Why do we sing?

Our experience in recent months when we have not been able to do the familiar thing of gathering with others for worship may well have prompted us all to all to ask ourselves why we might like to sing hymns.

The third of what Walter Brueggemann in A Glad Obedience calls his sparrow songs may help us to answer this question for ourselves. The song is not included in Glory to God but was included in the supplement to the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal called The Faith We Sing (2001), at no. 2144.

Walter Brueggemann says of this song the writer, "Kirk Franklin is a contemporary songwriter who offers 'Christian love music' of a popular kind. This song, written in 1994, is a riff on

"God's eye is on the sparrow," which we have previously considered. It is a riff, however, that opens up new awareness of our vocation of singing songs to God." More of his reflections-on this song can be found in his book, A Glad Obedience. Since the hymn is not included in Glory to God I am including the whole of the text here to help all of us to think about why we like to sing hymns.

1. Someone asked the question "Why do we sing?

When we lift our hands to Jesus what do we really mean?"

Someone may be wondering when we sing our song, at times

we may be crying and nothing's really wrong.

Refrain: I sing because I'm happy! I sing because I'm free! God's eye is on the sparrow That's the reason why I sing.

Glory hallelujah! You're the reason why I sing.

Glory hallelujah! You're the reason why I sing.

Glory hallelujah! I give the praises to you.

Glory hallelujah! You're the reason why I sing.

2. When the song is over, we've all said, "Amen,"

and your heart just keeps on singing and the song will never end.

And if somebody asks you, "Was it just a show?" lift your hands and be a witness and tell the whole the wholeworld "No!"

Refrain

3. When we cross that river to study war no more, we will sing our song to Jesus,

the One whom we adore!

Refrain

— Huw Christopher