Copyright © 2026 Women of the ELCA. Reprint permission is granted for use in Women of the ELCA units, clusters/conferences and synodical women’s organizations provided each post is reproduced in its entirety. If you enjoy this resource, Donate Now.
Singing beloved liturgies and hymns firmly situates us as God’s beloved people of faith, now and always. With the psalmist, we sing out, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations” (Psalm 90:1). Whether we take part in time-tested melodies or try out new music, we join with all of God’s creation in singing and making music to the God who created and loves us all. We learn the breadth of God’s story and our place in it, in a new way.
In liturgies and songs of faith old and new, there is space for each of us to belong. Music gives us something solid to say when we lack the words. The church local and universal carries the melody when our voice falters. The music of the church – whatever instruments or voices are used, whatever words are shared or held in silence – creates a space and a place for all to belong, to grow and to be held in the melody of God’s love.
This message is excerpted from “Finding the rhythm of love” by Jordan Miller-Stubbendick from the May 2018 Gather magazine. Today we commemorate Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandra, 373.