3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
    I have sworn to my servant David:
4 ‘I will establish your descendants forever,
    and build your throne for all generations.’”Selah

My very favorite part of this season is all of the music and especially when I get to sing. When those carols come up I sing with all of my might. I sing loudly and with abandon. I sing joy and angels and shepherds and stars.  I love some of the Advent hymns but I must admit to you that I start integrating old favorite carols in by the second or third week of Advent…just one or two but enough to get things really going.

Last weekend I sang with 45 other women in a winter concert. We sang of darkness and light, unity, and all sorts of holidays. It was an amazing experience to be singing in such community. At the end of the concert we sang the Hallelujah chorus and invited everyone to join us.  This was not our favorite song to practice. It is hard especially for new singers but singing with the entire audience was  totally different experience. It didn’t matter anymore if we flubbed up that one part or didn’t quite make that high note. We were all in shared experience.

There is something about singing in community and in praise to something bigger than ourselves that makes any kind of noise joyful.  When I was a little girl, I remember very clearly one of my first solos.  I have been in choirs and in music lessons since I was very very little. I belonged to the “Cherub choir” from as soon as I could sing until I aged out into community choirs. I played violin since I was 7.  Anyway, one of my first solos was in song that my dad and another member of the congregation put together. It was a Raffi song…do you remember Raffi?  Her son and I both had a verse that we were to sing.  We practiced a lot. We sang the chorus loudly every time. “All I really need is a song in my heart. Food in my belly and love in my family.” It was time to sing this song for church. We sang the first chorus loudly and then it was my turn. I must have been like 6.  We came to my verse and I promptly declared, “I don’t remember.” Then I went to sit down…middle of the song…my dad picked up the verse.

Here is the thing…it was all ok! I am sure I was upset. My big moment. But I was so surrounded by love and understanding.  The church community picked that up and I am sure God smiled.

I continued my singing career anyway.  I still sing to this day. I sing loudly and with joy especially in a season that sings so clearly…

What is your favorite carol?

For your Thursday enjoyment I give you another video of another little one that feels music to their core….