Tuesday, August 11, 2020
What We Miss About Church: Congregant Reflections
For our devotionals this month, we asked various congregants what they miss the most about being together.
Join us for this series of reflections that remind us of what we miss and who we are called to be.
Scripture for the Day
Ephesians 5:19
As you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts.
This timeless text reminded us of Mrs. Miyazaki, who lived near us many years ago in Tokyo. She had taken ill with little chance of recovery. It was summer, and with our windows open we could hear many sounds of neighborhood activities. One day we heard some Christian music being played and realized it was coming from her home. Each day we heard the familiar hymns, and we could picture her lying in bed being comforted in faith by the words and the melodies.
Throughout the generations, Christians have expressed their deepest thoughts and feelings toward God through songs of prayer, praise and thanksgiving. Many hymns still sung by the church choir and by the congregation were written several hundred years ago and provide a direct link to the thoughts and feelings of those of another time. People of faith may have also lived through a pandemic, but their songs of praise to the Lord tell us of trusting hearts providing hope for the future.
With COVID-19 interrupting normal church services, we find ourselves missing these songs of inspiration. We miss our dear friends, the shared moments of thoughtful reflection of the things-that-matter-most, and messages of comfort and challenge shared through the scriptures. We miss the on-target sermons, the stained-glass windows, the beautiful flowers and the people in our community who smile and greet us each Sunday.
We look forward to resuming the day when we can unite once more with our friends singing songs of joy and thanksgiving, side by side.
