Credit www.publicdomainpictures.net
I caught it only fleetingly as I ‘surfed’ some websites – a single line that set me thinking - ‘Music is a gift of God’. That chimed with something I make part of my quiet times. YouTube is a rich resource for videos of all kinds of music in a wide, wide range of styles and one's favourite hymn is an excellent starting point to experiment with. Just call up, for example ‘YouTube And Can it Be’. (You now know one of my favourites!) But try ‘YouTube Shine Jesus Shine’ if that’s more to your taste. There really is something for everyone.
So, before I give you some further ideas, let me share more about one version of ‘And Can It Be’ which should be one of the options you will be presented with. It is a clip from a ‘Songs of Praise’ broadcast. To me, it is magnificent far beyond the great tune, great words level. The congregation is wonderfully diverse: young people, old people, people of numerous races, some who look very much like I envisage ‘business’ people, lots of smiles and those lovely moments when someone realises they are ‘on screen’ for just a few moments. Some wonderful national costumes; singing with wide open mouths; singing with less wide mouths. Then a piece of brilliant creativity. As the line ‘I woke, the dungeon flamed with light’, comes on screen, the camera points straight at a spotlight and the screen flares into a brief blaze of glory. Then as the hymn draws to an end the camera hovers on a young black man who is so enjoying the singing making it a moment moment to thank God and Charles Wesley for his incredible words that are as true today as they were in his time – 300 years ago, and they appear line by line on the screen so anyone can follow. But not to forget Thomas Campbell who provided the glorious tune.
But that may not be your taste. If not, then how about watching hundreds, if not thousands of young people worshipping together. To see that happening is a joy, just call up You Tube Hillsong. Here again such a glorious grouping of people of all nations. A different balance to the congregation of ‘And Can it Be’ and a reminder that Jesus’ love is wide and free.
‘YouTube Taize’ will lead you into something quite different, calm reflective music maybe especially delightful in the evening. The search will offer you the simple, restful and consoling chants in English or Latin and some in other languages too. Pick one of those that appeals most to you but be brave from time to time and think about the multitude of people who may prefer another language to worship the same God as we do.
Songs from Iona which are always thought provoking are a bit harder to find because the most popular sites using the island’s name are about cruises but YouTube Wild Goose will uncover a fair number fairly easily. Here you will be presented with hymns and songs about social justice, creation in all its glory and some short songs from the world’s church which again recognise that songs and hymns and worship chants arise from people all over this lovely but endangered world of ours.
So what thought is uppermost in my mind as I leave this with you. This is a real chance to enjoy your favourite hymns or worship songs – but ALSO an opportunity to go beyond your own comfort zone in the privacy of your own home and reflect on how our human-ness gives rise to such a glorious range of styles of bringing different people closer to God. Oh yes! And you will, of course, find a different style again by calling up ‘YouTube Psalms ‘. May whatever you alight upon bring you joy.
Later added note: (2 June 2020) Since the beginning of the Lockdown, there has been a surge of recordings of ‘Blessings’. These are a remarkable use of contemporary video equipment, including, in some cases, mobile phones. Well worth having a look at: I think this is the ‘origin’ of the song from Elevation Worship. You should be able to find an English version, a South African, South Korean, German, Zimbabwean, Canadian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, two or three American and Dutch, at least. Whilst you will almost certainly not want to listen to them all, I invite you to watch the first three to four minutes of a few, and marvel at some of the features. Most are sung by young people, most of the singers seem to be joy-filled, many (I think most) of the recordings have members of different races among the singers, thus giving a clear message about the wide spread of the Gospel and hope for all of us and for the churches of Jesus.
Later added note: (2 June 2020) Since the beginning of the Lockdown, there has been a surge of recordings of ‘Blessings’. These are a remarkable use of contemporary video equipment, including, in some cases, mobile phones. Well worth having a look at: I think this is the ‘origin’ of the song from Elevation Worship. You should be able to find an English version, a South African, South Korean, German, Zimbabwean, Canadian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, two or three American and Dutch, at least. Whilst you will almost certainly not want to listen to them all, I invite you to watch the first three to four minutes of a few, and marvel at some of the features. Most are sung by young people, most of the singers seem to be joy-filled, many (I think most) of the recordings have members of different races among the singers, thus giving a clear message about the wide spread of the Gospel and hope for all of us and for the churches of Jesus.
Even later note! (27th October 2020)
There are now over 80 different versions - and some from countries that might surprise many of us in the wealthy west.
Have a look at The Blessing, Uzbekistan for instance.
