Eric Ravilious
Birds are singing, woods are ringing,
with thy praises blessed King:
Lake and mountain, field and fountain,
to thy throne their tributes bring...
Yesterday millions of Christians connected with their congregations for worship in the privacy of their own homes. Because of COVID-19 we are" avoiding each other like the plague", to use an old expression. Still, we are finding ways to be in community while doing the loving thing by not physically getting together.
In lots of those congregations music is part of the virtual service. In our Trenton United Church congregation musician Dianne offers a selection to inspire and encourage, but the choir can't be together. We've noticed that at a nearby evangelical church a few vehicles are tucked out of sight behind the church building on Sunday mornings and it's likely that a few members of the praise group are doing their musical thing for broadcast, hopefully in a responsible manner.
The first Sunday in May is the annual International Dawn Chorus Day, a celebration of the remarkable phenomenon of birds singing to greet the new day. How appropriate that this chorus or choir was an alternative when human voices were silenced in most of our worship experiences.
We were in two conservation areas very early in the morning and the birds were in full voice, augmented by the very vocal frogs. It was glorious and tremendously uplifting. A hymn from my childhood came to mind, Birds are Singing, Woods are Ringing. We can do without the very male monarchial language but the imagery of creation praising the Creator sure works for me. And the fun All God's Creatures got a Place in the Choir follows the theme.
Have you been aware of the strengthening dawn chorus, or are you not an early riser? Does birdsong lift your spirit?
All God's creatures got a place in the choir
Some sing low and some sing higher,
Some sing out loud on a telephone wire,
Some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they've got now
Some sing low and some sing higher,
Some sing out loud on a telephone wire,
Some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they've got now
All God's creatures got a place in the choir
Some sing low and some sing higher,
Some sing out loud on a telephone wire,
Some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they've got now
Some sing low and some sing higher,
Some sing out loud on a telephone wire,
Some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they've got now
Listen to the top where the little bird sings
On the melodies and the high notes ringing,
And the hoot owl cries over everything
And the blackbird disagrees...
On the melodies and the high notes ringing,
And the hoot owl cries over everything
And the blackbird disagrees...
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