Kelsi Vanada

Dear friends,

The Psalms appointed for today are Psalms of praise: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.” —Psalm 98:4.

As we know, what praise looks like varies greatly across generations and denominations!

The praise and worship band my parents played guitar in and sang in when I was a kid was different from the megachurch we attended during my teenage years—full of colorful spotlights, screens, and sometimes even smoke machines. My boyfriend grew up in a Pentecostal church, where speaking in tongues and being “slain in the Spirit” were commonplace.

And now I find myself praising God in other ways, from the transcendent experience of listening to our choir share complicated arrangements; to joining in the singing of hymns; to the Great Thanksgiving, which is shot through with expressions of praise.

There is much to say about our Episcopal tradition as it relates to praise. I recently read C.S. Lewis’s The Four Loves and found a quote that speaks to the Sanctus:

Every soul, seeing [God] in her own way, doubtless communicates that unique vision to all the rest. That, says an old author, is why the Seraphim in Isaiah’s vision are crying “Holy, Holy, Holy” to one another. 

What a beautiful idea: not only are we praising God, but in Christian community we are also telling each other what we know of God through our own individuality, enriching all our praise.

Peace,

—Kelsi