A reflection preached at a service celebrating the United Church hymnal supplement, Songs for a Gospel People, which is approaching its 40th anniversary.
The suburban Regina household I grew up in was seldom silent. In addition to the pop music on the radio, my mom loved to play the piano and did so daily, so a significant part of the earliest soundtrack of my life came from the 1930s and 40s, songs like “My Dreams are getting better all the time,” and “It seems to me I’ve heard that song before”. Mom’s joyous piano playing opened me to other forms of music that would follow.
Enter my big brother, who was 11 years older than me, my only sibling. He was a true audiophile. One of my earliest memories as a child was going to the record store with my big brother as he used money from his allowance and odd jobs to buy one 45 after another, so as a 4 year old I knew all the songs of the Beatles, the Dave Clark 5, Jan and Dean and the Beach Boys. As he moved from high school to university, his tastes matured from 45s to LPs, and the pop music of the early 60s was largely supplanted by folk music and protest songs. The times, they were a’changin’, and as a young child immersed in the music and direct political involvement of my teenaged brother, I was aware of the winds of change long before most of my contemporaries. I didn’t know the answers, but artists like Bob Dylan & Joni Mitchell helped me recognize the questions.
There is something unique about the power of music to bring us to really believe in something. A well-placed, carefully chosen bit of movie or TV music takes a pivotal scene and embeds it not just in the head but in the heart. A video tribute at a wedding, grad or memorial service gets us weepy in a hurry with the right song added in. A protest march is both political and personal when songs and chants get mixed in with the speeches – we’ve seen that in Minneapolis recently, as people gather in Churches to rehearse the chants they will sing during the protest. And music, like our experiences of beauty in nature, has played a key role in shaping and re-shaping our belief in God, and giving us an outlet to turn to God in praise and wonder. We have to be careful, for music can also be manipulative, pushing us toward emotions that are not our own, but I can think of few things in life that can bring us closer to God, than music.
I celebrate the way that the gift of music has supported and challenged me over my years of ministry, and some songs truly linger. I can recall the first time I heard “Veni Sancti Spiritus” sung, as snow gently fell at Epiphany Chapel in Vancouver. A young soloist shared “Come and find the quiet centre” at my parents’ home Church and it nearly moved me to tears. A Praise Band song, “Your grace is enough” lifted me out of my spiritual doldrums and brought me back to Church in February 2009. The words of worship are important, but the music helps the words seep in to our souls. And let me say: we are so blessed here in Oliver and Osoyoos to have such wonderful musicians, who add so much to our worship experience.
Throughout the history of our denomination, a progression of hymn books has helped to ensure that the words we sing reflect our current beliefs, while anchoring us in the great hymns of the faith. The Hymnary, Songs of the Gospel, The Hymn Book, Songs for a Gospel People, Voices United, More Voices and a new resource called Then Let Us Sing, have all enhanced our spiritual connection with one another and with God. With thankfulness, we lift our voices to the God who is the source of this wondrous and varied gift. Amen.
(c) 2026 Rev Greg Wooley, Osoyoos-Oliver United Church Pastoral Charge.
No comments:
Post a Comment