MONDAY 29 JUNE 2020

Good morning sisters and brothers,

How was your weekend? I was happy to welcome see one or two friends and it was great to have blether and catch up with them.

On Saturday evening I tuned into BBC I player and watched a really interesting programme with Gareth Malone who was putting together a Choir formed by three people who are in the frontline of care during lockdown during the covid 19 pandemic.

I would recommend this programme you.

One of the three was a young care worked named William from Hamilton, who is a care worker in a home, looking after people with dementia.

He spoke of how music and especially singing plays a big part in his life both personally and in his work, and of how singing can lift him up when he is feeling low. He also spoke movingly of how people with dementia seem to come to life when he sings to them, and of how singing has such healing qualities. He is an exceptional young man with a real caring heart for the folks and their relatives in his care during the difficult times we find ourselves in.

One of the rules I’ve heard mentioned as we begin to think about the reopening of church buildings is that we will not be allowed to sing, which, I have to say I find quite a difficult thought, and there is a part of me which riles against this.

Singing out our praises is such an integral part of how we express ourselves as people of God.

I hadn’t realised how much I’d missed it until last we when conducting a funeral at a crematorium when the few who had gathered sang Amazing Grace.

I’m sure that as we have had to adapt and will continue to adapt to this new way of life we will have to be creative in the ways we worship together.

But, one thing is for certain, the people of God will not be silenced, we will continue to praise the Lord!

My life flows on in endless song; above earth’s lamentation, I catch the sweet, though far off hymn that hails a new creation.

No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging. Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?

Through all the tumult and the strife, hear that music ringing.

It finds an echo in my soul, how can I keep from singing?

What though my joys and comforts die? I know my Saviour liveth. What though the darkness gather round? Songs in the night he giveth.

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, a fountain ever springing! All things are mine since I am his how can I keep from singing?