February 2008 newsletter
I have been reading a book
written by A.J. Gordon, the founder of Gordon College, entitled “Congregational
Worship.” Rev. Gordon, writing in 1874, addresses many issues
found in congregations today. In chapter three, he focuses on congregational
singing and I was encouraged, as he implored his congregation to sing
audibly, by how beautifully you as a congregation sing the hymns each
Sunday. We are very blessed as a congregation, and your voices
and beautiful singing strengthen me. I have included some brief
excerpts from Gordon’s book that especially spoke to me. I hope
they encourage you as well. If you would like to read more, I have included
a link to the online text.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Bethany Kirkpatrick
Director of Music
“Speaking to one another
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,” seems, in the text, to be
made an inevitable consequent of being filled with the Spirit. This
ought to be kept faithfully in mind. The impression is too common, that
the church to listen, if it happens to be a choir
that sings, or, if the congregation does the singing, to unite in it,
or to keep silence, according to pleasure. Many seem to forget that
there is any special religious obligation in the matter, --that singing
like prayer, is a Divine gift, put into our hands to be used for the
glory of God, by exalting and purifying those affections which he claims preeminently
as his. Sacred song belongs to Christianity….. Somehow it loves best
to build its nest in the heart of the Christ-like and the devout…..
I wish to urge…the members
of the congregation, -- the duty of singing audibly, and the duty of singing devotionally.
There is no silent singing
here, no dumb music of the heart behind motionless and voiceless lips.
To speak implies audible utterance; and here is a clear injunction to worship God with
the lips and voice. Men like coals, kindle best
in the mass. Each serves as a radiator to throw heat upon his neighbor, and
so the zeal of the whole is quickly raised. But let each worshipper
be only a dull absorbent of the warmth that is thrown upon him from scripture, sermon,
prayer, and hymn, and the preacher will find it a very onerous task
to get the people into a devotional frame. Now, singing is a means of spiritual radiation;
truth and love and fervor are easily contagious. As the people speak
to each other in psalms and hymns, there is a rapid circulation of the currents of devotion. The pulse
of song beats quick, and the glow of worship is easily attained.
We recognize the value of communion
or community of spiritual life in all worship. No man is to be an
independent unit here: what he brings to church with him of interest,
of desire, of earnestness, he brings to put into the common fund. And
singing is the circulating medium of worship. It distributes the fervor
of each Christian among his brethren, and equalizes
the devotion of the whole body.”
A.J. Gordon, Boston, Dec. 15,
1874
