Monday, March 1, 2010

Goodnight Moon

The church nursery has a loudspeaker. Loudspeaker sounds archaic, but that is the word that most-aptly describes this speaker, as it is both archaic and very loud. During Sunday evening worship, by God’s providence, I was in the nursery with two precious covenant children, and the loudspeaker was doing its thing, very loudly. It was a sweet time for me, as I am fresh out of babies and toddlers at my house. We sat on the floor, the two of them in my lap, and read book after book. Over the loudspeaker I heard bits and pieces of the sermon while reading aloud, something about food laws from Deuteronomy (I’ll have to catch up on that later; I wonder, do we record the evening sermons too?). But what struck me was what I heard at the end of the service – beautiful singing in four parts. I do not know if they were singing a cappella or if the piano was not being picked up by the microphone, but it sounded great. The juxtaposition of what I was hearing and what I was reading was remarkable. Here is how I heard it:


In the great green room
there was a telephone
And a red balloon
And a picture of--

All people that on earth do dwell,

The cow jumping over the moon…

Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;

and a comb and a brush and bowl full of mush…

Him serve with fear, his praise forth-tell,

and a quiet old lady who was whispering "hush"…

Come ye before him and rejoice.

goodnight cow jumping over the moon

goodnight light and the red balloon…

The Lord ye know is God indeed;
Without our aid he did us make;


goodnight clocks and goodnight socks

goodnight little house and goodnight mouse…

We are his folk, he doth us feed,
And for his sheep he doth us take


goodnight comb and goodnight brush…

O enter then his gates with praise,
Approach with joy his courts unto;


goodnight nobody goodnight mush…

Praise, laud, and bless his name always,
For it is seemly so to do.


and goodnight to the old lady whispering "hush"…

For why? the Lord our God is good,
His mercy is for ever sure;


goodnight stars, goodnight air...

His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.


goodnight noises everywhere.

Then the pastor gave the blessing: “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Goodnight moon. Goodnight little ones. Sleep in peace.

2 comments:

Debbie S said...

Yes, if I remember correctly it was a cappella. Sometimes I get goosebumps when I hear us sing. It really is a blessing. Actually, I believe there where five parts. Some lovely soprano occasionally does a descant of sorts. :-)

M. Helseth said...

What a wonderful post, Tracey. :) I love it. And I could hear it as I was reading it (I wasn't there that Sunday). Isn't reading to little ones a joy? And isn't the praise of the congregation to a great God even more joyous?! Thanks for that...