Justice and joy
Keep the
open table
by Rev. Karen Hernandez Photos by Ed Hernandez
A
few summers ago, the worship theme at my church was “Th en Sings My Soul.” I try to create summer worship plans that allow for more laity voices to be heard and invite us to be more playful through the vacation season of sporadic
attendance. During this series, we sang many favorite hymns from the congregation, each time incorporating stories about why a specifi c song was a favorite. We also had several lon- ger stories and sermons about particular hymns that really captured that individual’s faith. When it was my turn to share about the song that stirs my soul like no other, I spoke about “For Everyone Born.” My congregation wasn’t surprised; they know we sing it regularly, and I think they can see how it buoys my energy! I fi rst came across “For Everyone Born” nearly a decade
ago as I sat in a Worship Design Studio planning retreat with laity from the worship team at my local church. Marcia McFee taught the hymn using the music by Brian Mann, as found in For Everyone Born: Global Songs for an Emerging Church. By the fi rst time we got to the chorus and sang “and God will delight...” I was overwhelmed in the most wonderful way! Th e words, the music, the experience of singing with a group of mostly strangers, the passion in the air that caused us all to sing from our hearts – it was all-consuming! It still happens every time I sing it, which is every time I hear it coming from beyond me or within me; every cell in my body starts to dance with the music! (I am a tactile learner and part of the body triad on the enneagram. Anything that stirs me like this is important!)
Why this song? Why this song when I love so many others? Th is tune
speaks to my body in powerful ways, but it is also much more than that. In part, it is the theology that causes me to love “For Everyone Born.” Th rough struggles in local congregations and strife at
___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 14
the denominational level, the open table is what keeps me from even considering another church. “For Everyone Born”
January-February 2018 • WorshipArts •
www.UMFellowship.org
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
