I was thinking about the times when I spontaneously burst into song, it is most often when I’m feeling happy. Now I do try and be circumspect about it, so as not to scare neighbours or unsuspecting dogs!
Songs can also express a whole range of emotions but personally I’m more likely to listen to a melancholy song, than sing myself. I’m sure this is different for different people. The psalmists for example were much less restrained, they sang out a myriad of feelings – anger, triumph, complaint, celebration, lament – in Psalm 96, we are all encouraged to “sing to God a new song”.
In around 2006, the United Church took the psalmist words to heart and wrote a new expression of what we believe as a denomination, called “A Song of Faith”. This is a rather long song; it is written from the perspective that God is a part of all the facets of our lives. It is through this relationship that a song is born in the hearts of people who are open to hear and perhaps even brave enough to sing!
Now this “Song of Faith" was 6 years in the creative process, perhaps because in fine United Church style, it was written by a committee! General Council asked this group to write a “timely and contextual statement of faith”. Perhaps they missed the “timely’ part but I think this statement does speak to the context of our lives today.
If you are able to drop into a service in August you will be able to form your own opinion. We will be jumping right into the deep end, as the series “Believe It or Not?” will begin with looking at sin and evil! Here is a snippet from “A Song of Faith”
“We surrender ourselves to sin, a disposition revealed in selfishness, cowardice or apathy...
Yet evil does not – cannot – undermine or overcome the love of God”
Blessings, Karen
Don't forget to join us early this Sunday morning for our Deep Waters reflection at 8am at the Leuty Lifeguard Station on the beach.
To learn more about how to enjoy our August meditations, click on "Deep Water"
For more on prayer, check out our July theme by clicking on "Praying in Colour"