Singing is the primal form of prayer and praise to God…
Singing together is the very essence of being in community….
To sing is to pray twice (attributed to St. Augustine)…
McCormick is certainly a singing community. It is such a joy for me to serve as musician here where the choir and the congregation so passionately lift their hearts and voices in song. God has passed out a diversity of musical gifts—they’re not all the same. Each of us is called to use the breath and voice that God has given us. Everyone is encouraged—even expected—to offer up their voice with the congregation in worship.
Anyone who feels a special passion for music and song is invited to be part of the choir at McCormick. The primary role of the choir is to empower the voice of the congregation in worship. Persons in the choir are not those set aside with special musical gifts; instead they are the ones who have a fervor for deepening the divine connection in music and song. How glorious it is to join with sisters and brothers singing together in prayer and praise! Abstract principles like “harmony” and “unity” become incarnate in the voice of the choir. It’s a foretaste of heaven.
Empowering individuals and communities to claim and express their voices and musical gifts is the most blessed ministry I can imagine. There is nothing more gratifying than creating an opportunity for a colleague to express her/his God-given talent. Then to draw together the voices of the choir—whether that that be in a rhythmic African chorus, a soaring Latin tune, a haunting Asian melody, or a lush classical Western hymn—is truly to get a glimpse of the face of God.
As the term and academic workload progress in the coming weeks, keep in mind that one of the best tonics for your soul and spirit is to give an hour a week to sing with your choir colleagues. Join us!
Mark Bowman
worshipalive@comcast.net
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