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Hello St. John’s Family,
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
After experiencing the St. John’s Festival of Carols version of that Christmas classic, I can’t help but smile when the lyrics pop in my head. Sunday evening’s Festival of Carols was a wonderful night; one filled with excellent music, warm fellowship, laughter and smiles, the clatter of cans and non-perishable food items coming together to uplift others (along with some off-beat jingle bells)… it was a great evening! I want to thank Roy Nelson, Alissa Nelson, and Brian Barber for their dedicated leadership, and all our amazing musicians, singers, and ringers for sharing an outstanding evening of Christmas music with us.
One of the powerful characteristics of music is how it innately inspires us to join in. As we hear a melody or feel a rhythmic beat, something sparks inside us. Even those of us who are “tonally challenged” like me cannot help but join along. Music has a way of moving us such that we want to participate in the song.
Sometimes, this can be frustrating. Think of all the times you’ve heard an “earworm”: one of those songs you really don’t like, yet you heard at some point during the day and cannot get out of your head. Before you know it, you’re humming or singing along. Recently, while out with a good friend I heard Last Christmas by the 1980’s group Wham! playing. Though it goes against every ounce of integrity I possess, I must admit I’ve been humming Last Christmas, I gave you my heart… ever since. (For those of you who are using my name in vain for getting that in your head, I’ll remind you the Apostle Paul wrote how, when one suffers, we all suffer!). Music has that power to linger in our minds.
More often, though, we’re thankful for the power of music to remain with us. We’re thankful for the warm memories music can invoke; for the way music takes us to specific points in time, reminding us of special moments we share with others. To this day I can picture my son and I, arm in arm and seeing our breath as we joined 110,000 other people singing Sweet Caroline (ba-ba-baaa) at a Penn State Whiteout game whenever that song is played. Even when a song reminds us of difficult times (think of a cherished hymn sung at a loved one’s funeral), there is a warmth that is present, connecting us to the blessing of having that person in our life. Music has the uncanny power to transport us to specific places and times in our lives.
I sense this is why music is such a powerful element of our worship, especially at this time of the year. Many of our Advent devotions have beautifully shared the powerful impact of music during the Christmas season. Scripture tells us of angelic praise, and of the joyous response of shepherds, as they returned after seeing the Christ child. Like those shepherds, when we experience something beautiful and amazing, we cannot help but express our honor, joy, and praise. Words alone cannot capture the depth and breadth of our experiences; thus, music is our personal response to the beauty and difficulty – to all the sacred moments of life. We never want to forget how joining together in song and praise – no matter what our musical abilities are – is a sacred gift we can offer to God.
This Sunday J.T. Crockett, our Director of Youth and Family Ministries, will be preaching at our 9am service. Then our children will be leading us in our 10:30 service as they present their Christmas Pageant – full of joyful songs and praise! And though the weather is uncertain, we are hopeful we’ll conclude a wonderful day by offering our Living Nativity on Sunday evening. Plan to join us on Sunday as we offer many songs of joy to Christ, our Lord and newborn King!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
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