Date: August 5, 2021
A bishop once told me he could identify the health of a congregation he was visiting not by looking at their budgets, average Sunday attendance, or membership levels, but rather by how they sang. A strong singing congregation signaled to him that it was a healthy parish. Congregations with little engagement and enthusiasm while singing often signaled there could be problems.
I’ve been fortunate to serve as a chapel organist at VTS for the past 16 years. When I started, we were in the old chapel. Following the fire, we worshipped in Scott Lounge before landing a year later in the interim chapel. Now, we are privileged to worship in Immanuel Chapel with its stellar acoustics and world-class organ. Along the way, I’ve delighted in hearing incredibly powerful sermons from preachers of great renown and those who are little-known. But some of the best messages I’ve heard at VTS have been from the singing assembly. I’m not sure how, but occasionally while playing I’ll hear a line from a hymn suddenly come alive in a new way. Words I’ve heard many times before jump out and stick with me for the remainder of the day. The Holy Spirit makes its presence known.
Over the years, music at VTS has broadened to reflect a more diverse collection of styles and composers. No doubt this was done with great intention so that the music being sung reflects not only the diversity of the student body but also the diversity of The Episcopal Church. I’ve loved learning many new tunes myself, thankful for the selections made by various chapel teams who have planned worship. There is no shortage of great music available to sing.
Since the start of the pandemic, the one element of music-making that I have most missed is congregational singing. To my ears, there’s nothing as enlivening as an assembly raising their voices together. In fact, accompanying hymns is my favorite part of being an organist. As I am sure was the case for many church musicians, the return to congregational singing was an intensely moving experience for me, reminding me of the call I initially felt to a career in church music.
If the strength of congregational singing is indeed a litmus test for a community’s vitality, then the VTS community is certainly in fine form. I am continually impressed—and inspired—by the singing at our worship services. When students leave VTS, I hope they will carry with them that experience and work within their own congregations to do all they can to encourage everyone to join in the singing. It makes such a difference in worship when every voice is participating.
It has been said that the woods would be very silent if the only birds singing were the ones that sang the very best. The worshipping community at VTS is a marvelous mix of professional and amateur singers, and when all of those voices are united in song, it is a “Holy Spirit moment.” I look forward to returning to chapel this Fall. After so many months of silence, I hope we all will rejoice and celebrate the opportunity to once again gather together, lift up our hearts and our voices, and sing. As the old evangelical hymn states, “We’ve a story to tell to the nations!”
Jason Abel, M.S.M.
Chapel Organist