MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE!

Popular style tambourine used at the church in Mexico.

Tambourines are used a lot at Bethesda Church of God in Nuevo Progreso.  They are handy, portable and are easy to play.  Recently Miriam, Pastor Gerardo's wife, emphasized the importance of tambourines in their home meetings.

Several times during the week men and women of the church conduct services at various homes, or they have a time of worship during their visits to the sick.  At these times it's good to have music, and along with Pastor Gerardo's guitar, Miriam keeps rhythm with her tambourine.

Tambourines have a long history with roots in a variety of music from classical to folk.  Tambourines are simple, versatile instruments that can bring a song to life.  Best of all, tambourines are easy to carry and to play.

Another tambourine with only the metal disks.

Tambourines are hand held instruments with a round, wooden frame and a parchment or skin head. Metal disks that jingle are inserted into the wooden rim. By striking the tambourine or by shaking it, the jingles are set in motion. Rubbing the hand across the drumhead or tapping it will produce other rhythmic sounds. It's a popular instrument mostly used by women.

Though an ancient instrument, its structure has remained basically unchanged. Tambourines were played in Mesopotamia, Greece, Israel and Rome, especially in religious contexts.  They have always been prominent in Middle Eastern religious use. Crusaders took them to Europe in the 13th century. The timbrel or tabret that Miriam used in the Bible was similar to the tambourine.

Tambourines add life to music!

The tambourine is mentioned often in the Old Testament as an instrument of celebration, as here: "Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing."  Exodus 15:20

As the church grows in Nuevo Progreso, they will need more tambourines the women and children can use during worship services, so they can continue to make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Psalm 95:1