Singing as Prayer

Praying in the highest way we know how! That is what singing is. It’s not a type or genre or even quality of music that counts, but a heart set to meet the living God. This summer, as in past summers, our combined services have taken us all out of our comfort zones. Strict traditionalists have witnessed our classically trained choir director play the drums, and newer Anglicans have discovered the deep theology of classical Christian hymns.

The true test of Anglican worship is when we can meet God in a style of worship that may or may not be my personal preference.

I first experienced this when I was a teenager traveling in Europe. I stayed a few days with a family in a little town outside Amsterdam. My Dutch was nonexistent and their English was not much better. This kindly family rattled off some words and it turned out that they wanted to take me to a midweek Pentecostal church service – in a home – with guitars! I had never been to church except on Sundays, never dreamed about going to a wacky and exuberant Pentecostal home church, especially in Holland! I was raised a proper Episcopalian with organ-led music and occasional visiting boys choirs. But something happened to me that night as the young guitarist roughly strummed cords C, G and F that planted a seed in me that is still growing today – I was drawn to God by the authenticity of people around me meeting God! It wasn’t even English! I can’t explain it more than to say that God touched me there in a way that I remember 40+ years later. There’s something about God showing up – whether it’s music led by a cheap guitar or a million dollar organ – that is life-giving.

I hope Christ Church Anglican will be known as a church that worships in such a way that outsiders and visitors will be drawn to the living God. Our staff musicians are the best I have ever worked with, and they “get” the heart of worship. But it takes opening our mouths and singing prayers, to raise us from dutifully speaking the words to what St. Paul calls “the heavenly places.”

This Sunday may we worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Lord, teach us how to honor you with our lips and hearts.

In His grace,

Chuck Collins
Interim Rector