Every Saturday night afterwards, something happens (socializing at out house this week) and then sleep, followed by the choice of going to church again Sunday morning. At first, I went every Sunday morning. Lately, however, I have been slacking in this category. For me, music is a big part of worship. It is something I really get into doing the services. I must say, sometimes I judge a church, not on the pastor and how welcoming people are, but by the musical talent and ability of the congregation to sing. It is what makes a church service aesthetically pleasing. Coming from the Mennonite church, I get rather spoiled by this. Especially, coming from my particular, very musical extended and immediate family. God blessed me in a way, by putting me in these two, very musical groups of people. It really is hard to top a good Mennonite church for their singing of hymns, and and song in general. In almost every Mennonite church I have been in, during a hymn, I will stop and just listen to the sound being made. I do this in all new churches I am at. However, during most Mennonite hymns, there is a distinct, talented 4-part harmony, and if not, something very close. It is when I go to other churches that it is painful for me to sit through the songs. While there are some churches I have visited that match up to the Mennonites, it is very unusual for me to find one of these churches.
Being in Miami, where there are not a lot of Mennonite churches, and living in a house full of Presbyterians, my choices for Mennonite churches is very slim. Except for the Spanish speaking on that is rather close to the house. However, I don't think the music would be the same for me, since I wouldn't be understanding the words. Therefore, I go to many churches, well, other churches, that are not Mennonite. Non denominational, congregational and today, my first visit to a Presbyterian church. While growing up, if not at my home church, we usually went to other Mennonite churches, or, for example, A black Missionary Baptist church in Kansas City, Missouri, which could sing like crazy. I have always been surrounded by singing. I am trying to make this clear. So, when I walk into church today and they tell us to sing, I have trouble finding my pitch. Usually, being in a congregation full of amazing singers, I can get it no problem. Getting off pitch is the hard part since everyone else is always on. However, today, I could not seem to get my right pitch. As I sat and listened, I quickly realized it was because no one in the church was singing the right pitch, or trying to harmonize in the least. I had never really noticed how much this affects how I sing as well. It was as if I was looking for the only person in China who spoke Spanish. Being in the middle of so many Chinese speakers, I would never find that one person. Just like I was never going to find that note today in church. It was painful. It really was!
While thinking about it in "sitting and listening" part of the service, it really made me so grateful and thankful for the people I have surrounding my life. While these people are not bad ones at all, something just very important to me is lacking in their church services. While I come to this time of the year of giving thanks, it really stuck out to me how richly God has blessed my family, the Mennonites and I with the gift of music! I can't wait to get back to my roots and listen to some good ole Mennonite hymns and singing! Miami, being the city of cultural differences, is missing out on one of the best cultures someone could ask for!
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