My soul is waiting for you, Lord,
As one who longs for morning;
No watcher waits with greater hope
Than I for your returning;
I hope as Israel in the Lord,
Who sends redemption through the Word.
Praise God for grace and mercy. (vs. 4)

Through his blog, “In the meantime,” Senior Pastor David Lose of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis writes, “Whatever end awaits us, in the meantime we can care for those around us, have courage, share hope, love those around us, strive for what is best, and a whole host of other things.”

As the texts, calls, and emails began regarding our COVID-19 worship options for the congregation where I serve as pianist and organist, Trinity Lutheran Church of Spring Grove, Minn., my mind raced with the usual questions: how long can we continue doing worship with 10 people or less? How can we utilize technology to prevent total isolation? How can we minister to those without technology?

Thankfully, a hearty helping of creativity has sprung up all around our communities in the ensuing days in ways that I would have never imagined. As spring is awakening and stirring its roots in the earth, so also is Martin Luther’s spirit stirring in our souls as we (armed with education, common sense, and masks and disinfectant) care for our family, neighbors and communities. And as our worship team became more and more serious about the eventual shelter-in-place reality, the “little voice” that plants melodies and harmonies in my head sent a message to me that my musical vocation was not on vacation.

A beautiful spark of the Holy Spirit led me to begin a “Hymn/Song of the Day” music ministry outreach through our church Facebook page, through which I have been sharing classic songs of faith, contemporary worship songs, and classical repertoire. It may not sound like much, but that quiet time in the empty sanctuary each afternoon has become my safe haven in the storm of change through this pandemic. I can sing freely from the “fount of every blessing” as I dive into the historical context of each song choice and often take requests for songs most needed by our parishioners and website guests. And I don’t use the word “needed” lightly.

From messages shared with us through our social media pages, it has become abundantly clear that now is exactly the time when spiritual, soul-comforting music, and the arts are needed most desperately. Everybody has a visceral reaction to a favorite song of faith, prompted by melody and memory that stirs the soul. Hymns still serve as spiritual connective tissue to the realm of our Creator and during our temporary viral pandemic, Luther is more relevant than ever.

Whatever lay ahead of you, let the small voice of a precious melody sweep over you in the chaos or quietude. Participate in song, in worship, in comforting, in hope and faith. We are not isolated when tethered to the collective voice of a faith tradition that has worshiped and glorified God through song for the past 500 (and far earlier) years! In closing, let us recall a portion of Martin Luther’s jubilant exaltation on music from the preface to Joseph Klug’s Hymn-Book (1543):

“Lady Musick Speaketh.
Of all the joys that are on earth
Is none more dear nor higher worth,
Than what in my sweet songs is found
And instruments of various sound.
Where friends and comrades sing in tune,
All evil passions vanish soon;
Hate, anger, envy, cannot stay,
All gloom and heartache melt away;
The lust of wealth, the cares that cling,
Are all forgotten while we sing.
Freely we take our joy herein,
For this sweet pleasure is no sin,
But pleaseth God far more, we know,
Than any joys the world can show…”

To hear Rachel’s daily “Hymn/Song of the Day,” please visit the Trinity Lutheran Church of Spring Grove, Minn.  Facebook page.