"Sing a New Song"
16th Assembly of United Methodist Women, April 25-28, 2002.
"I sing a song of the saints of God, patient and brave and true, who toiled and fought and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew." -- from "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God" by Lesbia Scott, The United Methodist Hymnal
Saints and Singingby Barbara E. Campbell
The Bible, especially the Psalms, is replete with references to singing. One psalmist commands, "Sing a song to the Lord. Sing to the Lord, all the world" (96:1, TEV). This theme is repeated with variations. Singing expresses the people's thanksgiving for what God has done.
Through centuries God has called persons to proclaim the message of love and redemption in their everyday places and professions, literally to "sing the Lord's song in strange and foreign lands" (Psalm 137:4). The hymn "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God" celebrates -- sings about -- the lives of everyday saints who have differing gifts and experiences. They answered Jesus' call to "follow me"; they found strength in God's faithfulness. Their dedicated and loving spirits expressed God's love to those around them. They are part of the "countless host" of saints we sing about in "For All the Saints," also in the United Methodist Hymnal.
"I Sing a Song of the Saints of God" continues: "They [the saints] lived not only in ages past; there are hundreds of thousands still." The organization of United Methodist Women (and all who went before) was born and thrived because countless saintly women "toiled and fought and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew." These were women who:
were motivated to action by the plight of women, children and youth;
undertook organizing responsibilities beyond all their previous experience;
served as missionaries and deaconesses;
fought injustices, marched in protests and challenged cultural norms;
served as conference and district elected leaders, local presidents and circle leaders;
faithfully and joyfully contributed their time, talents, resources, and prayers.
Finally, the hymn writer declares her intent to become a saint, which challenges each reader/singer:
"I mean, God helping, to be one [saint] too" (v.1)
"there's no reason... why I shouldn't be one too" (v. 2)
The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews states it well, declaring: "We have this great cloud of witnesses." Praise God!
From "Reflections On Singing a New Song" (#3180/$7.00), a book of reflections for the 2002 Assembly and beyond, with reflections in English, Spanish and Korean. To order, call 1-800-305-9857.
Hymn words courtesy of The United
Methodist Publishing House, Nashville, TN. Copyright 1989.
Barbara
Campbell is former Assistant General Secretary in Administration, Women's
Division.
|
