Theologians often use the term The Creator of All Things in reference to God. This term enriches our understanding of the Supreme Being. It includes His creation of the dimensions of time, space, energy, and matter. These dimensions originated “In The Beginning.” The creation and relationship of these four dimensions is an inscrutable truth.
God created ALL things—physical things, as well as the four dimensions mentioned above. He created ALL things for the enjoyment of humanity. I Timothy 6:17 counsels us, “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
Our Creator has bestowed the gift of music on humanity. God created musical geniuses from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th century eras. God created humanity with musical aptitude and talent. We could even say He created music, art, and sculpture for our enjoyment. Likewise, we credit God with creating tech talents for humanity.
Throughout the history of music, talented musicians have produced inspiring compositions. Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) composed numerous works in various musical styles including two oratorios. The better known oratorio is The Creation, composed about 1800. This is a lengthy musical work for choir, soloists, and instrumental ensembles. It is one of the great masterpieces of Haydn’s choral/orchestral repertoire.
This musical masterpiece focuses on God’s creation, described in the first few chapters in Genesis. The oratorio deals with (I) the creation of Earth’s physical features from the original “water world” and the creation of plant life, (II) the creation of animal life, and (III) the creation of Adam and Eve. It features arias, recitatives, and choral selections.
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We recall personal family events from the post World War II years of 1947-1952. The small religious denomination to which our family belonged sponsored family summer camps in various states. The camps afforded opportunities for expanded ministry sometimes unavailable in their home churches. One treasured camp yearbook produced by church members in 1949 relates the following incident from one of the church camps. We reprint an excerpt verbatim from my personal tribute ‘letter to the editor’ published in our local northwest Illinois newspaper in 2017:
“My personal recollections of Bob Michel extend to the days shortly after he returned from his heroic military service in World War II. His Peoria (IL) family were members of the Apostolic Christian Church denomination. Following World War II the church leadership sponsored national summertime family camps in various states. I remember three camps from 1947-1949 where Bob, a young man in his mid-20s, was enlisted by camp leaders for his marvelous musical talent. He directed the 100-voice camp choir. As a pre-teen from New York State I especially remember the 1948 and 1949 gatherings where Bob displayed his talent as a baritone-bass soloist and in a few short days helped the choir produce classic choral anthems at a high performance level.
Quoting from the now-yellowing 1949 camp yearbook entry from Aug.1: ‘Our hard-working friend, Bob Michel, loses no time in getting the camp choir started. With zest he attacks the toughest wrinkles in rhythm and harmony, correcting our blunders good-naturedly.’ A later entry in that yearbook from Aug. 7 states, ‘As the audience sits very quietly in expectation, the choir continues its program under the direction of Bob Michel with his wife, Corrine, at the piano…The choir sings the following selections: Exaltation, Hallelujah Amen, Pilgrims Chorus, O Lord Most Holy, The Creation (The Heavens Are Telling), and Great and Glorious. These are challenging anthems for any choir to master, not to mention summer choristers assembling at church camp for just a few days.’
I recall entering the camp auditorium and listening to Bob Michel’s summer camp choir singing The Heavens Are Telling in 1948 or 1949 as a selection at their closing concert. The memory of that experience has remained with me for many decades. The text of that choral selection Follows:
The Heavens are telling the glory of God,
The wonder of His work displays the firmament.
In all the lands resounds the word,
Never unperceived, Ever understood…..
Robert H. Michel (1923-2017) served in the US House of Representatives for 38 years, serving as Republican Minority Leader from 1981-1995. He has been described as “a politician for the ages.” When he was a young man, he offered glory to God and called attention to the act of divine creation with his music at summer church camps.
