September Chimes
Dear siblings in Christ,
There is a quote, often attributed to Martin Luther, that says, “He who sings, prays twice.” No one can prove whether or not Luther is actually the source of this quote, but it would make sense. Luther loved singing and was a prolific hymn writer himself (both the words and the tunes). What we do know is an actual quote of Luther’s is this: “Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.”
This coming Sunday, Labor Day Weekend, we’ll be having “Favorite Hymn Sunday.” It’s a chance for us to sing a little more than usual during the service, and of course the hymns have been chosen from your submitted favorites. One of my personal favorites didn’t make the cut, though, and I wanted to share some of it with you.
“My Life Flows On in Endless Song” was written by Robert Lowry, who also wrote the better known “Shall We Gather at the River.” The entire hymn is wonderful, but I particularly like its second stanza:
Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing,
It finds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?
Singing is something that, according to this hymn, we can’t help but do. The Hebrew Bible instructs us to “sing to the Lord,” at least fifteen times and the Book of Revelation tells us that heaven is continually filled with the songs of the saints. Why do we sing? We sing because that is what the people of God do in God’s presence. We can’t help it—the love of God finds an echo in our souls that can’t help but respond in kind.
And yet, a lot of us struggle to sing. As a child, I was told by someone (well-meaning, I think) that I wasn’t very good at singing. They were probably right, in a technical sense at least. But the effect of their words wasn’t that I tried to improve, it was simply that I stopped. For years I would sing quietly, trying to hide my voice lest it ruin what was a beautiful song. I’m still terrified if I’m ever expected to sing by myself, especially in front of people.
I don’t think I’m alone in my anxieties around singing. Communal singing isn’t something we do in many places other than church anymore, and it can feel odd and strange. But here’s the thing: the Bible tells us, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” Joyful. It doesn’t say anything about perfect. Whether our voices are trained or untrained, strong or weak, in perfect harmony or a little off key, they are part of God’s chorus.
So, if you’re like me, and a little bit nervous, unsure if you want to sing out loud, much less in front of other people: maybe Favorite Hymn Sunday is a good time to give it a try. Our song isn’t complete without everyone’s voices. (And you may as well start now, because, according to Revelation, that’s what you’ll be doing for the rest of eternity, anyway!)
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Laura