Choruses and Clunkers
Thursday, July 28, 2022
“We shall not sing solos, but in chorus shall we praise our King.” – C.H. Spurgeon
Many years ago, my wife came up with a great idea to honor the women in our church on Mother’s Day. Specifically, her brainstorm was for the men to form a one-time chorus and sing a song dedicated to the moms on their special day.
We only had one rehearsal and here is how it went…
Deanna had us all sing together, but then abruptly stopped accompanying us on the piano. “There’s something wrong,” she said with a puzzled (and slightly annoyed) look on her face. “I think it’s in the bass section,” she added. And so, we continued singing, but without the tenors and the baritones this time.
“O.K., the problem is definitely with the basses,” she declared emphatically, “and I think it’s in the back row.” Since I was one of a handful of basses fitting that description, I knew that I was about to be publicly exposed. Thinking quickly, I decided to “lip synch” the next time through in order to avoid any potential embarrassment.
As our row – minus me – sang one more time, Deanna shouted, “That’s much better!”
We laugh about that story now and I have used it as an illustration in more than one sermon since then. However, the truth of the matter is that one day I will sing in perfect pitch and complete harmony along with the rest of the heavenly chorus. Until then, of course, the people sitting near me in church will simply have to put up with my “clunkers” and other musical imperfections.
“And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.’” Revelation 5:9 (NKJV)
“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!’” Revelation 19:6 (NKJV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President