Martin Luther is credited as saying that besides theology, music is the greatest artful expression of mankind.
I happen to agree, however, I have a confession – most of the time my thoughts are elsewhere during the hymns that we sing together.
I think this comes from being told at an early age that I “couldn’t sing.” I’ve heard from plenty of musical folks that this is a statement kin to verbal abuse – but it happened. So at some point while I was growing up, since I was told I couldn’t sing, I also stopped reading the words on the page. I would look ahead in the bulletin, or check out who showed up for worship that day. But I wasn’t singing, so I didn’t need to check the words.
The few times, however, that I have paid attention to the words of the hymns, I have actually found myself impressed. There is usually some decent substance in our hymns. Not all the time, but most of the time there is something worth reflecting on. These hymns are selected to bring our minds and our hearts to Christ.
So for the next few Sundays at University Lutheran, we’re going to have a short sermon series that I’m calling “What’s that tune?” I’m hoping it will be a series that brings some attention to the hymns and their messages. And maybe, just maybe, it will make folks who “can’t sing” like me, take some notice of what treasures are there for us right in the bulletins in front of our faces.