10/23/66

Scripture: Ephesians 5: 1-2, 15-20.

The brief Scripture lesson of this morning was read from one of Paul’s letters -- one that is addressed to the Christian people at Ephesus. He may have been writing from prison. For he begins the previous chapter; “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called ---- forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” [Ephesians 4: 1-3]. Paul urges his readers to “be imitators of God, as beloved children; to walk in love, as Christ loved us.” He advises them to “look carefully” how they walk, “not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.” His letter might just as well have been written to us --- to advise us to make the most of the time, because the days are evil.

This is one of the things that are borne in upon us on this World Order Sunday. There is evil in our time, as well as hope. The struggles for national sovereignty and integrity during the past 20 years have brought suffering in many parts of the earth. The effort for justice among races is accompanied by instances of violence on the part of more than one group. The hope of political freedom has seen much of the world engulfed by new tyrannies. The longing for peace is accompanied by brutal warfare. The expectation that individual persons would be responsible to all of society finds many who are chiefly concerned with getting only self satisfied, and frustrated at that. This is not the whole picture of living; but it is the dark side, and vivid enough to be sobering and to keep mankind anxious. Men and women of conscience and purpose have to make the most of the time, because the days are evil.

Probably we become disillusioned because we are not realistic enough. We emerge from a struggle such as the warring period of 25 years ago feeling that a terrible danger has been averted, freedom has been won, life will be better. And we are confident that life is full of promise, its goodness simple and believable. If there are wrongs, they are on the way to be righted. Grief had its instant solace; evils would be dissolved away. The losses would be only occasional and limited. The quiet notes and the dissonant chords would give way to major harmony. And it does not turn out that way. The world continues full of discord; as though a song had ended in a shriek of agony. Nations fly at each others’ throats. People retreat into racial stubbornness and discord. Individuals look to various forms of sheer escape to get relief from tension. Young folk enter their marriages full of confidence that the love of the moment will resolve all problems that may arise only to find that there is much that will not yield so easily to their expectations. Grief is poignant; anxiety intense; suffering, cruelty and calamity near and real.

But we are wrong in yielding to despair. It may be that there have been times when most folk felt happier, less pressed, more secure. But we are wrong if we suppose that the sufferings of mankind are new. We were born both for sorrow and for joy. Each generation has to discover this anew. Even when joys are transient, they are real -- just as real as the sorrows.

The old Psalmist knew this when he cried out “O my God, my soul is cast down within me --- All Thy billows are gone over me.” [Psalm 42: 6, 7]. And then he could write and say, “Hope thou in God” [Psalm 42: 11] and find his spirit lifted back to peace and happiness and hopeful anticipation.

Paul goes ahead with his short but pointed advice: “Do not be foolish,” he says, but “understand what the will of the Lord is.” A recent voice, that of Henry Sloan Coffin, points out that “religion supplies the background against which things stand out in their proper dimensions.” “First thank God,” he says, and then look realistically at the life in which He leads us, in order to deal with its problems forthrightly. Come before His presence, alone, and with others, in worship -- expecting that some way will be revealed to make you adequate for the day in which you live.

“And,” says Paul, “do not get drunk.” What he probably means is not an emphasis, here, upon temperance or abstinence but rather this -- do not be running away from life as it is. Those who find life tougher than they think that they can bear, find numerous ways of escape from its severity. Some just turn away from its issues; a few turn to dope and drugs; many seek refuge in drunkenness. But Paul’s advice is to “be filled with the Spirit.” And this is not just something passive. It is positive direction. For one thing, Paul advised his readers to address one another “in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” The old English wording sounds a bit quaint, but the practice is sound. Paul himself practiced it. If the suffering of life in a Roman prison got to be more than he could bear silently, he and his fellow prisoners would sing, even if it be midnight. He sang when alone; he recommended singing with others, as we do in corporate worship together. Now and then we look to the specially refined music of the artist for an extra lift.

A neighbor of ours commented, recently, on her weariness that could well have kept her at home struggling with a little more work before tumbling, exhausted, into bed for a short night of sleep. But she decided to go to a concert. The music so lifted her spirit that she went home composed and rested, ready for the benefit of a good night’s sleep and the responsibility of a new day.

We look forward, this evening, to music of that kind. Members of our choir have been hard at work -- and will work yet this afternoon -- on music that interprets the spirit of worship to singers and hearers. A competent organist will bring us the harmony that feeds the souls of music lovers. It will be an occasion of nourishment to the spirit as we gather to share in its fullness.

In our Christian experience, we think in musical terms of the birth of Jesus upon earth. The simple joy of it comes naturally through singing. We commemorate his passion and death and resurrection the same way. That is not all there is to Christian faith, but it is one important expression of it. There is healing and renewal and hope in “making melody to the Lord with all your heart” as Paul puts it. The whole tangled world needs it. And many an individual person needs it. Most of us can be lifted by listening. And, at appropriate times, we help with the lifting by joining in with all our hearts, “Always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.” Paul said a great deal in a few sentences that have direct bearing on world order, upon social change, and upon individual living.

And now, since our dedication season has included so much of music in worship and music in artistry, and since we have one more musical event anticipated in the concert of this evening, we may well think further of the place of music in our life together in this church. [See 5-31-42 sermon on “Praise to God”].

[This sermon was apparently used later in Hawaii, although the date and place are not provided. A single paragraph insert appears to apply to that.

Now we are well aware that the present time in history -- last year and this year and next year -- marks the sesquicentennial of the coming of Christian faith to what the English-speaking world then called the Sandwich Islands, and what residents have always called Hawaii. Today, October, in this celebrate of 150 years of Christian belief in Hawaii is marked as “Thaddeus Day” --- that is to say -- 150 years since the brig “Thaddeus” sailed for Hawaii, bringing the first company of Christian missionaries.]

[The rest of the text seems to apply to the rebuilt organ, installed in the new church building, but the beginning of the disquisition is missing]

The means of financing were set in motion and the work was undertaken by Roessler and Humholz of Milwaukee. The organ has been a better instrument ever since. Then, just over 10 years ago, a fine set of Deagan chimes was added, as a memorial, by two families of the church. Two or three years ago, when our plans were taking shape for this new church home, it was decided to save, store and rebuild the same organ with some changes and additions which would give it some 40 or 50% more tonal capacity. Again, the work was undertaken by Roessler and Humholz under different management. The work has been completed and the organ most lately tuned last Tuesday in time for dedication events.

The organ was first dedicated in 1911; then rededicated in 1942; and is again to be rededicated this evening in 1966. At the same time it is to be played in dedication concert, our church choir will sing the sacred music on which it has worked so vigorously and carefully for more than a month, with planning from last spring. Choir music will begin with the “Kyrie” sung in Latin -- “Lord have mercy; Christ have mercy” -- traditional in Christian worship for many centuries. The evening will end with the choir interpretation of the “Magnificat” -- Mary’s song: “My soul doth magnify the Lord” --- and with the Nunc Dimitis -- “Lord, now let Thou Thy servant depart in peace.” This is one of the liturgical elements carried forward from the Roman church into Calvinist Reformed church worship and often, by the reformed churches, used at the close of communion.

All of this instrumental and vocal music awaits us this evening as part of our renewal in dedication, and as a practical expression of response to Paul’s recommendation to “Make melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and in everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.”

Amen.

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Delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, October 23, 1966.