Summer - a time in the Church Liturgical Calendar that has several names depending on where you are: Trinity Season - Pentecost - Ordinary Time - Time after Pentecost. This is a time when we deliberately dig into scripture and listen to Jesus Christ - opening ourselves up to grow.

It's summer - with summer rains, crops are growing, the grass is constantly growing! This is a good time of year to think about - well - growing! But I am going to speak a bit differently about this aspect of our spiritual development and our physical and emotional aging.

Yes, I used those two words - development and aging.  2 Corinthians 5:17 "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" Becoming new is a gift of God's grace - and it happens every time we develop - and we only develop as we live and breathe, which means we develop while we age. By the way - that is a good thing.

Do you have a favorite song or hymn? Many church musicians save those favorites for summer as there are fewer or no choir members in the loft, They use the favorites knowing the congregation will sing them with great gusto - becoming their own leaders. The congregation has learned over the years as they have aged - and music is a great mnemonic device! So, instead of having a weaker
sound in the summer, you might sing "O God, Our Help in Ages Past"- or in more modern worship, your congregation might already use "You Are Mine" for  communion - and you might marvel at the strength of the singing.

The singing of the hymn is part of the learning and a symptom of our growth. Music is selected to be paired with, support or introduce the scriptures for the day. As congregations get used to singing a hymn over and over, we develop a sense of where the musician will get louder or softer; and develop a relationship with the song and the musician. Through good times and bad, we often lock on to particular hymn texts, taking comfort and strength from them - attaching to them on an emotional level. On certain Sundays, if we are paying attention, we also develop a greater insight into the Gospel.  In this, we are made new!

All of this from a hymn? Why yes - or from any song or familiar psalm or piece of liturgy. How often have you heard that Alzheimer's patients can respond to the Lord's Prayer or Psalm 23? Music is a platform for even quicker learning and development for many people.

But wait a minute, what if your local musician isn't bringing out the old favorites - what if he or she is challenging you with (gasp!) newer music! Take a deep breath and listen to the music, join in where you can and remember that you are also growing in this music. You are taking baby steps. You are still being made new - whether you are 16 or 76!

Music - old or new, comfortable or not, is a chance to grow. Even if, especially if, you think you cannot sing or make music. No one is there to perform, but to experience worship - to praise God, to thank God, to be in a place and with the people of the church where God comes to you in Word and Sacrament. Music can support that if you will let it. Please open your ears and your heart and listen to what God is saying in the moment in this season of growth.

I pray your music is wonderful, beautiful and always new. I pray you receive God this week and re-present God to others with whatever means has been given to you - whether it is through music, bible study, being thankful and polite to someone at the store - but always - with a song in your heart!

Soli Deo Gloria!