The CATHEDRAL TIMES The weekly newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip · Serving Atlanta and the World · July 11, 2021
LIF T EVERY VOICE AND SING! By Del King, Senior Warden Lift Every Voice and Sing has much meaning to many different people. When I hear it, I immediately think that this has a powerful place in American history. The hymn is known as the Black National Anthem, but it’s more than that. It’s a history lesson, a rallying cry, a pledge of unity, as people gather to fight for equality and justice. It is an ever-present refrain. When we could not sing together as a choir this past year, “lift every voice and sing” took on another meaning when we could not raise our voice in unity. Singing is a significant part of who I am, and as far back as I can remember, it defines me as a man and as a Christian. I can remember my grandmother Rhedus singing and trying to teach me “shaped” notes to learn new music and sing the familiar hymns growing up. This was not easy. Grandmama Rhedus was not successful in my learning to read music through “shaped” notes, but somehow I feel she is happy with where I am musically and the importance of music in my life. I believe that everyone can sing, some may be better than others, but there is a song to be sung in all of us. During the pandemic, we viewed and listened as people in apartment buildings sang from their windows together in cities across America. According to experts, singing has the power to alter our moods and conjure up memories and feelings. “We sing because something inside us needs to express something beyond words,” says Margaret Schaper, a University of Southern California music professor. “Everyone can do this to some extent. The human voice is the most perfect of all instruments.” I imagine that if I were to survey the choir, I would discover that members found opportunities to sing while we were away from each other over the 15 months of isolation. I know I did, whether in my car, at home, when I was working alone, and sometimes in the shower. I know this now as we are back together singing, and the sound from the choir is better than ever, as if we had been singing all year long. I am celebrating close to 30 years in this beautiful place. Being a member of the Cathedral Choir, my time here has been a personal blessing and I am also honored to serve as the current senior warden. So, what does Saint Philip mean to me? It is a place where all are welcome. It is a place where the Cathedral community shows the world the importance of Christ's teaching in our lives. Most important, it is a place where the strong relationships we have built flourish under the spiritual guidance of our clergy. As a member of the Cathedral Choir, this is a place where my mind and soul are nourished weekly. Creating glorious music during the many services where the choir sings is truly God's work. The months spent apart from my choir members was difficult, not being able to unify our voices in song. In the past 15 months, I held on to the thought that when we returned as a choir, the reunion would be glorious, and the sound uplifting. And it is! Imagine this: the first time being back together in the Cathedral, the choir and the congregation are taking our collective breath together. We begin to sing the opening hymn as we lift every voice and sing — and it is glorious! Lift every voice and sing, till earth and Heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of liberty; Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.