Blessed Hour When We Are Meeting

While Martha served, Mary rested with the apostles listening to Jesus. “Mary has chosen the good portion,” said Jesus. What was Mary’s good worship?

You can bet Mary’s worship was no pep rally. She didn’t try to impress Jesus. She didn’t focus on her own promises: (“I will worship,” “I will bow down,” “I will praise thee.”) She didn’t awe herself with praise terms: (“worship His majesty” “give Him glory.”) If they sang, they used Psalms, specific thankfulness for the character of God.

God is no control freak! After six days of creation, God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on that day he rested... not that he was tired! But because in God’s character, He sees blessing in letting things be.

So, Christian music director, can you let things be, just a little? Can you let the person in the pew hear his neighbor singing? Or himself? (Not just the people in front with mikes?) Can you let him enjoy the blessedness of one hour of meeting with his fellow believers? For 1900 years, before electronics, believers enjoyed what eighteenth century hymnist Francois Barthelemon experienced:

Blessed hour when we are meeting,
Jesus, when we come to Thee,
When Thy spirit is repeating
Words of life so urgently.

Do not let us listen vainly
To Thy word of life and grace,
Let Thy Gospel truth speak plainly,
Finding in our hearts a place.

While the right hand plays in six, the left hand should be in four. This means the second beat comes a little later than is comfortable. This piece should have great flexibility in timing: even more pauses than what are written in.