When We Come Together, a reflection by Cantor Bev Jedynak
At St. Luke’s we are about to kick-off fall with a September focus on our statement of who we are: A powerful church…transforming lives…changing the world.I believe one of the reasons we are a powerful church is that worship is central to our being. And when we come together the first thing we do is: SING!
Singing isn’t new - I can think of numerous Biblical examples of God’s people and song:
- Miriam breaking into song at God’s triumph over Pharaoh
- Hannah and Mary – though centuries apart – singing very similar songs of thanksgiving and praise to God upon learning that they would bear children
- Paul and Silas singing in jail
- Matthew’s and Mark’s gospels tell us that after sharing the Passover meal Jesus and the disciples sang “the hymn” and went out to the Mount of Olives, which started the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion.
Did you know that in the ELW (our burgundy hymnal) there are 209 hymns out of the 654 that have the words “sing, singing, songs,” in them and probably two dozen more that refer to music, harmony or other references? (Yes, I was curious, so I counted them!). We not only sing but we sing about singing!Martin Luther may have said it best:
“Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to people so that they should proclaim the Word of God through music.”
It is an honor – and a great joy – to lead you in your song to proclaim the Word of God. So, as we start a new fall season, we at St. Luke’s will continue to “Sing a new church into being” ….one that is powerful…that transforms lives…that changes the world.