Singing in Community

Psalm 100
Ephesians 5:15-20

We read these familiar words in Psalm 100:
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
2     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come into his presence with singing.

and these lovely words in Paul's letter to the Ephesians
... be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, ...

and we smile. There is something about the notion of singing and 'making melody' that makes our hearts glad, whether or not we can actually carry a tune.  And, in our religious communities, unlike most other places in our lives, there is a designated time when we all do join our voices together and sing.

An article published in The Atlantic a couple of years ago notes that in our current American society there is a noticeable absence, almost a complete and total absence, of communal singing, of singing in a group together.  Save the moment in the seventh-inning stretch where we all rise to our feet and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," or the occasional group singing "Happy Birthday" around a table, we pretty much do not sing together as a society.

And yet, even in the most ancient of cultures, the importance of singing in community is apparent. From an early time, the Jewish people were singing and chanting from the Book of Psalms, which is actually a 'hymnal' of sorts. Even in non-religious elements of the great civilizations in Greece and elsewhere, songs were sung in unison and in community as ways of marking the passing and rituals of life.

Today, almost the only place we have definite, regularly-appearing moments in time to sing together is in church. In our faith communities. And people of faith who are gathering together and choosing to eliminate this integral part of the faith experience are missing a beautiful, perhaps the most beautiful, way the people of God come together. Singing in community is a way for the faithful to lift their lives and voices in praise and thanksgiving, in lament and penitence, in reflection and wonder.  The community voice singing together the old hymns of the faithful, the new hymns of joy and justice, the poetic prayers lifted to God... these are the most important moments we share together.

The Methodist movement historically has huge reliance on the hymns of Charles Wesley, perhaps even more than the words of his brother, John Wesley, to spread its gospel message.  Who can imagine Easter without the words of "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" or Christmas without the words of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!"  Thank Charles Wesley for both of those iconic hymns.

Last year, Todd and I were fortunate to attend the CU Christmas Concert at Mackey Auditorium with combined CU choirs and orchestra, thanks to the generosity of Dick and Marian Walker who supplied us with tickets.  The whole concert was wonderful, magically produced. But the heart-warming part where the whole room stood and sang Christmas carols together made every spirit soar.  There is just no way to connect to one another and to praise the Divine quite like a community raising their voices together.

This week we praise God for the gift of music. We remember the legacy of psalms and early hymns that continue to bind us together in harmonious rhythm as the people of God. What are your favorite hymns and songs of the faith? What psalms did you memorize as a child? Email me or comment below.