By Bishop Gretchen Rehberg | FAVS News Columnist
The views expressed in this opinion column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FāVS News.
Editor’s note: Bishop Gretchen Rehberg wrote this article on the power of music before she underwent surgery on March 14. It was being written as she received the call from the University of Washington “letting her know to grab her things and go get those new lungs!” writes Tiffany Bade, the Diocese communications director in their monthly newsletter.
One year long ago when I was serving a congregation back east during Holy Week, I received a phone call. The person on the other end started the call by asking if the church was going to sing “Welcome happy morning” as the opening hymn on Easter.
I was surprised at the question but was able to say “yes, actually we are.”
“Good,” they responded, “I will come then.” And then they hung up.
I sat there a bit stunned by this encounter, growing first irritated and then amused. Someone was basing their whole attendance at church on Easter on the opening hymn choice! It totally seemed wrong.
And yet it was a powerful reminder of the importance of music, and especially the role of music in provoking emotional responses. It is one of the reasons why old favorite songs are so important at sacred high points such as Christmas and Easter, funerals and weddings. Music plays an important role because it gets beyond our mind and into our soul.
It is well known that singing something helps us remember it.
People with dementia often can join in the singing of old familiar hymns. This is because the part of the brain that processes music is separate from that part impacted by dementia.
How many of us still sing the alphabet song to remember the order of the letters? The power of music is one reason why people sing as a form of celebration, as lament, as resistance, as expressions of love. It is why our hymns are part of our worship. And it is why this year we offered the diocesan prayer in a form to be sung.
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Editor’s note: This was where she was cut off due to her long awaited phone call,” wrote Bade while inviting the readers “to listen closely for the songs that anchor our faith and point us toward hope.”
Follow this link to the Diocesan Prayer and this link to Rehberg’s CaringBridge for updates.
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