Who doesn’t like a good old hymn singing!
When I was a child, I loved to sing many of the good old hymns, like “The Church in the Wildwood” and “Do Lord.”
One of the things we have missed during this time of social distancing is congregational singing. Worship just doesn’t seem like worship without the church making “a joyful noise unto the Lord.” Hopefully, when we all get together again, the desire will be to sing praises to our Lord with a thousand tongues.
But wait, as bad as I want to have church again and everyone singing “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound,” I am being told one of the most dangerous things we could do we we get back together is sing. I first read about this when back in March, a choral society meet for practice at a church in Mt. Vernon, Wash. The members were told to stay home if they did not feel well. Some did, but 60 members still gathered for practice.
It was reported no one coughed, sneezed or seemed to be ill. Soon, 45 members were sick with COVID-19 and two died. No one would have imagined how deadly the gathering would be.
How could congregational singing be so dangerous? A sneeze can carry airborne droplets a few feet, but if everyone sang in the sanctuary with all our hearts, the church would be filled with droplets. This is one reason the CDC has release guidelines for when faith communities gather together again.
I want it to go from phase one, two and three quicker than a NWA pin count. Yet, I also want everyone to be safe. The CDC suggests that when we get back together – if possible – singing in church be suspended for everyone’s safety. You could still have a soloist – or even a quartet – if they keep a distance of six feet from one another.
I’m not sure how that will work. I do know this would be a great time for instrumentals and being creative in other ways to use music as a means of grace. What to do?
I am reminded of the time the officers of the choir came to the preacher and asked that the preacher get one of the choir members out. “He sings so off-key, he throws everyone else off.”
The preacher thought of what to do. A plan was devised. The preacher told the choir member how badly the church needed a new head usher to replace the one who had retired.
The choir member said, “I just can’t do it preacher, I love to sing in the choir.” With that, the preacher made the confession, the choir wanted him out. “They say you just can’t sing.”
The choir member quickly quipped, “Don’t worry preacher, they say you can’t preach.”
With that, the preacher was happy to lobby for the off-key singing choir member to have first solo in the next cantata.
We all want everything to be like it was before. Yet, If we gather together and sing praises too soon, we could end up extending the safer at home order.
I am ready for a good old hymn sing. Lord help us all!
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is the pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church.