--- title: Welcome to the Prelude Music Planner Blog! | Sarah Hawbecker (2) description: Sarah J. Hawbecker is a graduate of St. Olaf College and the Eastman School of Music. Since 1996, she has served as Organist and Director of Children's Music at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta, GA, overseeing a program of two children's choirs, three handbell choirs, a summer music camp, and a concert series. She has performed for and presented workshops at regional and national gatherings of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, and of the American Guild of Organists, and has served as adjudicator for several organ competitions. (2) --- [![AF-prelude-logo](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Augsburg%20Fortress/AF_Prelude_Blog/AF-prelude-logo.png?width=181&height=52&name=AF-prelude-logo.png "AF-prelude-logo")](http://www.preludemusicplanner.org/) - [LEARN MORE](https://preludemusicplanner.org/) - [BLOG](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org) - [SIGN IN](https://members.preludemusicplanner.org/) # [Prelude Music Blog](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org) # Prelude Blog ## Sarah Hawbecker Sarah J. Hawbecker is a graduate of St. Olaf College and the Eastman School of Music. Since 1996, she has served as Organist and Director of Children's Music at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta, GA, overseeing a program of two children's choirs, three handbell choirs, a summer music camp, and a concert series. She has performed for and presented workshops at regional and national gatherings of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, and of the American Guild of Organists, and has served as adjudicator for several organ competitions. ### Recent Posts ## [Scripture Based Children's Anthems](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/2012/05/scripture-based-childrens-anthems) Posted on May 21, 2012 8:23:58 AM by [Sarah Hawbecker](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/author/sarah-hawbecker) in [Choral Techniques and Repertoire](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/choral-techniques-and-repertoire), in [review-prelude](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/review-prelude) The texts we choose for children to sing are as important as the musical qualities of an anthem. What better texts are there to teach our children than words of scripture? The following anthems are just a few of the ones I have found to be worth teaching and repeating. [Read More > >](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/2012/05/scripture-based-childrens-anthems) [0 Comments](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/2012/05/scripture-based-childrens-anthems#comments-listing) ## [[Teaching Hymns and Liturgy to the Children’s Choir](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/2012/04/teaching-hymns-and-liturgy-to-the-childrens-choir)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/2012/05/scripture-based-childrens-anthems#comments-listing) Posted on Apr 30, 2012 7:40:16 PM by [Sarah Hawbecker](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/author/sarah-hawbecker) in [Choral Techniques and Repertoire](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/choral-techniques-and-repertoire), in [review-prelude](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/review-prelude) I no longer assume that the children entering into my choir are familiar with the Lutheran liturgy and standard hymns, even Christmas carols. There are several reasons, including the lack of sacred music in the schools, families’ sporadic worship attendance, and attendance at “alternative” services. Our staff is making more deliberate efforts to encourage families to worship together regularly. I schedule our 2nd-6th grade choir to sing for worship at least once a month. One of the third grade boys recently told his mother that church was more fun when he was in the choir, because he had more to do. Yes, indeed - church is much more fun when you can participate because you have rehearsed the responses and know the hymns! [Read More > >](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/2012/04/teaching-hymns-and-liturgy-to-the-childrens-choir) [0 Comments](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/2012/04/teaching-hymns-and-liturgy-to-the-childrens-choir#comments-listing) ## [[The Organist's Summer](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/2011/07/the-organists-summer)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/2012/04/teaching-hymns-and-liturgy-to-the-childrens-choir#comments-listing) Posted on Jul 18, 2011 11:34:11 AM by [Sarah Hawbecker](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/author/sarah-hawbecker) in [Instruments and Ensembles](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/instruments-and-ensembles) **![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png "Pipe organ")What to play?** [Read More > >](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/2011/07/the-organists-summer) [0 Comments](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/2011/07/the-organists-summer#comments-listing) [← Previous](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/author/sarah-hawbecker/page/1) [All posts](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/all) ### Subscribe to Email Updates - 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Search our database of congregational, choral, and instrumental church music by lectionary day, voicing, difficulty level, tune name, and more. - **Get the music you need, when you need it.** Preview the entire piece of music from beginning to end, and then download the parts you need. Subscribers will also receive a block of “points” to spend on our library of downloadable choral and instrumental pieces. - **Manage your church’s music library**. Organize your music library in one master location. 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