United in Song
Last weekend the mother of all festivals was back: yes, I am talking about Glastonbury! Worthy Farm, in the beautiful Somerset countryside, once again hosted some of the biggest musicians and recording artists.
This year, 76-year-old ‘legend’ Elton John closed the event with back-to-back hits, which marked the final UK concert of his touring career!
I do enjoy watching the various stages, thanks to the BBCs coverage, and hearing bands that I am unaware of. Some are great, and others are not for me!
My personal highlight was Rick Astley, not only performing his pop ‘classics’, but playing guitar then drumming and singing at the same time! You could see how much he loved leading the crowd singing ‘Never going to give you up’!
The Glastonbury crowd is like no other. It’s a very mixed group of people who just love to sing! The performer becomes a conductor, guiding everyone as they belt out the tunes. Some artists are visibly overwhelmed when the vast sea of people sing the song back at them.
There is something very moving when a large body of people sing together. It’s like an invisible glue that unites everyone – it’s powerful to be part of.
This reminds me of something the last book in the Bible, Revelation says. This book paints a picture of the future, with some obscure and extravagant imagery! The author had a vision of a ‘heavenly throne room’…
“I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there – all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing:
‘Salvation to our God on his Throne! Salvation to the Lamb!’”
There was a vast multitude of people, made up of all nationalities – so many that they couldn’t be counted! They were united, focused on a throne, where God was, and they proclaimed his greatness and majesty!
I don’t know whether this will actually happen, but I love the imagery of a vast multi-ethnic and diverse people united before God.
I have led people in sung worship over twenty-five years in small and large venues. It has been very moving to witness a room full of people joining together in songs of praise and worship.
Many times, it has felt like heaven has invaded earth! In a very small way, it feels like the picture in Revelation. Singing unites us. And singing songs of praise and worship unites us around God.
If you are part of a church community, keep meeting and singing to God together. If you have never experienced this, then why not pop along to a local vibrant church and check it out?
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader