"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." (Psalm 100:4)
Do you have a favorite hymn? Praise song? Piece of music? Do you "shout for joy" like verse one of this Psalm says? Some translations actually say "make a joyful noise to the Lord." For many of us "joyful noise" is probably closer to what we are doing. My son tells me I am "on key" when I know the song - like hymns I've sung since I was little - but "not even close" on new ones. So I am in the "make a joyful noise" group but I do love singing hymns and praise songs. Today we are celebrating Reformation Sunday, and a 5th Sunday month, with a hymn sing. One of the hymns "Now Thank We All Our God," by Martin Rinkart, was written for the survivors (in Eilenberg around the 30 year war in Germany) because Martin believed there "was no healing without thanksgiving." St. Augustain is quoted as saying "when you sing you pray twice." When you combine these two ideas, and think about everything we have all been going through lately, you get an excellent reason to celebrate Reformation (the start of the Protestant church) Sunday with a hymn sing. Singing, praising God and thanking God in the midst of everything happening - storms, changes (everything from seasons to times) and technical issues - seems like a good reminder of Emmanuel. God IS WITH US. So...what is your favorite hymn? Praise song? Are you singing?
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