Singing in Solidarity

February 8, 2011

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

No, there was no “wardrobe malfunction,” but Christina Aguilera’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” was another instance of a celebrity faux pas overshadowing the Super Bowl. Her complete deletion of one line (“Over the ramparts we watched”) and utter flubbing of another (“Twilight’s last reaming”?) became a hot topic of conversation among message boards, chat rooms, and sports talk radio.

Part of my morning ritual includes listening to the syndicated sports radio host Dan Patrick, who offered an interesting alternative to having celebrities sing our national anthem: invite the crowd to sing it together. It would be simple. Just have someone get the song started, then have everyone join in. Imagine the powerful visual drama, and audible solidarity, of 100,000 people standing and singing in full voice. If nothing else, you wouldn’t have to worry about forgetting the words, since there is natural encouragement with a crowd.

Earlier on Sunday, our confirmation kids took turns trying to say “The Apostles’ Creed” and “The Lord’s Prayer,” standard requirements for them to be confirmed in May. Some of them nailed both recitations on the first try. Others had more difficulty. One student in particular hit a road block every time, unable to remember the phrase “And forgive us our trespasses.” After numerous attempts, he said, “You know, it’s a lot easier to say this in church, when people are saying it with me.”

No kidding. And not only is it easier to remember the words of our faith when we are with others; it is also easier to live them out. We remember that the words of our creeds, prayers, and liturgies are not only powerful when they fly from our lips, but also when they sink into our souls. They submerge into our hearts to change our attitudes, filter into our minds to transform our perspectives, muscle into our hands to alter our behavior, and refocus our eyes, enabling us to see the kingdom of God around us. That kind of transformative power is best unleashed when in the company of shared community.

Will Willimon, Bishop of the North Alabama Conference, reflects on the power of the words of God to shape a community that is ready to receive them, recite them, and rehearse them:

The gospel doesn’t want to speak to the modern world. It wants to change it. God’s primary way of change is through words, by bringing a new world to speech. Thus, on Sunday mornings, when the congregation gathers, we speak about things that the world tends to avoid. We talk funny. We use peculiar speech. We tell stories and lure people into a different citizenship. We reconfigure their notions of what is going on in the world. Thus, the people emerge from church, their eyes blinking in the sunlight. On Sundays when it’s good, they emerge, not simply into the world at half past noon, but into a world where Jesus Christ is Lord, where the kingdom of God is beginning to take form, and where their lives are given significance. (from “Good News in Exile”)

So, join us this Sunday. Not just out of rote habit or blind obligation, but out of a sense of anticipation. Let’s come expecting that the words of our faith will transform us, believing that it’s easier for that to happen when others are singing along.

Grace and Peace,

Magrey

The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org



WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY
We continue in our sermon series “More to Life; Surprising Keys to Blessed Living” by looking at the beautitude “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” We’ll explore one of Matthew’s favorite phrases with a sermon titled, “Have mercy!”