Donna M. Cole

The tumult and the strife

Each year when we craft the music-focus issue of ML, I use liturgical music as something of a thematic guide. This year, I struggled with the choice of what piece of music could fulfill that role, challenge and inspire our writers, and build connections within the issue. Ultimately I settled on "How Can I Keep from Singing?" This song has always seemed to pose a question in affirmation, a nearly rhetorical question in the face of God's goodness. Today, though, I see friends and colleagues in ministry, my brothers and sisters in Christ, whose song has been nearly silenced. They have indeed been kept from singing, the song in their hearts crushed, at times by a clerical whim.

At first, we not only heard this far-off hymn, we dared to sing it, and with that we began to build a new creation. We learned together what baptism demanded of each of us; we studied and became proficient as ministers with an entirely new depth. Music ministers had perhaps the most difficult task, as they required proficiency in liturgy, Scripture, and faith formation, among other areas. There were always difficult times as we all shifted to what we believed to be a new model of church. We thought the storms of that transition couldn't shake our "inmost calm." What we didn't know was that "the tumult and the strife" that we thought was past was nothing compared to what was yet to come. We are most certainly at a difficult point in the evolution of the church. Pivotal times may require radical solutions. 

In this issue, we reflect on music ministry and where it leads us. Virgil Funk writes of his perspective on liturgical renewal (and where that didn't lead us) and the hope that never fails us.David Haas speaks of the need for keeping all ministry in context, so that serving the poor is always a part of what we do. Fred Moleck sees the church as being constantly in renewal; our role is to keep the song going, in company with one another. Ada Simpson reflects on the remarkable life of Sister Thea Bowman and her example of trusting in God while healing divisions and overcoming obstacles.

Despite "earth's lamentation," what we find in these pages is hope. If we are able to trust our God, to believe that there is always a new direction and that the song will never disappear, we can hear that echo in our souls. We who rejoice and sing with the heavenly powers and choirs of angels on the holiest of nights know that there is hope beyond what we now face. "Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us" (Rom 5:3-5). In the peace of Christ and with Spirit-filled hope, how can we keep from singing?

My life flows on in endless song; 
Above earth's lamentation, 
I hear the clear, though far-off hymn 
That hails a new creation.

Refrain: 
No storm can shake my inmost calm, 
While to that Rock I'm clinging. 
Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth, 
How can I keep from singing?

Through all the tumult and the strife, 
I 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 Savior 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?

ML 
  

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