Skip to Main Content
Women of the ELCA
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
  • Ministry & Action
    • Discipleship
    • Justice
      • Human Trafficking
      • Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
      • Racial Justice Advocacy
      • Racial Justice Advocacy Network resources
      • Domestic Violence
    • Membership
    • Stewardship
      • Thankofferings
      • Faithful Friends
      • Katie’s Fund
      • Gift Planning
    • Special Initiatives
      • Rachel’s Day
      • Raising Up Healthy Women & Girls
    • Scholarships
      • Lutheran laywomen
      • Lutheran Ordained Ministry
  • Resources
  • About
    • History
    • Executive Board
    • Staff
    • Get Involved
  • Events
  • Belong
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
« Back to All Daily Grace

We become what we sing

10.26.2023
|
Daily Grace

The composer and song leader Alice Parker wrote, “Good singing is not the sign of a good congregation, but the forging of one.” In the 17th century, Christian Huygens discovered that two pendulums swinging at different frequencies, when placed next to each other, will eventually begin to swing at the same frequency. Imagine what happens when all of us shed our self-consciousness and robustly sing together? Can we imagine that we move toward becoming one?

We become what we sing. By singing together of God’s beautiful creation, we shape our lives as caring creatures among other beloved creatures. By singing together the Christ story, we acknowledge the joining of holy and earthly that shapes our lives as followers of Christ. By singing together of the Pentecost coming of the Holy Spirit, we connect with a greater community that transcends space and time.

We become what we sing.

This message is excerpted from “May all our songs be true” by Susan Palo Cherwien in the October 2017 Gather magazine. Today we commemorate Philipp Nicolai, 1608; Johann Heerman, 1647; Paul Gerhardt, 1676; hymnwriters.


Copyright © 2023 Women of the ELCA. Inquiries for permission to reproduce should be directed to [email protected].

Share this post

Sign up for Daily Grace

Daily Grace is an on-the-go companion for your journey, offering a faith reflection every day. Encounter God’s extravagant, boundless and often surprising grace by signing up for a daily email message.

Back to home

8765 W. Higgins Rd.

Chicago IL 60631

800-638-3522

[email protected]

Stay In Touch

Sign up for the WELCA Newsletter

Explore WELCA
  • Ministry & Action
  • Daily Grace
  • Resource Library
  • Events
  • Blog
  • News
  • About WELCA
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Photos
Explore Publications

Bold Cafe

A Lutheran perspective for women of Christian faith or any woman who is interested in how faith relates to the issues facing women today.

Gather Magazine

A mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith.

Cafe Podcast

Subscribe to our podcast:

Click to subscribe

© Copyright 2025 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
© Copyright 2025 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.