Have you seen Footloose? Do your feet move when you hear the theme-tune?
I am a bit old-fashioned and therefore only know the Kevin Bacon version, but I understand that there has been a 2011 remake – and the story remains the same: a strict rural community in the US does not allow their youngsters to throw parties for fear of moral corruption – and a young man from the city uses the Bible to show how music can be used as a way of worshipping God rather than causing corruption.
King David was his most prominent example, as he played the harp, sang and wrote the majority of the Psalms in the Bible. It was Psalm 150, we looked at together in chapel on Friday:
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” is one of the last verses of the Psalm, and it has been used to inspire many a hymn and choral. But it’s not only an encouragement to sing. The Psalm also lists various instruments for us to use to praise God: harp or lyre, strings and percussion… and of course pipes.
So this Friday, we took the chance to listen to our organ pipes being used for some praise-giving when Mr Taylor played some of the music for us, which he will then also play in his organ recital in the evening. It was a great opportunity to take a deep breath in the middle of a busy day and to just listen for a period of time. So we listened and enjoyed the awesome sound of organ-praise echoing through the beautiful building.
You might have the chance to listen to Mr Taylor in the evening, but it does not have to be immaculate playing and inspired performance to constitute worship. As it says in the Psalms: ‘Let everything (and everyone) that has breath praise the Lord!’
With Love From The Chapel