A big group of people singing together is odd. It really is. Other than a baseball game, or occasional birthday party, people don’t usually stand around and sing. But we do every Sunday at church. Why?
For starters, it’s a part of our history and tradition. We come from a long line of people who sing to and about God. From King David to Martin Luther to Bono, men and women have often expressed their faith – whether as painful cries or gushing praise – with singing. We’re not sure for all the reasons behind this, but the power of music is undeniable. It seems to tap into deeper and more honest places than words alone ever could. It has been said that music is the language of the soul. We believe it.
So when we meet together as a community of faith, it seems only natural that we would try to use this “language” to connect with God and each other. Sometimes the songs are upward in celebration of the infinite love and greatness of God. And on those days we sing at the top of our lungs to thank/praise Him for who He is and what He does, and also to remind each other that we serve the King of all kings. Other times the songs are more personal and reflective, giving us an opportunity to connect intimately with our Creator.
This looks different for everybody, but can involve confessing sin, inviting God to heal, asking for wisdom and direction, or any other expression that naturally flows out of our experience. Some people sing out to God. Some kneel in reverence. Some just come in and observe for the first couple of times. No pressure. We want our worship to be both grounded in real life and reaching outward to the eternal.
