We are so grateful to our worship band for creatively inviting us to worship through music…from home, our physically distanced walks, during essential work commutes. This reflection is from our Music Worship Lead, Jeff Fisher.
“In Your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed.
In Your strength You will guide them to Your holy dwelling…
You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of Your inheritance –
The place, LORD, You made for Your dwelling,
The sanctuary, Lord, Your hands established.
The LORD reigns for ever and ever.
— Exodus 15:13, 17-18”
The above passage comes from the Song of the Sea, the first recorded song in the Bible. The rest of the song tells the story of how God delivered the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and defeated the army of Pharaoh. Like a choir leader, Moses led the people in singing this song to commemorate the moment.
I often think of this song and how much it must have meant to the people of Israel, not just in that moment but through the generations. The mere presence of it in the book of Exodus testifies to this, as it is likely that decades passed between the events described in the song and the moment they were finally put down on parchment. This means that the Song of the Sea became part of the liturgy of life for the people of Israel, passed on from Moses to those who followed him out of bondage, from those people to their children and grandchildren, and so on through the ages.
Do the songs we sing today carry the same weight in our lives? The words speak to the everlasting faithfulness of God in our lives, but do we actually allow them to teach this reality to us, or are they just rote? I hope that at least sometimes the answer to those questions is yes, that the Spirit of God really can bring us peace and hope as we sing them week after week.
In this age of coronavirus we have largely lost the ability to sing our songs together in community like Moses and the Israelites did. Despite this devastating fact, I do believe it is more important than ever to keep singing, to keep practicing the liturgy of life until the words of these songs convey their meaning not just to our head, but to our heart and soul.
Part of the beauty of singing is that the songs not only remind us of our need for God, but also of our need for those with whom we typically sing. Your worship band has worked tirelessly to keep bringing you music even while living in quarantine, overcoming numerous obstacles and technological challenges to make this happen. I have never been more thankful for those who help keep us singing.
For Megan Simmons, whose workhorse attitude has let me tap her on a (sometimes more than) weekly basis so we can keep hearing her beautiful voice.
For Jeff Hu, who has mastered the art of harmonizing with himself.
For Pat and Sarah Rhoads, who traded vocal parts to accommodate my choice of key.
For Mark Mitchell, who is always ready to help at a moment’s notice, even if it means joining Facebook so he and his family can bring us live music.
For Caroline Lu, a true leader who has been invaluable in helping arrange music and providing us with decadent piano runs.
For Heather Juul, whose wise and vulnerable writing has helped launch the Union Music Discovery group
on Facebook.
For Jim Ramsey, who helped bring the funk on Easter morning.
For Deirdre Curle, who continues to be our utility player, Swiss army knife, etc. in her endless versatility.
For John McLean, who conquered computer difficulties to make sure that our singing will never be without accompaniment.
For John Garrett, who has kept his quips to a minimum.
For Bronwyn Margrave, whose violin reminds us of the finer things in life even in the darkest times.
For Garrett Disco, who wouldn’t let social distancing derail his dream of a brass ensemble for Easter Sunday.
Live from the Living Room
We’ve ben blessed to sing together on Saturday nights! This week, join Sarah & Pat Rhoads at 7:30 pm, link here.
As you sing in your home during Sunday worship or throughout the week, I hope that you feel loved and cared for by these people. I hope that the words you sing will ever draw you back to the heart of the God who loves you even when that is a difficult truth to accept. And most of all I hope that before too long we can gather together and sing these songs in the same space and the same air as we lift our voices to the same God who will never stop delivering us from the slavery of sin and sorrow.
You can access the worship band music online here. If interested in discussing music in community, join the Union Music Discovery group on Facebook!