Christian Conventions of Western Australia Inc.

PCMC's Music with Meaning convention was a great day of learning how to use music effectively to teach children God's truths.  

130 people gathered at St Mark's School Hillarys, where Matthew Waldron spoke from Ephesians, reminding us that we need to ourselves be transformed by the knowledge we have about Jesus, and to teach from the heart, giving information which we pray will lead to transformation. Music is a wonderful way to do this in children's ministry. Cailey Raffel and Susan Creelman helped us get to terms with the 'Nuts and Bolts' of music ministry with children, alerting us to the stages of growth in children, which need to be matched with appropriate music. The importance of checking the theological accuracy of songs was stressed. Each church represented received a CD with a spreadsheet of songs for different ages, biblical themes and stories, which could be used for ready reference and which could be added to with the church's own repertoire.

Rohan Carly did a masterful explanation of the way copyright should be adhered to. He walked us through the steps to achieve this, and gave a handout which we could use for reference.

Six workshops meant that participants could learn more about areas of music ministry that particularly interested them, or which they needed for their own situation.

Deb and Jeremy Chappell coaxed non-singers into song, showing that even the most musically challenged of us could lead children's music sessions with confidence.

David Hummerston spoke about how he wrote songs himself, using the context of the children as a background to inform the way he would communicate God's truth. Brave participants from this workshop went on to a second session where they composed their own music to words David gave them.

Sharon Jackson and Ann Bettison helped people to see how they could choose songs which would suit both adults and children in the congregation – not an easy task, but one which is important for every church.

John and Ellie Macpherson demonstrated how a song could be dramatised, using the children in the group. They had people in groups, preparing a dramatic rendition of Jesus and the money makers in the temple. The steps they suggested could be used for many 'story' songs.

Adrienne Robinson, the state co-ordinator for the mainly music program, told people what the program involved and how they could set one up in their own church. Reports suggest that new groups are on the way!

Jillian Flynn and Oliver Lindsell helped the technologically challenged to feel that even they could manage an i-pod! But Jillian and Oliver were clear that technology has its advantages and disadvantages, both of which they clearly enumerated.

It was a great day of learning how we can use music to teach children more about God's wonderful plan for his world.