Singing in the Choir

This past Christmas, our community choir performed Handel’s Messiah. All sorts of people wanted to be involved, some professional singers, others with little choral experience at all. The director brought people in from neighbouring communities to play in the orchestra or to sing one of the many beautiful solos. She also welcomed local talent, weaving everyone together in one beautiful sound.

Taken on the whole it was impressive. So, too, was each distinct voice of varying ability. It made me smile to see this diverse mix of people from all walks of life and cultures and religious backgrounds (or lack thereof), all singing together. To me, this is what the kingdom of God looks like: everyone in there somehow caught up in singing the praises of what God has done in our lives.

In the Handel version, the choir finishes the piece by singing “Amen” about a thousand times in a row. It is as if they cannot stop singing until the vision is realized, and the welcomed find their place in the song. Amen: let it be so.

Lamb of God, we praise you for who you are and for the diversity of voices that you welcome in your kingdom. Amen. — KT