Something from ... Rev. Norman Nagel on congregational singing

One of the joys of our worship together is singing the hymns.  The best hymns make confession of who our Lord is and what he has done for us.  In this, we are strengthened by God's promises, comforted by Jesus' forgiveness, and encouraged by the Holy Spirit to live as the children of the heavenly Father--which is what we are.  We also bolster one another as our voices join in our glorious, poetic confession of faith.

Some feel self-conscious about raising their voices.  They feel they've not been blessed with a great voice.  Sometimes, they have assessed correctly.  So be it; God knows how he has given his gifts to people (but practice Sunday after Sunday will show improvement).  Such people should not feel their song is less glorious.  The Church sings with one voice.  We are not American Idol where individuals are given their moment to shine.  We are one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church which stands as one united body of Christ.

Rev. Nagel highlights that: "This fellowship is one of the greatest things expressed in our congregational singing.  When we as a congregation sing to the Lord, we do not sing as individuals, but the voice of each of us is blended into the one voice of God's family, giving glad answer to our Maker's message of love.  As our combined song of adoring love rises to our Father, we are knit more closely in the bonds of fellowship in Christ.  In this expression of God's family's joy, there is no place for the jarring notes of selfish pride and vanity that mar the harmony of the fellowship of God's people.  As our voices are taken up into the united voice of the church, we are a part of that body whose head is Christ.   When we sing together, our fellowship is not only with all those who worship in this church but also with the whole body of Christ that is not limited by place or time.

"The hymns we sing have risen from the lips and hearts of God's people through the ages.  Some of the hymns we sing have been gladly rising up to God through fifteen centuries.  And some Psalms date back to the time of Moses.  The lips that first muttered their joyous praise now raise a far happier song around the throne of the Lamb, yet as we sing the same hymns, we are one with them.  We are not divided.  We are all one body.  When we sing a hymn that was a favorite of someone we loved who has gone ahead, how deeply are we joined with them!

"Nor does place sever the fellowship that is expressed in our hymns.  The silly lines that we draw on maps and kill one another for do not divide our fellowship in Christ.  Our hymns are from many nations and many tongues.  The hymns that we sing this day are also rising to our Father from the four corners of the earth.  Not only are our individual voices blended into one voice that rises from this church, but the voice of this congregation is also blended with the voice of an Indian church, with the voice of a company of black brothers in New Guinea, with the voices of all the saints of God under heaven.  Think of that mighty voice giving answer to God for His love in Christ.   In that universal anthem of praise you have a part."

(pp 226-227, Selected Sermons of Norman Nagel: from Valparaiso to St. Louis.  Concordia Publishing House: St. Louis, MO. (C) 2004.)