One Body

December 15, 2023

“As it is, there are many members yet one body.” 1 Corinthians 12:20 NRSV

On Wednesday, St. Paul’s UCC provided food for body and soul as we led the Woodstock Ministers Alliance Mid-week Advent service at Emanual Lutheran Church. It’s a wonderful time apart to enjoy fellowship around the noon-time meal, followed by worship around one of the themes of Advent. Each week, a different congregation provide the food and worship service. We get different kinds of soup, sandwiches, songs, prayers and preaching styles each week, a glimpse of how large and divergent the Body of Christ is.

I had chosen “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” for the closing hymn, Our church secretary checked with the Lutheran church secretary to make sure the hymn number listed in their hymnal was the one we put in the bulletin. Believe it or no, different churches and denominations have their own hymnals, and the hymn numbers are different in each church. What I didn’t realize is that there is more than one tune for the hymn.

So, we launched into singing the closing hymn, accompanied by our church organist playing from our church hymnal. I looked up from the hymnal and noticed looks of confusion among some of the worshippers. I glanced back at the Lutheran Hymnal and realized that the tune was different from the one led by our organist and sung by about half of the congregation. I broke into the hymn between the first and second verse and declared, “We are singing the UCC version not the one in the hymnal. Please sing along with the organ as best as you can.” There were smiles and nods, and we managed to finish the hymn in on the same note at the same time.

With a stroke of inspiration, this is how I ended the service: “We are all singing the same song with the same words, but different music, which is a wonderful illustration for how we are different denominations, singing different notes, but with the same message. That we love God who first loved us, and our song is Jesus. No matter who you are or where you go this week, continue to sing the song of Jesus who loves us so much that he became one of us. Sing it in your own way and with your own notes so that the world might know him. And may the grace of God, the love of the Lord, Jesus Christ, and the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit be with you always.

There are many members yet one body. Thank you, God, for the “happy accident” that revealed your truth. ~ Anne