Stop to think before you answer this question:  are you a singer?  No, you say? Do you ever sing in the shower? How about in the car with the radio? The ABC song with your five-year-old? A lullaby to your baby? "Your" song to your spouse?
 
Everyone sings, in all cultures, through all time. It's just that in America today, because of American Idol and its ilk, we are increasingly conditioned to think that singing is only for the talented. That singing is something we watch rather than something we do.  
 
In the Bible, the word sing appears more than one-hundred times. From Exodus to Samuel to Chronicles and Isaiah, we are told "sing to the Lord a new song."  The Book of Psalms-he songbook of Jesus-mentions singing sixty-five times. In the New Testament, the exhortation continues as Paul describes communal worship: "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. . ."
 
At St. Mark's we place a high priority on corporate worship. Our worship includes listening and responding. Our response is both spoken and in song.  On Sunday when you come to church, even if you don't usually feel comfortable singing, be open to our corporate song.  Then open your mouth and "sing with joy to God our strength, sing with joy, sing with joy."  
 
Patti Mangis