We continue with pieces from “Holy People” by Gordon Lathrop.
Similar things can be said of hymnody or the Eucharist or of Baptism. One can sing a hymn alone, but the “we” of the assembly always keeps appearing in the text of the hymn, and the other voices – those of the hymn writer and of all the hymn’s singers through the ages – sing along in the inaudible harmony.
We do not have to apologize for the fact that our faith involves a “we.” Actually we could argue that since we are an assembly even when people are not present, it would do us well to be incarnate to those who are not present. Sure we lift them up in the public prayers but there are other ways to have them present with us and we with them. When we gather for worship I love to hear the people sing. I would suggest it may do us well to sing out for those who cannot be present – now that would make the roof shake…because we would be singing not merely for members who are not present, we would be singing out for the whole church of all time and every place. That is amazing and, as many may say, powerfully out of our control.
Connection: Sometimes it may be good for the vitality of our own lives and the lives of the whole church to sing out or merely be aware of those seen and unseen who, like you, claim the Christ as Lord.
Lift every voice and bring us within the harmonious celebration of all your saints, O God. By your power you move us beyond ourselves and enable us to hear the precious lives of your saints and to not be afraid to sing and live with them even now in the ordinary days of our lives. Amen.
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