This week's submission for the eNewsletter of St. Mary's Episcopal ChurchChances are the answer is an enthusiastic "Yes!"Our liturgy/worship at St. Mary's and in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition is quite participatory. In any given service we experience what is almost like a cosmic drama with God, us, and, as the liturgy we'll be using this Sunday from the Iona Community puts it, "the whole realm of nature around us...and with our loved ones, separate from us now, who yet in this mystery are close to us..." Within our local "production" of this cosmic drama we engage in a dialogue that includes Assembly (all of us gathered), Presider, Deacon, Readers, and Prayer Leader, as well as the Choir and other musical leaders. Each of us has an integral part to contribute to this conversation or dialogue that is liturgy.
When it comes to music in the context of our liturgy, the most important voice is that of the Assembly's song- the song of all of us together. A cantor (leader of song) or choir might sing the verses of a Psalm, introduce a new song to us, sing alone a verse of a hymn in order to highlight something in the text, or one of our choirs may have spent many hours rehearsing beautiful offertory and communion anthems to offer in worship, and in these cases it is the voice of the Cantor or Choir that sounds while the rest of the Assembly remains silent. These cases are the exception and not the rule. Whenever there is any music indicated in the bulletin to be sung, please understand it as an enthusiastic invitation for all of us to sing with our whole heart, mind, and voice. When it is time for a solo voice or a choir to introduce some music to us or to offer music on our behalf, I will try my absolute best to make sure to indicate that clearly in the bulletin.
Question of the week:What's the one song that, whenever you hear it, you feel compelled to sing along, no matter where you are?Email me at beausurratt@stmaryspr.org with your answer or leave it in the comments!
All this having been said, here's a saying by which I try to live and encourage you to try it out in your life, and especially when you are in the midst of the St. Mary's community: When in doubt, sing!