What a joy to share today’s Sunday service together as a community. I couldn’t stop simply looking all around me; I was just so thrilled to see so many friends for the first time in three months.
What made it possible was the fact that we were outdoors in the amphitheater, with lots of distance between chairs and everyone wearing masks.
It was even more of a thrill to sing a 4-part song as a live group — also for the first time in three months! And it was the perfect song: Come Gather ‘Round!
I have much deeper appreciation now for the joy of gathering together and I would never have guessed how profoundly I would be affected by the words “come gather…”
Come gather round:
Let joy sing out today!
Dawn now is breaking,
And the mountains say:
“It’s only light
Can make the darkness run.
Lift up your head,
Greet the rising sun!”
Mm-m-m greet the rising sun!
Some people think
To harvest happiness
By weeding troubles,
Easing every stress.
The trouble is
That troubles never end:
Get rid of one,
And you face it’s friend!
Mm-m-m and you face it’s friend.
It’s in your heart
The songs of joy resound:
You’ll hear but echoes
In the world around.
Wind on a hill
Sounds lonely if you’re sad,
Free if you’re free,
Cheerful if you’re glad.
Mm-m-m cheerful if you’re glad.
Friends, come with me —
We’ll chant of battles won:
Shots not of anger;
Joy will be our gun!
Before the light
The veils of sorrow rend;
In inner freedom
All delusions end.
Mm-m-m all delusions end.