Worship Arts July August September 2022

Now a day of God’s time is about 70 x 7 zillion years of our time. For 10 x 7 zillion years God was very pleased. God sipped and listened; sipped and sang the music of the spheres. When 35 x 7 zillion years had passed God said, “Though I know the music of the spheres by heart, it is still good. I’ll hear it again.” And at 69 1/2 x 7 zillion years, God said quietly, “I’m bored. I know the music of the spheres by memory so well that there is no joy in hearing it again.” There was a deep furrowed frown on God’s lengthening face. And at the end of the seventh day the music stopped, and silence was upon the face of the deep ... God pondered ... T hen God knelt. And God took two handfuls of brown earth, and two handfuls of white clay, and two large black diamonds, and two gleaming cords of gold. And God pressed them together into two spheres of earth and clay and diamond and gold. And God’s nimble fingers deftly molded a woman and a man from the two spheres of brown earth, and white clay, and black diamonds, and gleaming golden cords. And God said, “I’ll put my mouth on the mouth of the woman and the mouth of the man and I’ll breathe the breath of my living ruach into them.” And it was so. The woman and the man became living creatures, like you and me. And God smiled, for God knew what would come to pass. And God said, “I’ll put my mouth once more, on the mouths of the woman and the man, my lips on their lips, and I’ll breathe music into them.” And so it hap pened that God gently cradled the woman and the man close, and breathed music into them. And God said, “I’ll hold them near my heart where they can feel the beat of the music I have breathed into their mouths.” And so it came to pass that God’s gift of music was giv en to you and to me, and to all according to our kind. And it was good. And God said to the woman and man, “I have been alone, but now I’m not. I’ve given you body and mind and voice. And I’ve given you music.

Now make music for each other and for me.” And the man threw back his head, opened his mouth, and sang: “All creatures of our God and king Lift up your voice and with us sing. Alleluia!” And the woman lifted up her hands and sang: “I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food, who formed the creatures through the Word, and then pronounced them good. Lord, how thy wonders are displayed, whene’er I turned my eye if I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.” A nd God laughed. The gift of music to you and me, and to all our kind, was God’s delight. New and fresh, pleasing, though not perfect, the music pounded against God’s heart and flowed through God’s ears to the most distant reaches of the universe. And God was quickened; and God was pleased. The woman in joy embraced the man and together they opened their mouths, and together they sang: “When in our music God is glorified, and adoration leaves no room for pride, it is as though the whole creation cried Alleluia! “How often making music, we have found a new dimension in the world of sound, as worship moved us to a more profound Alleluia! “Let every instrument be tuned for praise! Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise! And may God give us faith to sing always Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!” 1 1 Fred Pratt Green, 1971. Words © 1972 by Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Presented by the author at Junaluska ’91 Fellowship Convocation. © 1991 Roger Deschner. Printed by permission. Reprinted from News Notes , September-October 1991

The late ROGER DESCHNER was Associate Professor of Church Music at Perkins School of Theology, Dallas, TX, for many years. In recognition of his life and leadership, The Fellowship established in 1991 the Roger Deschner Award, given biennially to a person who has made outstanding contributions to the worship life of the Church.