Make A Joyful Noise

 

Note:  As some of you may know, I have occasionally filled the pulpit at my church which is in NJ.  I made a commitment to fill in this Sunday months ago.  I had no idea that I'd be buying a house in the Poconos and spending much of my time there OR what would be happening in our country.  And yet I think the scriptures I chose (which do not follow the lectionary)  and the mediation I prepared are timely.  Take a read and let me know what you think!  Please note also that out of respect for the people I spoke about in my mediation, I have eliminated their names and only used their initials.

First Reading:  Psalm 98:  Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King. Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

Second Reading:  Ephesians 5:  8-20

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)  and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.  But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.  This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,

    rise from the dead,

    and Christ will shine on you.”

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Meditation:  Make  A Joyful Noise

Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things

Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord

Both the old and new testament lessons today tell us to sing.  Sing and rejoice.  Sing and give thanks.  Sing.

Music and singing have always been an integral part of this church.  Or at least for as long as I can remember.  When you think of F P V, music might not be the very first thing you think of, but I’m guessing for most of us, if not all, it’s in the top 5.  For some of you music may be what brought you here.

Music as worship is one of the first things we might learn as children. It is a comfortable way to be introduced to Sunday worship.  Children can participate in Sunday services with singing. It literally gives them a voice in the church.

Who has been the leader who gifted the children with this voice?  It depends.  But I can think of three wonderfully talented musicians and leaders who blessed my life and encouraged me.

When I was still in elementary school, I sang in what I believe was then called the junior choir, under the leadership of the wonderful C C.   We met once a week on a Wednesday afternoon.  I believe we joined the senior choir in performing a cantata or two.  As an adolescent, church choir wasn’t a priority and so I pretty much gave it up,  but that didn’t mean that C C gave up on me.  She would invite me and others to sing on special occasions or when we were home on break.  I didn’t sing.  However, C never gave up.  She didn’t hound, she must have known that it would have been a turn off, but every once in  a while she’d drop a reminder.  And then, after I graduated from college and returned to my hometown,  we were in the  middle of a change, seeking a new minister.  My mother and I attended and liked the interim.  C saw her chance and this time I didn’t say no.  C was patient and persistent, but never nagging. And here we are now, I won’t say how many years later.  You can thank, or blame C as you see fit.  As for me, I say thank you with all my heart.

Her patience and persistence had my son, who was at the time very shy, up on those steps singing.  For a parent, what can bring greater joy and pride than watching your child blossom and grow through music?  C knew that.  She nurtured her  young choir.   How many other little ones were introduced to worship through music by C?  How many of them were started on a musical path because of the music in this church?

When this church celebrated our 100th anniversary, it was only fitting that we marked the occasion with music.  C was instrumental in having an anthem commissioned for the event.  Don Besig and Nancy Price  created “Our Hymn of Celebration” specifically for us.  As the lyrics say: “Christian friends we come this day to thank the Lord and sing with praise.  Joyful music now we raise to Christ our Lord and King.”  And that is exactly what we did.

Though C is no longer our choir master or physically on this earth, the music ministry has continued with that patience and persistence.  Think of D B, who forced us out of our comfort zone with choral workshops and concerts.  Through D’s leadership we worshiped with new purpose, expanding our repertoire with new anthems, particularly from her favorite composer.  Do I need to say who that was? Remember the thrill when Joseph Martin came for a visit and ran a choral workshop?  When he wrote a song for our children, pretty much on the spot? What we didn’t know was what a trendsetter he was, wearing a mask because he was sick and didn’t want to spread disease; and this was two years before Covid.  

D was a Joseph Martin fan.  Look in our music library and that is obvious.  Joseph Martin was also a D B fan and honored her memory and work here with the anthem “The Heart Sings On,” which was dedicated “in honor of D B, wherever there is music, your spirit resides.”  His lyrics, written during the height of the pandemic,  when we could not safely sing, remind us that even when we are silent, our faith can be found through music.  “When the voice of song is stilled, and the words of  hope are silenced, when music falls like teardrops and peace seems far away.  When our hymns of praise seem fragile and our harps of gold lie broken, remember your God’s instrument and your were made for praise.  The heart sings on.  The heart sings on through the night, reaching past the silence with music clear and bright.  The heart sings on forever clear and strong, rising from our worship to the Giver of the song.”

D pushed us in new directions, but continued, as C  had before her, to use music to bring us closer to God. 

During the pandemic, our voices were silent.  Yet we found new ways to praise God and incorporate music into our worship.  One Easter when we couldn’t sing, we managed to ring our praise with handbells.  And when we were finally able to sing again, there was C A.

C A exemplified what we are; small but mighty.  Due to a variety of reasons, our choir has been reduced in size, but with hiss energy and spirit, we transcended that.  We could not; we cannot go back to the group that we were under C C or under D B, but our voices have been full of joy and excitement under C A’s guidance.  I think you have seen and more importantly, heard, this.   Thank you C A for all that you have done and what you gifted us 

Sometimes it’s hard to sing.  Times when we feel alone and deserted.  When joy fails us and our souls are hurt or empty.  When our faith is tested and hope is dim.  But it IS then that we must turn to music to provide us with that hope and renew our faith.  We need much to soothe our souls and we need to sing out to uplift others.

Our voices will not be silenced while we seek new leadership for our music ministry.   While it is nice to have a full choir loft and an orchestra to accompany that, it’s  not required to praise God.  One voice can be a shining light that leads us all.  Perfection is not required; only a heart that is open and loving.   

 Music is a cornerstone of our faith that brings us closer to God in times of joy and of sorrow.  We sing with sorrow over the recent passing of C C and the loss of D B four years ago. However, we sing with gratitude for the times that we shared with magnificent musicians and teachers.   We are thankful for the gifts that they brought to us and for showing us how to make our voices soar with strength. Life changes, this church is changing, but no matter what changes come we will continue to lift our voice to the Lord and in praise and thanksgiving, now and always.

Amen