Kiplinger Arena filled with hymns for Cowboy Church

KIPLINGER ARENA -- People of many faiths congregated in the Kiplinger Arena Sunday morning, joining their 500 voices together to sing praises to the Lord.

The simple but touching service was inspired by Psalm 150, which exhorts us earthly inhabitants to "Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven!"

Uniting to present the message were the Rev. Clark Bates, pastor of the McCook Christian Church; Hiro Nori Toshimasu, a visiting pastor from Miyazaki, Japan; and a musical ensemble composed of Taylor Hegwood, violin; Marty Guthrie, guitar; Lori Clough, vocals; Jason Van Pelt, drums; Carl Riemann, bass guitar, and Brad and Adrian Randel, lead vocals.

Brad and Adrian sang "Outskirts of Heaven," and Pastor Toshimasu -- better known as Hiro -- recited Psalm 150 in both Japanese and English.

Psalm 150, as presented in "The Way: New Living Translation," proclaims:

"Praise the Lord!

"Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heaven!

"Praise him for his mighty works;
praise his unequaled greatness!

"Praise him with a blast of the ram's horn;
praise him with the lyre and harp!

"Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
praise him with strings and flutes!

"Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
praise him with loud clanging cymbals.

"Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!

"Praise the Lord!"