6/22 - Silence Is Not an Option: Singing Justice, Singing Christ

This upcoming Sunday, we will have the special opportunity to hear from the Hemenway's as they bring the Word during worship. Their message carries the powerful and timely theme: “Silence Is Not an Option,” grounded in the words of Jesus from Matthew 25:35–36:

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”
This passage is not a gentle suggestion—it is a holy mandate. It calls us to see Christ not in stained-glass images, but in the hungry, the sick, the lonely, and the stranger. And as those called to lead through music, this is a powerful reminder: our singing is not just expression—it is response.
Here’s how our music helps shape the message this week:
A return from Pentecost, this hymn is no lullaby. It’s a prayer to be shaken up, stirred by the Spirit, and pushed out of our comfort zones into courageous action. When we sing it, we are inviting the Spirit to disturb our silence—and awaken us to justice.
Centering Hymn – “When the Poor Ones”
This hymn invites us into a posture of compassion and presence. It reminds us that Christ is not just for the poor—but with them, and in them. Our voices this week become a vessel of solidarity, hope, and shared humanity.
Closing Hymn – “The Church of Christ in Every Age” : TEXT  /  HYMN TUNE
Our final hymn sends us out with resolve. Every generation is called to choose again: will we be a quiet, comfortable church—or one that responds to the cries around us? This hymn declares that Christ's Church is not finished, not silent, and never afraid to act. While the text is in the hymnal, we will be using a different tune for a more triumphant meaning to the text. 
Let us hold in our hearts those Jesus names in Matthew 25: the hungry, the sick, the stranger, the imprisoned. May we sing not only about them, but for them, and with them. Because silence—when the world is crying out—is simply not an option.
With gratitude for each of you and the way your voices serve the Gospel,
Peace,
Music Tom

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