Lately I’ve been bombarded with ads for Back To School deals both in my physical mailbox and my email one. I remember from my days in Atlanta that school starts early August in the South, but it still feels awfully early to get those emails here in New Jersey, when we still have several weeks to go (and I know the teachers in the congregation are trying to soak up every single last day of the summer, while parents are rather ready to get back into routines!). While my own child still has several years until we have to worry about Back To School ads, my brain is deep in the new season by planning music for Reformation, Lessons & Carols, Christmas, Songs & Sweets, Easter, our spring concert, and everything in between!
I hope that music is a part of your worship, at least on Sunday mornings! Even if you are one of those people that may hold the hymnal just because others are, and are actually thinking about what you need to get at Wegman’s after the service, I hope that the Holy Spirit moves you to look down at the words you are singing (and as the Greek word for Spirit is the same as Breath – maybe you can also take a breath and sing along!). Often they are words that have been sung for centuries, but with some of our hymns they are only a few decades old – but no matter how old, these are words that people were moved to write as worship to God. As you listen to our choir sing, I hope that the words are something that gives you comfort, hope, or guidance.
Our church’s Back to School parallel is Rally Sunday, when we kick off a new year and season. Maybe as you feel the excitement of new students around you, you can get excited about the new things that you can discover at LCOS this year. May it be new things you learn in the sermon or in Bible study, words that move you in a hymn or choir anthem, or new relationships you form as you dive deeper into fellowship with other members.
I would be thrilled to have you in our choirs, and our musical doors are always open to everyone (you do not have to be able to read music, whether for vocal or bell choirs!). But even if you prefer to listen instead of sing, I pray that the Spirit of all things new will give you ears to listen and hear something new this season.
-Pauline
