Twenty-some years ago I wrote a manuscript called “When Sparrows Sang.” It consisted of memories of singing songs in the churches I attended the first half of my life. Basically relating to hymn singing or southern gospel songs sung by people like me – a sparrow, not a meadowlark or canary and getting paid to sing was unheard of!
This is a snippet of that manuscript. By the way, I warn you that I can be a bit controversial. You might find some mischief in me when I share my snippets from When Sparrows Sang.
***********
Psalm 26:6 David said “…(I) go about your altar, O Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise…” Our church altar was for praising, crying, repenting and for urgent prayer – sometimes even speaking in tongues or groaning in the spirit. The place to lay your heavy burdens down.
While pray-ers prayed, the piano player played. The music wasn’t needed so badly in order to fill up time. The Aunt Mollys in the group were praying and there was no uncomfortable time to fill up. Aunt Molly was a jewel of a pray-er. But as some of the less effective, or more effective as you see it, pray-ers got through praying, they liked to do something to keep the mood going, so they went up to the piano and sang whatever suited the occasion. Songs like I Surrender All – Jesus, Use Me – He Washed My Eyes with Tears – I Am Thine, Oh Lord – I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go, Dear Lord.
***************
Those were the pre-TV days as I said before here when one let the Lord have more than his allotted hour.
***************
Image: Unsplash
Sweet aroma 
Oh I remember those altar times so well. And those same songs were etched deeply into my heart all those years ago. Even though I’m hitting the 60 year mark this year, we still had those Sunday evening gatherings while I was growing up. Thank you for the sweet reminders!
Precious times. Full of mystery, excitement, and joy. The things our grandkids are looking for in evil, weird places.
Add audio of the sparrow singing😀
This sparrow is more like a short winded crow now, but the song in my heart is as young and alive as ever. But who knows, I might run onto something, or I might recover my voice someday.
👍👍To that day.
Thank you for the memories. I thank God that there are messages and music coming from Sonlife Broadcasting through our free TV channel here in Oz that are touching, strengthening and blessing our Christ-life. There is such anointing on so many of the songs you mentioned. They, like the Truth in the WORD, are ageless. Blessings!
There are a lot of different styles of music. We cannot put God in a box. My stories I give for nostalgia’s sake. My criticism is toward our putting God on the clock, and for there not being an outlet for the sparrows to sing with abandon by giving all control to the meadowlarks and the “music minister” who is the most controlling person in the agenda of many “worship” services.