Today is a day of celebration and thanksgiving!!! Sacred Selections has crossed an exciting and monumental milestone of helping 500 children land softly in loving Christian homes. God has surely given the increase!
In celebration, we look again to our namesake hymnal – Sacred Selections For The Church – as we do with each new adoptive placement. The parallels go so much deeper than the shared name:
Well written hymns have lyrics chosen for their messages of praise, instruction, sorrow, or awe. And then – with those lyrics – is a melody that brings to life their meaning! The rise and fall of the notes, the beauty of the harmonies, moments of intentional rest, powerful crescendo or mindfully quiet phrases. Our great God, in His infinite wisdom, instructs us to sing in worship to Him: bringing together our hearts and minds as we come before Him. Singing also deepens our memory: the melody helping us memorize the words and also powerfully connecting songs to significant moments in our lives.
In the early days of Sacred Selections, Dana’s phone rang with a call that turned out to spark one of our most iconic traditions. On the line was the grandmother of a child who had been adopted with funding from Sacred Selections. She had heard that another child had been placed with a family and asked Dana, “What’s the child’s number?”
“What do you mean?” asked Dana.
“Well I’ve been keeping track and for each child placed, and I send their family what their song is from the song book!” Dana loved the idea. A way to honor each child and family that helped connect them with each other and the community of support that rallied with each new adoption.
Thus began one of the organizations most iconic traditions- connecting a song from the hymnal to each child who is placed into their adoptive family with help from Sacred Selections.
Working through the hymnal in order, such familiar and timeless hymns as
- 23 Sweet Hour of Prayer,
- 170 All The Way My Savior Leads Me,
- 278 Tell Me The Story of Jesus,
- 334 Zion’s Call Sweetly Rings, and
- 403 No Tears in Heaven
are each connected with the adoption story of a child and their family.
Often, families reflect on a particular line from the song that so perfectly aligns with some part of their adoption story!
With the monumental milestone of 500 placements of children into loving Christian homes, we celebrate! Each of these adoptions is part of a family built by God. As each mindfully chosen line and musical phrase comes together to make an impactful hymn, so each member of the adoption triad comes together to form a unique family bond.
Each placement is a picture of monumental love! Preparing to adopt is a rigorous process and the journey can be so unpredictable that there is no choice but to lean further on God and trust in Him for those who pursue it. Along with them, parents who lovingly choose to place their child into the arms of others – asking them to parent their child – act with bravery and selflessness.
In its 18 years, Sacred Selections has seen over 5,000 local volunteers spread the word of adoption and draw over 8,000 donors to support Christian adoption. More than 400 families have walked faithfully through trials of waiting, disruption, and fear on their path to bring a child home, culminating in a beautiful blessing: the privilege of parenting one of God’s precious souls!
The commitment of these families – to serve God faithfully by taking on the charge of one of His little ones – brings immense joy and praise as we see Christians living out God’s call to work in His kingdom! The support from a community of thousands of people who come from the adoptive families’ own local area and across the country – spiritually, emotionally, logistically, and financially – models the truth that all members of the body have ways to be involved in good works, though their abilities and roles may be different.
Lyrics and notes come together to build a hymn; and a collection of hymns comes together to build a hymnal that embodies a range of teachings and emotions. Similarly, the constellation of individuals and families who are connected to each other through adoption, and the kingdom work of supporting adoptive families, create a beautiful tapestry of love, dedication, and bravery. To have been instrumental in helping families weave this tapestry is an honor and a privilege to the organization as a whole:
- the founders and originators of this way of supporting families – David & Dana Carrozza,
- the current Board of Directors and all who have served in this way over the years,
- the team that presently manages the day to day workings,
- and the volunteers and donors who have brought the mission to those in their areas across the USA.
There are many ways that Christians can and should be working in God’s kingdom to bring His presence to the world: planting seeds, ministering to those in need, and extending the knowledge and experience of His love and grace. Join us in celebrating this milestone of one way that so many have come together to serve and do this good work!
Here’s how:
• Milestones are an opportunity to look back to witness and appreciate growth! One way we are doing that now is through a set of special interviews with Nate Lacquement – the first child whose adoption was supported by a Sacred Selections grant – and with the founders of this beloved organization, David & Dana Carrozza!
• It’s not a celebration without a custom T-Shirt!! Order this limited edition design to commemorate the occasion. This beautiful graphic depicts hymn 500 from the Sacred Selections Hymnal, The Gift of the Spirit, with a mountain and valley scene and sunshine that connote God’s many gifts and blessings. Shirts are shipped directly to you and each order will come with a custom vinyl sticker while supplies last! There are a limited number available so grab yours today!
If you’re a Future 500 member, email us at info@sacredselections.org for a 25% off code to use on your T-shirt!
• Follow along on Facebook & Instagram for a special series looking back through the years! We’ve been digging up photos from across the years. Are you in any of them??
• Leave a message on this virtual whiteboard! Choose a gif, write a message, or record a video to fill up the board. Then look through others’ messages and like or comment to add to them. No sign-up required (just choose skip when prompted for email). LEAVE YOUR OWN CELEBRATORY MESSAGE!
• Become a member of Future 500 or make a donation directly to the Sand & Stars endowment campaign to support the next five-hundred adoptions!
For all the ways you may have been involved in this good work, thank you!! From the Board of Directors, the Sacred Selections Team, and the families, you have our most sincere and deepest gratitude.
We covet your continued support and especially your prayers that God will continue to give the increase as we strive to move forward and help more families welcome children into their homes with open arms.
