Who here has heard of Pavlov?

By Pastor Tom Anderson

That name should ring a bell!

Bells have been rung in worship ever since God instructed Moses to make them. (Exodus 28:33). This was 3200 years ago! The early church used bells to call people to worship on Sunday mornings. As time went on, tuned bells entered into the worship services themselves as music for congregational singing. By the 1600’s church handbell choirs were common in Europe in both Protestant and Roman Catholic churches.

Thrive Church is blessed to have a full set of handbells, tables and stands for a handbell choir. For some time now, many of us have been praying and waiting for the musical leadership we need to form such a choir. Many of you have experience playing handbells.

We’ve begun a conversation about the future of our handbells. They are a tremendous resource for worship and they should be employed in His praise–if not at Thrive, then in some other house of worship. Are you–or someone you know–called to the musical leadership of a handbell choir? I’d love to hear from you! Our first choice is to see the rebirth of our handbell choir.

Each of us was made for a purpose. If we are not acting on our purpose, we are not really alive! Bells were made for ringing God’s praise. We pray that they might be set free from storage to do what they were created for. I am grateful for the happy memories of our bell choir under the leadership of Gail Davidson, now retired. Together we are looking for a way to put our bells back into use.

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise Him in the mighty heavens! Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise Him with bells! (Psalm 150:1, 2)