When I walked into chapel this morning, I never expected that I would be asked to lead the music.
Yes, you read that right….I was asked to lead music for our worship service today.
And I cannot sing!
There are two Protestant services offered here on post, traditional and gospel. We attend the traditional service. In the traditional service, there is usually a call to worship, a litany, scripture readings, and hymns.
Yes, you read that right, too. We sing hymns in our worship service.
I love hymns. I love the theology that is packed into the verses of the great hymns of our faith. I think it is very sad that we are losing them.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy praise music as well.
I just actually believe that the two can co-exist peacefully.
Anyway, back to today’s chapel service….
All of our usual chaplains were absent today.
When I walked into the chapel, the chaplain leading today’s service, immediately asked me if I would read one of the scripture passages. I easily accepted this request. I take part in the service in this way quite a bit and love reading scripture. There is such undeniable power in reading God’s Word!
Next, he asked me if I would take a look at the hymns that were listed in the bulletin this morning because the other chaplains picked them out and he didn’t know them.
I looked up the listed hymn of praise and hymn of dedication and told him that, yes, I knew them.
His response was, “So, can you lead worship?”
HUH???
I said, “But I can’t sing!”
His response was, “But I don’t know them.”
So, I reluctantly but obediently agreed to “lead” the worship songs today.
All that really entailed was standing up in front of everyone at the podium and singing while our pianist played. But I was scared to death and shaking like a leaf the entire time!
I have never been so scared in church in all of my life.
Psalm 100 says to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord”.
It doesn’t necessarily say to emit a beautiful, perfect, harmonious, tune.
I don’t know if it’s possible for me to do that.
But I can make a joyful noise.
The hymns we sang this morning are beautiful.
Their words are powerful.
Take a look at the lyrics to each below and worship our Savior Jesus Christ along with me.
Our Hymn of Praise was, “Come Christians, Join to Sing”
Come, Christians, join to sing
Alleluia! Amen!
Loud praise to Christ our King;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice,
Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice.
Alleluia! Amen!Come, lift your hearts on high,
Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky;
Alleluia! Amen!
He is our Guide and Friend;
To us He’ll condescend;
His love shall never end.
Alleluia! Amen!Praise yet our Christ again,
Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the strain;
Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven’s blissful shore,
His goodness we’ll adore,
Singing forevermore,
“Alleluia! Amen!”
Our Hymn of Dedication was “The Solid Rock“
- My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
- Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.- When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.- His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.- When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
Shanna says
Oh My!! I am shaking for you as well! But how brave of you to still take on the task – you definitely get an A for effort in my book. We sang the “The Solid Rock” at church this morning too. I love the theology of the old hymns as well; the richness of their words just can’t compare.
Jennifer Scruggs says
Good for you! I’m glad you survived. 🙂 Hymns are some of my fav too– I wish we sang more of them at First North. One of my favorite books here at the house is called “Then Sings My Soul” and it’s Hymns along with stories of their origin or author. I LOVE it. 🙂
Tanya says
Oh, Monica…I can imagine how scary that must have been. I think I would have been sick! lol I am glad you were still able to do it and I am sure you did a great job!!
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Nancy says
Wow! They didn’t know these songs? I love these old songs. I agree with you, old and new songs both can be great! I know you did an awesome job leading the hymns!
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margaret says
whew…at least you didn’t have to do it acapella…(pretty sure that’s not spelled right). Good for you…stretching keeps you young!
Pat says
How exciting! I know you did a wonderful job as usual! I love the Solid Rock and it is one of my favorite hymns. I’m glad to see that it was one of them. Did you have to sing the whole song alone or did everyone join in once you started singing? I don’t know if I could have done it if I had to sing alone.
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