This morning at the RI State Council of Churches “Heroes of Faith” Breakfast, I was particularly touched by two musical moments.
The first was a beautiful, and unexpected, singing of CeCe Winan’s “Goodness of God.” This past February, the Joy Praise team sang this on the last Sunday before my cancer surgery. I cried in service that day as I was wrestling with trusting God’s goodness (yes, even pastors wrestle with their faith). I have since found in this song a much needed reminder that God’s faithfulness has extended from my first breath to now – and will extend into my future. I was thankful this morning to be reminded of this once again.
The second was a collective singing of two verses of “Lift Every Voice.” As we stood together in that room – Jews, Christians of every kind (Catholic and Protestant), and Buddhists – we were reminded in song that the darkness of the past can’t quell our collective commitment to bring light into this world.
Friends, we journey through challenge after challenge in our personal lives, in our communities, and in the wider world. Every day we wake up on this side of eternity with Christ’s command to love God and love our neighbor is a new opportunity for both joy and heartbreak.
Today let me just leave you with this reminder to sing out your faith – in the shower, the car, your kid’s carline, the worship service, or wherever. The lifting of our voices, the singing of songs of faith and hope and struggle and trust, can and will overcome wherever darkness threatens to consume.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever
and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100)
Blessings,
Pastor Amy
