成人快手

Good morning.聽 Today many Christians celebrate St Cecilia, who鈥檚 associated with Church music. Recently I鈥檝e had a couple of experiences which have challenged me to think about the power of music to draw folk together in creative ways.聽When a friend died a few weeks ago, a wonderful choir came and sang at her funeral. They were drawn together by shared experience of lives touched by cancer and sang beautifully. To me it seemed that the suffering that had brought them together was tempered by their harmony. Their voices proclaiming the truth that nothing can overcome the power of love鈥檚 solidarity聽I had a similar transformative experience when I first encountered a deaf choir - a group who share music even though they may have profound hearing loss. I had wondered how they would possibly do this, but I was bowled over at the sight of a group signing in time to music, making movements that were so smooth and fluid it was like watching an amazing dance. That choir taught me about the limits of my imagination and the wonder of what can be achieved when people come together in an authentic and creative fashion.聽One of the deepest mysteries of faith for me, is that it鈥檚 often those who in some way have to deal with challenges, disadvantage or loss, who show others the best ways forward.聽Those choirs remind me of the joy and potential of looking at the world in a positive way. They demonstrate what it looks like to work with others recognising that everyone has something to offer and showing that together communities can do great things.
God of harmony, beauty and song, thank you for the gift of music and the opportunity to blend gifts in shared expressions of hope. Bless us all with confidence, fill us with joy.聽 Amen.