That year in Atlanta, the conference was in this beautiful, new United Methodist Church
that was huge, it could seat well over a thousand people. And during a break, in walked these
two women with one of the ministers from the church; one of the women was carrying a little
boy, maybe two or three years old. I was just standing there and overheard some of the
conversation.
The women had been told that there was a food bank that also had clothes at this
church, so they had come to receive some help. And they wanted to see the sanctuary while
they were there, so the minister was showing them around. The two women were remarking
that the little church they went to was small; the whole thing, they said, could fit inside this
enormous sanctuary.
I could see that the little boy had a physical or mental handicap, or maybe both. And
the minister was asking about him. The woman carrying him, his grandmother, called him her
“special child.” She said that they took him to church every Sunday, he loves to go to church.
And the doctor had said that he would never talk. But she said, “You know, when we take him
to church, and the piano starts playing, and we start singing the hymns, he opens his mouth,
and he just sings and sings.”
“O sing to the Lord a new song,” it says in Psalm 98, “for he has done marvelous things.”
It continues with, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song
and sing praises.” In other words, let the bounty of goodness and joy that God has placed in
your heart overflow with blessing and hope!
It doesn’t say that you have to have a certain ability to sing, or be in the midst of a
certain set of circumstances. It just says to sing, to make a joyful noise, break forth into joyous
song. So, I am inviting you to do just that – whether you join us in worship here at the church,
in person or online, or if you’re traveling and participating in worship at some other church out
on the road. Or even, and maybe especially, just right where you are -- whatever your ability,
whatever your condition, whatever your situation – let your heart sing, and participate in the
joy of the Lord!
Grace and Hope to you,
Pastor Duane
