Music Notes: September 7, 2025

by Chad Pittman, Music Ministry Leader

Let the Children Come

I am so grateful to Rev. Susan Swanson for asking me and my little Hank (Chiweenie dog) to be involved in last week’s children’s message. As an animal lover, I strongly resonated with her message and appreciated the opportunity to introduce my little guy to the congregation.

Involvement in the children’s message like that reminded me of a story from my early days as a church musician…

I started church work in a little Lutheran church near my grandparents’ house at…wait for it…age ELEVEN. I couldn’t even reach the pedals yet! After years of piano lessons, I began my organ lessons around this time. I remember the Assistant Pastor listened to me practice and walked up to ask if I would like to play for services, as they needed a regular organist. I excitedly agreed, and a few Sundays later, I began as the regular organist. It was great fun. I was able to help them out, and they were patient with me as I learned how to accompany a full service.

Serving as a regular church employee didn’t stop me from involvement in one of my favorite aspects of the church service, though — after playing the Gospel acclamation liturgy, I would scurry up to the front of the church with the other kids for the children’s message. Then I had to scurry back to get ready for the next hymn. I served that church until I was 21 years old before getting a new church job in college. To this very day, that story is the first thing I hear when I run into a member of that little Lutheran church. “We could hardly believe that we had an organist who would take time to run up to the front of the church for the children’s message,” they say! Indeed, it adds a whole new meaning to the saying, “let the children come.”