1998 CBC Family Camp 5
Monday Program Session, 9:30-10:45
Singing Our Lives.
“Pop, Can I Play You a Tape?”
In my car, there are two cassettes of songs that our daughter, Lauren made for me. They contain popular songs that she has introduced me to and I have liked. In fact, for Lauren these are actually “teaching” tapes so that I can learn the names of the artists and the songs. When I would drive her to Oberlin, we would play the tape and she would test me on the names of the singers. I got to be pretty good. Now there’s a second tape to learn.
When we sing, words are given greater range and power than when we speak.
Small Groups.
Identify the songs that possess powerful and/or common memories for you. Share why they are for you.
Share why “Great is Thy Faithfulness” led by Margaret Jordan is meaningful to me.
–the way it was taught to me
–the events in my family
God has never let me down. And I know God will not fail me in the future.
Why We Sing?
It begins with our bodies—heart beats, breathing in and out, making noises when we move from one place to another, even the first cry from a newborn is music to the new parents. Music is not merely the language of the soul, but also the body.
When my mother used to call me home for dinner, she would say, “Ah Men Ahhhh.” These chant-like sounds are similar to many cultures—forming music in the air.
But today, many Christian communities are searching for a deeper meaning in music, particularly for public worship. What meanings can be drawn from the contemporary praise songs? How relevant are hymns when they were written many decades ago? Music and singing are essential to continuing our faith traditions. Let’s look at simply one Gospel: Luke.
- Mary—Luke 1: 46-56
- Zechariah—Luke 1: 67-79
- Angels—Luke 2:13-14
- Old Simeon—Luke 2: 28-32
Singing praises to God is a Christian practice that both in our homes as well as in our church requires more attention. We can learn music both by rote and by note.
For many of us, our faith has been built on some of the Christian songs that we have learned. Faith is born in music. St. Augustine said, “Whoever sings prays twice—once in music and secondly in words.
Small Groups.
In addition to singing Happy Birthday and sometimes, the national anthem, public worship remains one of the few places that offers opportunities for people to sing their lives and to form a shared identity. Share some songs that you would like to teach your children or grandchildren.
Theology of Music.
Embodied in each and every song or hymn is a Christian theology. Through the eyes and ears of another Christian songwriter, we are able to understand a little bit more of God’s plan for us. Therefore, whenever we sing of God, a way of living and thinking about life in relationship to God is formed and expressed.
Our singing is never a one person’s act. In our singing, our lives praise God. We addressed God in song and words when we sing at church. Bonhoeffer said, “it is not you that sings, but it is the church that is singing and you as a member… may share in its songs.”
In Colossians 3: 16, we read, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.”
Close with a song.
Sing “Here is my hand.” Close with prayer.