Angela Irby directs the Worship Quest choir
The Heights Children's Choir winter program "For the Glory of the King" was not your usual bag of Christmas carols and a cute manger scene. The lively production included everything from hip hop dance and boomwhackers to glow-in-the-dark hand puppets and performers fully-engulfed in giant, stretchy cloth sacks.
“Not every child dreams of singing a solo,” explained Angela Irby, worship associate at The Heights. “We had 130 kids participate, ranging in age from from kindergarten through sixth grade. In addition to teaching the kids songs for the musical, we wanted to engage them and show them how God can use them whatever their interests and talents are. So we created 18 age-appropriate classes from which the kids could choose, including art, dance, drama, puppetry, drums, guitar, sign language and even cooking. Then, we tried to incorporate all these talents into one show that would glorify God.”
The participants attended weekly choir rehearsals and their specific class every Wednesday evening beginning in September. All their dedication and hard work paid off with the December 4 production. The program opened in the 2500-seat worship center with the choir loft filled with energetic kids in bright red t-shirts singing as a half dozen dancers moved gracefully across the stage. The energy continued to build as the boomwhackers class knocked out a surprisingly pleasant tune with hollow plastic tubes. Of course, there were beautiful renditions of traditional holiday favorites and several entertaining skits, too. The entire evening was wonderfully choreographed and moved amazingly well considering the sheer numbers of kids and their range of ages combined with the continual changes on stage.
The winter Worship Quest program concluded Wednesday evening, December 7 when the kids visited several area assisted living facilities and senior living homes to share Christmas carols with the residents. Worship Quest resumes with a new semester January 18, 2012. Registration begins January 15 at www.theheights.org/worship_quest_choir. Next semester, the kids will be working on a project called “Promise U,” showing how God has kept his promises to faithful followers for thousands of years.
Founded in 1956, The Heights Baptist Church is located at 201 West Renner Road at US-75 in Richardson. More info at http://www.theheights.org/
Advanced Drama Team directed by Patrick Williams
Boomwhackers Class
Blacklight puppets tell a story of a lost sheep
The sign language class interprets a song using white gloves and black light
Worship leader Trent Blackley leads the audience singing Silent Night