Sunday, November 6, 2016

Today’s Hymn            
Mortals, join the happy chorus
which the morning stars began.
Love divine is reigning o’er us,
joining all in heaven’s plan.
Ever singing, march we onward,
victors in the midst of strife.
Joyful music leads us sunward
in the triumph song of life.

Henry van Dyke’s “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore thee”
from Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal

Reflection
Every fourth Friday of the month, many people gather at Fourth Church for the Taizé service in Buchanan Chapel. It is always a beautiful and spiritually renewing time filled with singing, prayer, and quiet meditation. One month, a member was sitting alone before the service when a woman came and sat next to her, and then later a man sat on the other side of her. Nothing out of the ordinary at all, but as the service progressed, this member noticed that neither of them was singing.

After the service, she said hello and introduced herself to each of them, realizing only then that the worshipers on either side of her were married. She apologized for sitting between them, but they said that was all right. She also said she noticed that neither of them sang during the service, and the woman said that their child had recently died and neither of them could sing, but they were glad that she had. They thanked her and said she had sung for them.  

We never know what issues or concerns our neighbor brings to church—some people filled with thanksgiving, others grieving significant loss. But together we gather in our worship services to praise and adore God, to ask for help, to give thanks, and to be renewed to go out, loving and serving all we encounter. We gather in worship to praise God, but we are also there to care for each other every time we gather as a community in worship. 

Prayer
Lord, help me to love you more fully so that in loving you, I may more fully love all I encounter this day. Amen.   

Written by John W. W. Sherer, Organist and Director of Music

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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