Behind the scenes with ‘Sing, Pray and Keep His Ways’ at convention

Choir member Lachlan Lee receives Holy Communion from the Rev. Dr. D. Richard Stuckwisch, president of the LCMS Indiana District, during the convention’s Opening Divine Service. (LCMS/Roy S. Askins)

By Mary Henrichs

PHOENIX — It started months ago: The music arrived, and children in several congregations around the nation began learning their notes. Thirteen pieces — plus two descants — would be sung by a chorus of children’s voices at the 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS).

“Children love [a] challenge,” said Bethany Johnson, kantor at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in Topeka, Kan. St. John’s is one of 12 congregations in the first cohort of the “Sing, Pray and Keep His Ways” project, which seeks to nurture the faith of children through engagement in the pew, choir loft, sacristy and chancel.

Johnson’s two young sons sang in the choir — her youngest is just 6 years old.

“This music is high-level,” she said. “[The kids] love the responsibility. … That’s one thing that most people overlook: Children truly love that challenge.”

A challenge certainly awaited the 55 children as they traveled to Phoenix. A group from Michigan faced flight delays due to wildfire smoke. The Johnson family opted to drive, spending over 18 hours on the road. Almost as soon as the groups arrived from around the nation, they went into rehearsal.

That first rehearsal on Friday evening, July 17, was “a little bit like drinking out of a firehose,” said choral conductor Jonathan Busarow, executive artistic director of the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir, “but it was also great because now they have all this excitement of being together.”

Johnson attested to the excitement she saw in her two young boys, who, upon seeing the crucifers and acolytes in action, immediately were keen to take on that role themselves: “Can I do it? Can I do it?” they asked.

Gabriel Frese, 17, who served as the acolyte captain, has been an acolyte for over 10 years. Going into his senior year of high school, he has plans to attend seminary after receiving his bachelor’s degree. “Being an acolyte has definitely shaped me,” said Frese. “It’s sort of militaristic in some ways — it’s given me order and responsibility.

“You’re given a good responsibility during the service. It’s a small part of it, but it’s a good responsibility, and you have to fill those shoes,” he explained. “It really makes you grow.”

Acolytes Martin Wei and Theo Schultz of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind., chat as the cohort works on a service project for La Mesa Ministries in Phoenix. (LCMS/Roy S. Askins)

Nine boys filled those shoes during the convention’s Opening Divine Service on Saturday evening, lifting up torches, banners and crucifixes during the processional, the reading of the Gospel and the recessional. Frese shared that through “Sing, Pray and Keep His Ways,” his congregation is helping to develop a resource for acolytes at Lutheran churches.

Nine girls served on the altar guild for the Divine Service, preparing the elements and chalices for the Service of the Sacrament. With about 2,000 convention participants and area Lutherans partaking in the Lord’s Supper, this was no small task: 25 Communion stations throughout the cavernous hall needed to be made ready. The girls helped prepare and lay out 25 chalices, 25 ciboria, 25 patens, 25 glass flagons, 75 purificators and more.

After the service, the girls diligently took care of the chalices, ciboria and flagons, helping to wash them and ensuring that the water used to wash the vessels was handled reverently and appropriately. They prepared the rinse water for transport to a local church, where it could be poured on holy ground. The girls finished their duties that night at around 10 p.m.

The “Sing, Pray and Keep His Ways” children served not only during the Divine Service but also in one of their free hours: Partnering with La Mesa Ministries (also known as John 1334 Ministries), an LCMS Recognized Service Organization serving the homeless in Mesa and Tempe, Ariz., the kids packed 200 bags with water, sunscreen and a cooling towel. Each bag also held a drawing and written message confessing Christ’s resurrection and love.

Singing and serving: The comfort of children’s voices

Children from the first cohort of the “Sing, Pray and Keep His Ways” project prepare to take their singing positions for the Opening Divine Service of the 2026 LCMS convention on Saturday, July 18. (LCMS/Roy S. Askins)

Of the 13 separate pieces they sang, most of the children reported that their favorite was “With Loudest Rejoicing,” a duet from a cantata attributed to J.S. Bach (BWV 15). It’s a fast-moving piece, made up of two intertwining parts. The piece is also a bold confession of faith, rejoicing — even laughing — in the face of death, devil and temptation because of Christ’s triumphant resurrection.

Throughout their busy weekend, the children participated in five devotions led by the Rev. Jeremy Swem, senior pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church and School, Grand Rapids, Mich.; the Rev. Samuel Wirgau of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, Ind.; and the Rev. Sean Daenzer, director of Worship for the LCMS. Following the theme both of the convention and of their choral pieces, the devotions emphasized Christ’s resurrection as His church’s victory, peace for today, comfort in the midst of suffering and hope — sure and certain — of what is to come.

Over the past year, several of the choirs have made this sung confession at the funerals of members who have fallen asleep in Christ. Lucy Hop, 13, shared how her choir at Our Savior had sung some of the same music prepared for convention at the funeral of their beloved school librarian. As they traveled to Phoenix, members of the same congregation heard news of the unexpected passing of a beloved member of their congregation. Upon their return to Grand Rapids, the children will likely sing many of these pieces to the glory of God at that member’s funeral service, confessing Christ’s glorious deeds and the sure and certain hope He brings of resurrection.

Repeatedly throughout the weekend, the children joined together to sing the final stanza of “If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee”:

Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving,

Perform thy duties faithfully,

And trust His Word; though undeserving,

Thou yet shalt find it true for thee.

God never yet forsook in need

The soul that trusted Him indeed. (Lutheran Service Book 750:7)

“Children are part of the Body of Christ, just like each and every one of us,” said Johnson. For her, the intentionality encouraged by “Sing, Pray and Keep His Ways” stands out: “You can always hope for things, you can always wish for things, but to really be intentional in actually acting that out — it takes a lot of work for one generation to do that for the next generation.”

“Sing, Pray and Keep His Ways” is a five-year project administered by LCMS Worship now in its second year. Over the coming years, new cohorts will be added as the program continues its efforts. The resources created by the program will ultimately be shared across the Synod.

2026 LCMS Convention

Under the theme “Christ Is Risen Indeed,” the 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod met July 18–23, 2026, at the Phoenix Convention Center in downtown Phoenix.

There are several ways to get convention news, including:

Web

• lcms.org/convention/national

Video

• lcms.org/convention/national/livestream

Audio

• kfuo.org

Social media

• facebook.com/lcmsconvention

Email

• lcms.org/reporter-signup

Posted July 20, 2026