July 19, 2026 – Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
I Samuel 2.1-10
Luke 1.46-55
Terpsichore, Adieu
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
“Sing to me, O Muse, of the many-sided hero…” is the first line of Homer’s Odyssey, the tale of Odysseus and his travels and travails. But to which muse is this opening line addressed? And more to the point, which muse shall we summon this morning to offer our words of thanks and Godspeed to our dear Karli? There are nine muses in Greek mythology, each of whom inspires a particular form of art. Calliope, the muse of epic poetry, is probably the muse of Homer’s tale. But I can think of three others whom we might call upon for this morning’s celebration. Euterpe is the muse of music and lyric poetry – surely we sing of one who is both musical and poetic this morning. Polyhymnia is the muse, you guessed it, of hymns and sacred poetry. She works as well. But this morning I chose Terpsichore, both because her name is fun to say, and also because she is the muse of choral song, and dance. And while Karli and the choir have brought us an abundance of wonderful choral song over the years, we have also been treated to some toe-tapping music by our church music makers, and they regularly leave us with a smile in our heart and a spring in our step.
If the muse is invoked to sing about the many-sided hero, today we celebrate our many-sided heroine who has consistently brought a variety of gifts and skills to our musical worship. And this is where I want to begin, with the music and musicianship Karli has brought us weekly, all in the interest of worship. (And by the way, much of what I have to say this morning you have heard me say before, because I value and appreciate Karli’s work at our church every single week, and have never been shy to say so.) Sometimes I think the temptation is strong, among congregations, to see music, particularly the music offered by the choir and music director, as kind of a pause, or breathing space, in worship. We’ve prayed the prayers, we’ve listened to the Bible readings, the sermon is over, and it’s time for a well-deserved musical break. At the United Church of Chester, we do not get musical breaks in worship. These are not momentary diversions we hear, rather they are another way of expressing worship in the same way that our prayers, our readings, and on a good day, our sermons do. You know how hard I try to carry a constant theme throughout the service, a thread that weaves the entire morning experience together as one. Karli and the choir are as vital and central a part of that woven fabric as anything else we do. Now I want to add that Karli works at a disadvantage, because I seldom know what I’m preaching about before Wednesday, and Karli has already chosen music for the following Sunday, so sometimes she’s playing catch-up. But I also want to remind you of two things that happen consistently: one, Karli oftentimes changes up the prelude or introit on the fly, and chooses the perfect piece, classic as often as contemporary, to match the service’s theme; she has also on occasion changed up the anthem, much to her and the choir’s credit. But, and this is a significant but, there are times that even though she does not know what I’m preaching about and I do not know what music she has chosen, in these instances the Spirit of God intervenes in spite of it all and the music and the readings and the sermon dovetail as though they were made for each other. How many times has this happened Karli? I have lost count. But I think it is testimony to the fact that Karli has always approached our church music for worship’s sake and for music’s sake, and not just to fill in the slots with something to listen to. That is one of the highest compliments I can think of to offer, and it is something you know I have always treasured about you and the music you bring us.
And the joy of singing! Not only do you light up our music with a smile, but it is infectious, the choir has such obvious fun and joy when they sing for us, and I know it is inspired by your leadership. And the joy you bring to our music brings the rest of us joy as well on a regular basis.
Yet music is not just for joy, it has the capacity to express the entire gamut of human emotion. I chose for this morning’s scripture lessons two of the most prominent and meaningful songs of the Bible, outside the book of the Psalms. Both happen to be songs of joy, and they reflect similar circumstances. Hannah was unable to bear children; the second of Elkanah’s wives, she lived in torment, as Elkanah’s other wife Peninnah constantly lorded her own fertility and children over Hannah with the implication that both Elkanah and God loved her more than Hannah. Hannah was a faithful woman, she prayed earnestly, and imagine her glee when she learned she was going to have a son; and not just any son, but Samuel, the son who would grow to anoint the first king of Israel. The spontaneous song she sang captures her joy and delight: “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God!” It is a hymn that has stood the test of time and history and remains one of the highlights of Old Testament poetry and song. The same is true of the more familiar song of Mary the mother of Jesus, when she learned that she too was carrying a son: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, who has been mindful of the humble state of this servant.” Both are heartfelt songs of glory and joy, and their spirit continues to reverberate in their words thousands of years later.
The Song of Hannah and the Song of Mary are but two of the foremost hymns of praise in the Bible. Other similar songs include the Song of Miriam the sister of Moses and the song of Deborah the Judge. These too are spontaneous songs of joy and praise. But they are also something more. They are all prophetic; they are justice-filled, and they are songs about redemption, not just the redemption of the women who composed them, but the redemption of God’s most vulnerable children. Hannah sang,
“The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn… The Lord raises up the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor.”
Likewise Mary’s song of deliverance and praise: “The Lord has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. God has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. God has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.” These are not simply songs of gratitude, they are also the promise of redemption and justice, redemption and justice for the feeble, the hungry, the barren, the poor, the needy and the humble. Each in her way, the singer becomes a prophet of righteousness. Each woman stands for justice, names what is evil in the world, and insists on God’s covenant with the marginalized and displaced.
A woman’s voice becomes a witness for justice and righteousness. We have a number of such witnesses in the United Church of Chester who show up for justice and righteousness, and it is no surprise some of them are in the choir, because part of your persona, Karli, part of your leadership is to be a voice of witness to justice and righteousness. Whether it is your witness at rallies, your participation in marches, your presence on social media, and definitely your choice of music for worship, yours is a testimony for the way the world should be, a life the way God would have us live, a compassion which flows from a deep heartfelt faith, and a fearless courage that speaks hard truths to power. The prophetic voices of women like Hannah and Miriam and Deborah and Mary continue to speak through their heirs in the United Church of Chester, and your prophetic voice deserves a place among them.
And so we thank you. Thank you for your voice of music and witness, your ways of justice and compassion. Thank you for your partnership in music and ministry, it has meant a lot to me and to all of us. Thank you for your leadership through all the years you have served not just our congregation, but our community. And infusing it all, thank you for your good humor, your ready flexibility, your leadership and grace with everyone in the choir and your inspiration for all of us in the congregation. Today we bid adieu to our Terpsichore, sending you off with God, with God’s powerful presence that you have always carried with you. You have left a lasting mark at our United Church, and we commend you and David into the next chapter of your life with love and blessings.