(Photo credit T. Brett McMahan) Eastern Europe
Advent Day Six, December 6, 2024
Definition of harmony from the Cambridge Dictionary: (1) a pleasant musical sound made by different notes being played or sung at the same time. (2) A situation in which people are peaceful and agree with each other, or when things seem right or suitable together.
Theme for these Advent meditations: Waiting as One.
Back about twenty years ago, a type of culture war erupted in many mainline, traditional denominations. These eruptions came to be titled “Worship Wars,” sometimes consisting of brief skirmishes and sometimes all out nuclear weaponry. The cause? The rise of contemporary worship. Some worshippers felt that they could better experience Christ through GUITARS, KEYBOARDS, and DRUMS in worship and maybe even POWER POINT with SCREENS on the sanctuary walls. They were considered radicals, these jean-clad people, overturning the tables of traditional worship which included hymns, organ music, proper attire, and paper bulletins. Some congregations actually split over whether to allow contemporary worship as an alternative way to grow closer to Christ.
It was a tough time. Being a pastor then, I found myself in the midst of it and noticed first and foremost that both factions forgot something vitally important. The praise folks forgot about the fear of abandonment that their more traditional brethren felt—losing not only their lifelong form of worship but part of their church family if they chose to exit. The traditionalists forgot that everyone experiences God differently. One size does not fit all. Disunity ensued.
Fast-forward twenty years, and what you mainly see now in churches that haven’t gone completely contemporary are churches with choices: at least two services, one contemporary and one traditional. While that may solve the war problem, it doesn’t solve the unity problem.
I attend a church that opted for the “church with choices” compromise, and true to form, very few brave-hearts move back and forth with any regularity between that Great Divide. But on the first Sunday of Advent, the band and its director, the choir and its director, joined musical forces and presented some of the most beautiful worship music I’ve ever heard. What was so unifying about this worship was that instead of the praise band leading and singing their own songs and then the choir leading and singing hymns, taking respectful turns, they all played a part in every song, together: guitars, drums, keyboard, bass guitar, and organ, praise voices and choir singing together. It was glorious and meaningful and a small reminder of what greater unity can be . . . when we are willing to let go our own agendas, our own preferences, our own pride, and find a way to meet in the middle, for God’s sake.
Perhaps a fitting definition for “harmony” is finding a way to meet in the middle. It certainly sounded beautiful last Sunday. Harmony: that’s my hope and prayer and practice this Advent.
Blessings ~ Rosemary
Enjoy this rendition of the Christmas Worship Medley performed at our church: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EpGUixEFxM.
Spirit Reflections 