Amy and Tune My Heart
Tune My Heart
What’s a person who can’t sing to do in worship?
As you know, the Episcopal Church has a long and beautiful tradition of choral music. Many would say that that choral tradition – along with the Book of Common Prayer – is the Episcopal Church’s fundamental gift – its charism - to God’s Church.
I adore this tradition, I grew up in it, I studied in England and basked in it.
I adore and cherish this tradition – and I can’t sing it.
I’ve known other priests who can’t sing well – not many, but some. They gave me earnest advice, like when you’re leading liturgy, just move your mouth so it looks to the congregation that you’re singing. If you don’t know the words, just mouth “peas and carrots” and it will look like you’re singing. And – my favorite advice of all – as a priest, you don’t have to sing well, you just have to sing loudly!
(I think I know a few choir directors and musicians and innocent people sitting next to me in worship who would disagree with that last statement!!)
See, I love to sing and I love to sing with others in community. Just like I love to dance, though I’ll never be a professional dancer. I love to paint and sculpt and make pots and no one – no one – would come to see the products of all that art-making. It’s the process that gives me joy, especially when I dance or make art with others.
So make space in your life and in our community to sing! Sing, even if you can’t read music. Sing, even if you can read music. Sing with others, teach someone a tune, sing to the dying, sing with the living, pray to God in the words of one of my favorite hymns: Come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace! Streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise!
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