By Ariel Merivil
As a five- or six-year-old in Boston, I grew up in a church with a vibrant and spirited hymn and choral singing tradition. We sang classic traditional anthems and gospel songs. Alongside hymns like Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Praise to the Lord the Almighty, and Be Still My Soul, we also sang Blessed Assurance and Precious Lord.
One hymn that still dances in my musical memory is Walk in the Light. As you scanned your worship order today, you may have noticed that piece listed as our choral anthem. Now you may be asking yourself, “Isn’t that a Christmas hymn? Why would we sing that in August?”
This particular hymn setting has an interesting history. First appearing around 1904, this hymn was arranged by George Elderkin in the Black gospel waltz style. George, though not African American himself, used a typical format of the day to weave together the well-known Charles Wesley text with another refrain attributed to Fanny Crosby to create this hymn. This tune, updated by the harmonies of the legendary musician Evelyn Simpson Currenton, is sung with vigor in African American worship traditions all year long.
Beyond its history, this text speaks to our everyday calling — not only during Christmas. It reminds us to walk in the light of the one who is the light of the world — the light of our world. In a world that so desperately needs light, we are called to “walk the talk.” We are ambassadors, the hands and feet, of the Jewish carpenter who lived a life healing the sick, standing with the disenfranchised and welcoming those least welcomed.
Our Luke 13 Scripture reading today recounts the story of Jesus healing a woman in the synagogue and setting her free from her illness, all while facing the backlash of the “religious leaders” challenging him on a technicality. In our worship today, we will do many of the same things that bind us together in community each week: sing, pray and hear the word. May our presence today not be one of simply habit, but may the songs, prayers and Scripture compel and propel us to be doers of our faith. Walk in the Light, friends.