From National Presbyterian Health Ministries
Worship can sometimes be an adventure with my son, Micah, who has mild autism. After 11 years of weekly worship he understands and appreciates the ritual and gets through it, mostly. However, there are days where the comfort of ritual seems to be at odds with the spirit moving inside him.
In our congregation we celebrate the season of Epiphany with a global liturgy. The worship consist of songs from all around the world, a Kyrie from Ghana, a Native American Hymn of Praise, a Celtic Alleluia, an Offertory from Sweden/Argentina, a Spanish version of “Holy, Holy, Holy,” “Lamb of God” from the Taize Community, a Post Communion Canticle from Tanzania and a Chinese six-fold Amen.
The first Sunday we sang the global liturgy Micah noticed a few of his favorite songs. He squealed with joy when we got to the Post Communion Canticle, “Listen, God is Calling,” and remarked in a loud voice, “I like this one!”
The following week Micah opened the bulletin as soon as we sat down. He immediately turned to the page with his favorite song, “Listen, God is Calling” and began singing it during the prelude. Micah was full of musical joy this day. He sang each part of the global liturgy with enthusiasm and joy. When the music would stop he would immediately go back to singing “Listen, God is Calling.” He kept singing through the reading of the lessons, the sermon, the prayers and Holy Communion. There was no holding him back that day from his musical expression. He was listening to the music inside of him and he couldn’t contain it.
I really did my best to keep him from singing too loudly. There may have been people in worship that day that were annoyed with Micah’s constant singing. But I know there were others in worship that day who know Micah and his love for music and they heard the words in a new way as he sang during the spoken parts of worship.
Listen, listen God is calling through the Word inviting, offering forgiveness, comfort and joy. How was God calling that day? Maybe it was the music, maybe it was the word, maybe it was communion or maybe — just maybe — it was through the joyful song of a child.
The Rev. Dr. Hollie M. Holt-Woehl has recently completed her graduate study in Pastoral Care and Counseling, with particular emphasis on congregational leadership. Her dissertation “Congregations as Trinitarian Communities: Accepting, Welcoming, and Supporting Those with Chronic Mental Illness,” explores successful models that have welcomed people with serious mental illness into the life of the congregation. Hollie writes with the “insider’s” knowledge of a Mom and the articulate theological expression of a scholar and pastor.
Copyright © 2008 National Health Ministries. Used by Permission.
Listen, God is Calling
