“How can I keep from singing?”
words from hymn by Robert S. Lowry
Whenever something earth-shaking happens people sing. The Psalms are filled with songs of lament and celebration. When Black slaves made their way to Canada through the underground railroad, they sang spirituals to bolster their courage. When women struggled for the right to vote, they sang songs of protest.
In the church we sing of what is deepest in our hearts. We sing about God’s creation, about Jesus who turns our world-view upside down, of the Spirit that is gentle breeze and roaring hurricane. As we sing, we learn our theology – what we believe about God and one another.
So it is no wonder that the United Church’s most current statement of belief is written in the form of a song - “something of a love song, an offering up of those values, ideas and truths, the church holds close to it’s heart”.
Throughout August we have been using the “Song of Faith” to help us with the question “Believe it or Not?” This coming Sunday the focus will be on what we believe about the church itself. Have a read of the excerpt below and see what you think.
The church has not always lived up to its vision.
It requires the Spirit to reorient it,
helping it to live an emerging faith while honouring tradition,
challenging it to live by grace rather than entitlement,
for we are called to be a blessing to the earth.
Blessings, Karen
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