In a Century Blog (11 Nov 10) Richard A. Kauffman writes of Why I go to church.He goes “first of all to meet God, to be in God’s presence”, to make connection with other people who share his convictions and commitments, to find meaning in life … to be part of something bigger than himself. In a Century Blog (11 Nov 10) Richard A. Kauffman writes of Why I go to church.He goes “first of all to meet God, to be in God’s presence”, to make connection with other people who share his convictions and commitments, to find meaning in life . . . to be part of something bigger than himself. . . . “I also go for the music.”

I also go to church to sing. As John Bell has pointed out, the church is about the only place where people gather to sing anymore. My tradition (Mennonite) has a longstanding practice of singing four-part a cappella hymns. [T]he default still is singing in parts, unaccompanied. Joining our verses together in praise resounds deep within my being. It is then that I sense most assuredly that I am in the presence of God with my people, the ones with whom I am pledged to live out my baptismal vows. What Sister Joan Chittister says is true for my congregation too: “My Benedictine community is a singing community. Maybe that’s why we’re a community at all, come to think about it.”

Now there’s a thought In a Century Blog (11 Nov 10) Richard A. Kauffman writes of Why I go to church.He goes “first of all to meet God, to be in God’s presence”, to make connection with other people who share his convictions and commitments, to find meaning in life . . . to be part of something bigger than himself. . . . “I also go for the music.”

I also go to church to sing. As John Bell has pointed out, the church is about the only place where people gather to sing anymore. My tradition (Mennonite) has a longstanding practice of singing four-part a cappella hymns. [T]he default still is singing in parts, unaccompanied. Joining our verses together in praise resounds deep within my being. It is then that I sense most assuredly that I am in the presence of God with my people, the ones with whom I am pledged to live out my baptismal vows. What Sister Joan Chittister says is true for my congregation too: “My Benedictine community is a singing community. Maybe that’s why we’re a community at all, come to think about it.”

Now there’s a thought … hymns a capella, in four part harmony. Not often done in Australia, but I’d like it a lot.