June 14, 2007
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Lift Up Your Voice
We have a wedding at our church this weekend.
The bride’s family’s and the groom’s churches from distant parts
are joining our small congregation for the weekend.
This Sunday, our church will swell
up to about three times its normal size;
we’re having a psalm sing before
worship
and a fellowship meal afterwards
to incorporate the visitors into our
body of believers.Lust is usually considered a pejorative term,
but lusty
singing is simply lovely in church.
When the right music is joined to words of
praise the effect on my spirit is powerful.
A room full of people singing with
unrestrained conviction is mighty potent.
Mighty Potent.
I’m getting goose bumps
of anticipation.John Wesley’s directions for singing in the preface to Sacred Melody, 1761
1. Sing lustily and with good courage.
Beware of singing as if you were half dead,
or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength.
Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed
of its being heard, then when you sung the songs of Satan.
2. Sing modestly.
Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from
the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony;
but strive to unite your voices together,
so as to make one clear melodious sound.
3. Sing in time.
Whatever time is sung be sure to keep with it.
Do not run before nor stay behind it;
but attend close to the leading voices,
and move therewith as exactly as you can;
and take care not to sing too slow.
This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy;
and it is high time to drive it out from us,
and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.
4. Above all sing spiritually.
Have an eye to God in every word you sing.
Aim at pleasing Him more than yourself or any other creature.
In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing,
and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound,
but offered to God continually;
so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here,
and reward you when He cometh in the clouds of heaven.
Comments (5)
Oh, I just love Wesley’s instructions. Definitely worth saving and sharing with the choir/congregation!
Dana in GA
When I was in High School, I used to play the piano once a month for a county “poor farm”. I don’t think they call them that anymore
Most of the residents were Downs Syndrome or slightly mentally retarded. But when it came to singing hymns, oh my! They could sing the roof right off of the house. I still get goosebumps when I recall the memory; and when you talked of “lusty singing”, that was my first association.
Wishing you a wonderful week-end with your extended church family!
That’s how I always feel when we go watch the kids sing all their songs at VBS. All those young voices, singing lustily their praise to the Lord! I always get a lump in my throat.
Carrie
The children’s choir we heard in Africa came leaping to my mind. The joyful sound that came bursting forth eminated from faces wide with smiles, their little bodies moved and swayed and clapped along. I can just imagine how wonderful Sunday will be, especially with you playing the piano Carol! Wish I could witness that! Blessings and love to you dear heart. Maxine
Excellent instructions.
Those go in the vault!