Sing is a frequent command in Scripture.  And it is a command that hasn’t been particularly easy to assimilate into a year of pandemic with an airborne illness.

To accommodate for the pandemic, our church has shortened the service, moved the singing to the end of the service, and removed a couple of songs to make the singing time shorter.  And I have missed the extended time of singing praises.

I am not a particularly gifted singer, as anyone within earshot of me on Sunday morning can attest, but I have always enjoyed singing to the Lord.  It is amazing how songs have a way of integrating both truth and emotion in a way that engages all of me in the effort.

It is for this reason that I was super encouraged by the event that we held last Sunday evening at the church.  We called it “Kumbaya” as a cheeky throwback to 80’s campfire worship.  We had a campfire, roasted hot dogs, and wrapped up with s’mores.  And it was so encouraging to my heart to gather with close to 100 people from all generations and have a more extended time of praising the Lord together!

With the success of this first test run, we are going to do it again a couple of Sunday evenings in May.  And if it catches on, it may turn into a staple over the summer months.

The command to sing is one that I enjoy honoring.  And it is a joy to obey this command in the gathering of His people.  I look forward to a return to more singing on Sunday mornings, but for now, I am excited about the increased time to sing together with his people around a campfire in the coming weeks.