November 18 -- "Responsive Singing"

 Today's Reading: Ezra 3

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“Responsive singing” is a delightful practice that not only elevates our worship experience, but also creates a bond of unity and community among believers as we harmonize our voices in praise and adoration of our divine Creator.

Responsive singing is not a new concept. It harks back to the days of old, when the people of Israel engaged in this beautiful practice of worship and praise after laying the foundation of the Temple. In those ancient times, singing responsively was a customary way to express gratitude and adoration to their loving God.

And how did they do it, you ask? Well, they'd take turns singing back and forth, creating a call and response pattern that echoed through the halls of the Temple. It was a joyous dialogue of praise, with one group singing a phrase, and another group responding with a different phrase. It's like a heavenly conversation of love and adoration! Psalm 136 provides an example of this type of worship:

Call: O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good – Response: For His mercy endures forever.
Call: O give thanks unto the God of gods – Response: For His mercy endures forever.

But responsive singing isn't just about the past; it's also about the present. When we sing responsively today, we're continuing a time-honored tradition that connects us to our ancestors in faith. We're celebrating the goodness of God and expressing our gratitude for His steadfast love and mercy.

And the beauty of it all is that responsive singing isn't just about individual voices coming together; it's about hearts beating as one. When we sing responsively, we're not just singing to God; we're singing with each other, and to each other. We're fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose within our faith communities, and that's something truly special.

So come, my friends, let's join our voices in responsive singing! Let's celebrate our Lord with a spiritual musical perspective, and let's find strength and unity within our communities. As we sing together, let's remember that we're not just creating beautiful music; we're creating a delightful, harmonious sound that unites our community of believers and expresses our worship and devotion to God.