Sing Sunday Reflections
April 7, 2013
Sara, Debbie, Stan Bartel
Sara
“Songs of the people, Songs of the world, One song unto all!”
So reads the motto of the Saskatoon Children’s Choir, a group I had the pleasure of singing with for seven years. Whether in formal choral groups, such as Nutana Park Junior Choir, the Children’s Choir, RJC Chorale, and now Sonrisa, participating in musicals, informally singing in small groups, or just singing to myself along with the radio, music has been a major component of my life. Singing makes me happy.
The uplifting nature of congregational singing will be the focus of the next few minutes. Congregational singing should be songs of the people, songs of the world, one song unto all!
Debra
Singing together makes us truly present. It makes us focus; it draws us into the sanctuary. When we sing we are no longer passive congregational members but active worshippers. When the choice of hymns is seamlessly connected to the theme of the sermon, we are often literally singing the message – in praise and exaltation.
Congregational singing is inclusive – all are welcomed to participate, all are encouraged to enthusiastically join in the safety of numbers – the skilled soloists, the harmonizers, the not so confident singers, the exuberant singers - we all are welcomed to join in the power of singing as one – one voice, one congregation, raising our voices in glorifying God.
Stan
Our congregational singing is a musical proclamation of our Mennonite heritage. The beauty and power of four-part harmony reaches back through time and connects us to our forefathers. As a child, I well remember the strong baritone voice of my grandfather, the higher range of the tenors standing nearby, the altos and sopranos across the church aisle adding their contributions, the four groups in different physical locations in the sanctuary all joining together in the love of harmonizing their voices. Now, decades later, this heritage is deeply embedded in our present generation of singers as evidenced by the powerful harmony of A Bunch of Guys or Sonrisa, in the perfect blending of the men’s quartet (our “Men in Black”), in the joyful enthusiasm of The Saskatoon Singers, in the continued dedication of our senior choir. The nature of singing traditional hymns in the traditional way is changing in many churches; we too at Nutana Park may one day be “singing off the wall”, but our present congregational singing tells me our heritage is safe; the tradition of harmonizing will continue.
Debra
Our congregational singing is richly supported by the dedication of song leaders and the wide range of accompanists and accompanying instruments – from organ and piano to flute and recorder – from trumpet and trombone to violin and cello – from guitar and mandolin to a variety of drums – our congregation is rich in talent; our musicians are willing to partner with us in our joy of making music. Our song leaders guide us in our singing, directing us to harmonize, to sing in unison, to sing a cappella. The variety enhances the power of song and makes our music rich. To our accompanists and song leaders, a very heartfelt thank you.
Elfrieda Enns
Why do I sing?
How could one not sing? How else would you salve the soul or come to the deepest place in your being and KNOW that God is there? For me singing in congregation, groups and choirs and Care Group is the realization that our voices are going up as one, "whether we are of different race or creed, color, nationality, sexual orientation, faith, gender, age, income, education, ability, ethnic background or other factors that give rise to discrimination and marginalization". (I love that statement we now have in our bulletin, also endorsed by MC Canada.)
Singing is simply the deepest expression of the soul of our inmost feelings, that one can share in public.
How has congregational singing influenced my worship experience?
It has given me (us, all of us) the tool to do the above. One can sing alone in the field, and that's wonderful, but it does not include the community that is part of me and that makes our song ONE.
One concert that I was part of, has stood out from any other work, was "The Armed Man" written by Karl Jenkins. It is the most performed work of this century. Beginning with the first song, "The Armed Man, L'homme armé" sung in French warns us to beware of the armed man. Moving to the middle of the work we are called to face the terror of war and the mass destruction of the bombing at Hiroshima, where we scream out our anguish.
Then came the ending, which we could not begin without serious admonitions to ourselves, about holding back the tears and crying, and to actually try to sing with joy Rev. 21:4, "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying".
Director Duff Warkentin, and choristers alike who performed this work together are not likely
to forget it anytime soon. We held the crying till after the concert. Then we and the audience alike let the tears roll. Powerful!!
The trio, "Prairie Praise" was one of the joys of my life. For 15 years we sang at Senior Homes, Bethany Manor Christmas and Easter Celebrations, Church, Meda Meetings, anniversaries, funerals, and various other occasions.
The Trio (Elfrieda Enns, Verna Nickel, Norma Rempel)
Favorite Hymn: Sing the Story, #121 "Nothing is lost on the Breath of God".
This is one of my favorite hymns because it is all inclusive, nothing is left out. Nothing is too small, too big, too late or too soon, or too ANYTHING.
God is holding THE WORLD FOREVER.
GOD IS LOVE
Another favorite hymn is "Great is Thy Faithfulness".
Faithfulness was modeled to me by my parents and especially my mother because she taught us how to do it for a very long time. One did not leave her presence without hearing the words, "God Bless you, I love you". It didn't matter whether she hardly knew the person or knew them very well, the blessing remained the same.
And of course, God is faithful about keeping His promises to us forever. Hence, the
hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness".
When I think of singing in Community I immediately think of Care Group #3
Caring friends, celebrating, food, singing. Singing and celebration are the major components that have held this group together. We have shared these activities from the first year our group was formed till now. We have learned to care for each other and love each other and are not willing to let each other go. So we stay - together. And sing!!!
Robert Dick’s 16 Favorite Hymns
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross – 259 Blue Hymnal
When Peace Like a River – 336 Blue Hymnal (commentary attached)
When we Walk with the Lord – 544 Blue Hymnal (Sunday Service song)
There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy – 145 Blue Hymnal (commentary attached)
Praise My Soul the King of Heaven – 65 Blue Hymnal
O Sacred Heart Now Wounded – 252 Blue Hymnal
O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing – 110 Blue Hymnal
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less – 343 Blue Hymnal (commentary attached)
My Life Flows On – 580 Blue Hymnal
Praise, I Will Praise You Lord – 76 Blue Hymnal (commentary attached)
I Know Not Why God’s Wondrous Grace – 338 Blue Hymnal
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say – 493 Blue Hymnal
Come Ye Disconsolate – 497 Blue Hymnal
Blessed Assurance – 332 Blue Hymnal
Amazing Grace – 143 Blue Hymnal
How Shallow Former Shadows – 251 Blue Hymnal (commentary attached)
When Peace Like a River – 336 Blue Hymnal
Horatio Gates Spafford 1828-1888 was a prominent and wealthy Chicago lawyer and businessman. He was a supporter and friend of the famous evangelist D.L. Moody. Life had been easy, but in 1870 things started to go wrong. The Spafford’s only son was killed by Scarlet Fever at the age of 4. A few years later the Great Chicago Fire devastated his financial security when his real estate holdings on the Lake Michigan waterfront were wiped out. In 1873 the family decided they would get away to England for a holiday and a rest. At the last minute Horatio was called back from New York harbor to Chicago on a business matter. Not wanting to spoil their holiday he convinced the family to go on to England – he would follow later. Nine days later Spafford received a telegram from his wife which read “Saved alone”. On November 2, 1873 the ship the family was on collided with another vessel and sank in only 8 minutes. Anna Spafford had stood bravely on the deck with her daughters clinging desperately to her. Her last memory had been of her baby being torn violently from her arms by the force of the waters. Anna was only saved by a plank which floated beneath her unconscious body and propped her up. After her rescue Anna Spafford’s first reaction was one of complete despair. Then she heard a voice speak to her “You were spared for a purpose”. Upon hearing the terrible news, Horatio Spafford boarded the next ship out of New York to join his bereaved wife. During the voyage the Captain of the ship called Horatio to the bridge. “A careful reckoning has been made” he said, “and I believe we are now passing the place where the ship had been wrecked. The water is three miles deep”. Horatio then returned to his cabin and penned the lyrics of the great hymn. Spafford’s song reveals a man whose trust in the Lord was unmoving.
There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy – 145 Blue Hymnal
I once sang this song at a double funeral of two of my relatives (cousin aunt and uncle) who died in a murder/suicide. I can’t remember how the song came to mind for that venue but I saw it and still see the choice as divinely guided. The message that I take from this song (read all the words carefully) is this: that the truth of God’s word and message of the gospel must be declared without compromise and that our calling to teach and preach that message as given to us, but also that there are matters and realities that are known only to God – that they will remain there until time is rolled into eternity. Although we cannot declare what is not specifically given to us, we can declare that God’s wisdom, mercy, goodness and justice are unfathomable and that with comfort and faith we leave certain things lie in the hands of God while we get on with tasks that He has explicitly given us.
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less – 343 Blue Hymnal
A bold declaration of that which a true reading of the scripture clearly bears out. This is not acceptable to the World – an attitude which is now encroaching church doctrine.
Praise, I will Praise You Lord – 76 Blue Hymnal
A simple, personal, clear statement of commitment from the heart. One of my favorite hymns of praise.
How Shallow Former Shadows Seem – 251 Blue Hymnal
A word picture of the moments surrounding the death of Jesus the Christ
(this one is an absolute gripper for me)
| How shallow former shadows seem Beside this great reverse (1) |
(1) Nothing in the course of recorded history has ever happened which compares to this |
| As darkness swallows up the Light Of all the universe: (2) |
(2) Not only light from nature but the light emanating from “the Word” is being strained and constrained |
| Creation shivers at the shock, The Temple rends its veil, A pallid stillness stifles time, And nature’s motions fail. (3) |
(3) The natural world is visibly altered by cataclysmic events. Graves are opened and bodies come back to life (another sign of the imminence of resurrection power) There are moments of absolute foreboding calm – the hot, humid, absolute darkened calm before a storm. The normal processes of nature are being visibly altered and why – because a cosmic struggle is occurring. The veil of the temple prevented everyone but the High Priest to enter into the presence of God only once a year in order to petition God for the covering or atonement for the sins of the nation. The veil was there because the original disobedience of humanity created an impenetrable barrier between man and God. The tearing of the veil from top to bottom (not bottom to top) was a foreshadowing of the certainty of resurrection, when Jesus would be given the right to be our perfect High Priest (accessible to his children every moment of every day). Christ then also became the veil (no man comes to the Father but by the Son) |
| This is no midday fantasy, No flight of fevered brain With vengeance awful, grim, and real, Chaos is come again: (4) |
(4) This is no hallucination. Chaos has come again. Chaos had come once before, when the creature was created with a will and a choice. The creature chose to turn his back on the Creator. Chaos ensued. The Creator then turned his back on the creature but yet still with a promise – that he had always had a purpose and a plan to make things right and provide for renewed fellowship. |
| The hands that formed us from the soil Are nailed upon the cross; The Word that gave us life and breath Expires in utter loss. (5) |
(5) If you can read these words without emotion or at least sober pause, it may be time for some personal reassessments. According to the Bible all the rest of creation, including plants and animals, were spoken into existence. Only mankind was formed by the hands of God. He then breathed His breath into us that we might breathe – breathe an intimacy with Him that gives us understanding of reality unsurpassed in his creation. This ability to understand and explain, this marvelous creature which is humankind is infinitely potentially more precious to God because we were created with a choice. “utter loss” – For Jesus, dying meant total separation from God the Father – a situation too horrible for you and I to ever fathom. |
Yet deep within this darkness lives |
(6) Read these lines and know with certainty that because of the humanity of Christ, temptation and the potential for refusing obedience was always present. Because of this He can identify with us perfectly as High Priest. But because of the deity of Christ, the outcome of all temptation was a foregone conclusion. We often speak so glibly of love. Think on the lines of this hymn and you may agree that we will never fully comprehend this awesome divine love. |
