Daily Devotion

The Martyrs of Japan, died 1597

Psalm 147:1-11, 20c

You may not know this about me, but I love congregational singing. You might also be surprised that I especially like congregational hymn singing when led by professional and intentional folks like our music leaders at Good Shepherd. There is something meaningful to me to sing familiar hymns and liturgy surrounded by all sorts of voices. It is as if I can hear the Holy Spirit flowing through the assembled body of Christ.

Congregational hymn and liturgical singing connects me with my grandmother who sang in a church choir in rural Iowa and had hymnals on her home piano. While our hymnal has changed colors (blue, red, green, cranberry) holding it brings me back to the church I where I was raised; sitting on the hard wood pews, doodling on the visitor cards, and being seeped in the music and words that are now so familiar to me.

Today’s reading reminds me of these moments that I have experienced throughout my life of faith and how much I miss being in church with you all. It seems like so long ago that we sang the Kyrie or This is the Feast together. In the same way, I yearn to sit around a full table at Nosh, while Alice leads us in song (a round of course!). 

Perhaps the words of the psalm can give us hope as we wait expectantly for our safe return to the sanctuary or the dinner table at the Edge House. In it we are reminded that God builds up, gathers, heals, and lifts up. While we cannot be certain when this will happen, I trust that God will lead us in song together once again.