What is the purpose of a Choir?
I ran across this little excerpt from a sermon that was preached by Rev. John Andrew, Rector Emeritus at St. Thomas Church in New York at the beginning of August. I think it speaks precisely to the heart of why we do what we do, and why our singing, rehearsing and leading worship together in community is an important, holy, and powerful responsibility not to be taken lightly. I’m so thankful to be a part of this with you all who make music together at St. George's.
I ran across this little excerpt from a sermon that was preached by Rev. John Andrew, Rector Emeritus at St. Thomas Church in New York at the beginning of August. I think it speaks precisely to the heart of why we do what we do, and why our singing, rehearsing and leading worship together in community is an important, holy, and powerful responsibility not to be taken lightly. I’m so thankful to be a part of this with you all who make music together at St. George's.
The Rev. John Andrew writes:
WHAT is the purpose of a choir? It’s not to perform difficult music before a silent and intimidated (or irritated) congregation. It’s not there to impress the faithful. It’s there to encourage the faithful to find their voices to praise God in his holiness. It is there to give the people their voice. It is what we call a ministry: it’s what St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians means when he says: “I entreat you then … as God has called you, live up to your calling … each of us has been given his gift, the due portion of Christ’s bounty.” You heard it read today (Ephesians 4:1-11). The ministry of music is to get the people’s imagination going, to offer God something they perhaps hadn’t realized they had in them. Music can take them out of themselves. It makes some people cry, when they feel overwhelmed by the sheer force of its beauty. I know it’s true. I confess to being vulnerable to this when a great hymn or its descant’s majesty sweeps me off my feet. Just ask the boy choristers. I don’t apologise for it. That’s not cheap emotion. It’s God’s people finding their voice, their response with their uplifted hearts.
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oli Deo Gloria!
Together We Sing
America’s beloved children’s choir expert, Helen Kemp (now in her 90’s), has a wonderful chant which she uses regularly with her children’s choirs and in her workshops with adults:
“Body, mind, spirit, voice, it takes the whole person to sing and rejoice!”
Together, We Sing!
America’s beloved children’s choir expert, Helen Kemp (now in her 90’s), has a wonderful chant which she uses regularly with her children’s choirs and in her workshops with adults:
“Body, mind, spirit, voice, it takes the whole person to sing and rejoice!”
This wonderful chant has become Helen’s guiding principle throughout her ministry. It reminds us that singing is not only the physical act of the vocal chords and the breath, but an act that involves the whole body, our minds, and our spirit. When we sing, our whole being is in engaged in proclaiming our faith. Each time we sing together we engage in an activity that builds community; a form of meditation and prayer, and a form of praise and proclamation. Singing together helps us share in the joys and the sorrows of those in our community. When we sing together we give and receive a wonderful gift.
I love the following poem by Thomas Troeger. It is one I’ve shared before. The beautiful imagery in the poem captures this communal aspect of the songs we sing together both in worship and in fellowship.
We need each other’s voice to sing,
each other’s strength to love,
each other’s views to help us bring our hearts to God above.
Our lives like coals placed side by side
to feed each other’s flame,
shall with the Spirit’s breath provide a blaze of faith to claim.
We give our alleluias
To the church’s common chord:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise, O Praise, O Praise the Lord!
- Thomas Troeger
© 1994, Oxford University Press.
Reprinted with permission
OneLicense.net # A717214
Soli Deo Gloria!
Ben Keseley, Minister of Music