HOW CAN WE KEEP FROM SINGING?
My life goes on in limitless tune
Above earth´s lamentations,
I hear the actual, although far-off hymn
That hails a brand new creation.
Via all of the tumult and the strife
I hear its music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I hold from singing?
What tho’ my joys and comforts die?
The Lord my Savior liveth;
What tho’ the darkness collect spherical?
Songs within the evening he giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm
Whereas to that refuge clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I hold from singing?
These phrases, first printed in 1868 and set to the tune we all know by Robert Lowry, specific so nicely the deepest emotions of so many Christian singers throughout this pandemic. Of all deprivations, not with the ability to sing collectively has been one of many worst. And but, now we have sung. Now we have been unable to maintain from singing. Singers have discovered methods to sing “collectively” even whereas separated. Social media has been flooded with singers singing and instrumentalists enjoying. Tune has been planted in our hearts by our Creator and we crave it as we crave being with these we love. The will to sing rises up alive and nicely regardless of the demise of joys and comforts and is certainly a spot of refuge in a storm.
Over the past 5 months, there was a number of thought and prayer as to how our choirs may regather in a fashion that permits us to recuperate the enjoyment of singing collectively whereas maximizing security and minimizing danger. Now we have give you a plan that I feel permits our sanctuary and youth choirs the pleasure, fellowship, and encouragement of worshiping and making music collectively, whereas preserving everybody as protected as we presumably can.
On September 9, these two teams will start rehearsing once more – in our car parking zone! Consultants all appear to agree that exterior is the most secure place to sing. The car parking zone beneath our CLC is the proper place to present this a attempt! We’ll clear the Park Avenue aspect of the lot starting at 5:00PM on Wednesdays. Chairs will likely be arrange six ft aside on all sides and we’ll depend on the shade and the nice air flow blowing by means of the realm to maintain us cool sufficient. Weekday mother and father will nonetheless be capable to exit onto Duval Road or Park Avenue as typical, however the space between the driveway to Park Ave. and the CLC constructing will likely be coned off for the choirs! Simply be suggested that parking beneath the CLC will likely be just about unavailable on Wednesday evenings. You’ll find, nonetheless, an abundance of road parking out there throughout lately of little or no downtown exercise. It’s our honest hope that the necessity to get our folks singing once more will outweigh the minor inconveniences brought on by this non permanent set-up.
Youth Choir will meet from 6:00-6:45PM and Sanctuary Choir from 7:15-8:00PM. Please pray for these people as we come again collectively. Pray that our singing can be a satisfying reward of worship to our Lord, that everybody can be protected from turning into sick, and that we’ll quickly be capable to share the reward of tune with our congregation.
This can be a first step. Hopefully, as time progresses, we are able to modify and slowly return to regular. Within the meantime, you will see that us singing “psalms and hymns and religious songs, singing with thankfulness in our hearts to God” on Wednesday nights within the car parking zone. Be happy to cease by and pay attention!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Penny
