I was privileged to attend the Spring Convocation at Eden Theological Seminary this week.  The topic of the Brueggemann and Kulenkamp  Lectures was  Music: an essential element of the progressive Christian movement.  Three inspiring and gifted speakers, Paul Vasile, Minister of Music at Park Avenue Christian Church in New York City,  Rev. Cynthia Wilson, Dean of Students at Garrett Evangelical Seminary in Chicago,  and Dr. Christopher Grundy, Assistant Professor of Preaching and Worship at Eden shared their experience and passion for music as a means of spreading the message of Love in the world.

I was moved by the singing of music, by the presentation of what this progressive movement is and what is can mean to the church as a whole.  Music is and always has been a passion of mine.  It struck me that music is sacred and is part of the whole creation.  I was thinking how wonderful that musicians share their experience of the sacred in notes and rhythms and was then struck with the idea that all creation does that very same thing.

Consider the rhythm of the ocean, the sound of the birds or insects, the pulsing of the blood through the body which calms a child at her mother’s breast. Even the ticking of a clock or sirens marking the care of one in need can produce emotion in us.  Music serves that purpose – an awakening of emotion in the human.  It stands to reason that music is essential for any movement that involves the seeking for and encountering the holy.

Then I thought about how silence plays an important role in any music.  The rest, the pause, the time to breathe is filled with Spirit!  What a lovely couple of days and the joy of sharing that with people who care about sacred music.  It is my prayer that the awakening in the soul connects each so intimately with God that the only outcome is love outpouring to serve, to care, to reach higher awareness of others’ needs so that all may be in harmony.