St. Andrew’s A-Singin’ on Sunday, November 16
Beloved in Christ,
In Seminary, a random assortment of exhausted students-of-theology would often gather around a piano to sing hymns from a variety of traditions. Usually it began with one student who knew how to play the piano (always a good start!) and then, gradually, people would glob and sing - whether good or bad it did not matter - together.
We called these gatherings “hymn sings.” There were a few times where I was rushing between tasks or events or classes, but would find myself caught up in the joy of singing together. For a moment there was respite, peace, and all that mattered was lifting our hearts up, singing to God with one another.
Togetherness was key.
And the theme of this year’s Stewardship Season is A Chorus of Generosity. Music is the central metaphor behind it, and it emphasizes that coming together as a community of generosity creates a kind of harmony, a kind of joy, around the act of giving (and of course, receiving).
Music, song, joy, and dance are often a part of the joys and challenges of the Prophets of old throughout the Holy Scriptures!
In Exodus 15, after the Israelites are led safely through the Red Sea, “Moses and the Israelies sang this song to the LORD” (Exodus 15:1), and shortly thereafter the Prophet Miriam, “Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. And Miriam sang to them….” (Exodus 15:20-21a).
One need not search far in the Psalms to come across the centrality of singing to God as a profoundly spiritual act.
Our tradition, our sacred texts, all point to singing to God as a central means to praising, worshipping, and rejoicing in God together.
Togetherness is key!
So I am so excited to join you all this Sunday, November 16, following Mass and Coffee Hour, to do our own kind of hymn-sing, what we’re calling “St. Andrew’s A-Singin’!”
Many of you submitted some of your favorite hymns, and reasons why you love them, from across many traditions. We’ll raise up our voices in praise and thanksgiving, we will rejoice with God and with one another!
I am so excited to get to do this with you all!
“I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” Psalm 9:2
Yours in Christ,
Alex+