathedral, the White House Christmas tour, the Air Force Academy Chapel and other locations where song opened doors.

Looking back, I’m inspired by how God turned a tiny seed of an idea (a youth choir) into something so much more. More than a group that sang, the choir was always a place to form friendships and encourage others through music. I’ve always been inspired by the Prices, who truly care for the youth and befriend them, and who lovingly support the people around them. And through the choir, I’ve seen and heard about God working in the details: providing help when needed and watching over the group on week-long summer tours.

Thinking back through the 19 years of the choir at Oakdale Emory, I’m so grateful for the gift of love intertwined with music, and songs that remind me of God’s great and constant love for us.