Why Another Blog?

That's probably the questions that people are asking.  Jeannine already has a voice blog, a book blog, her regular personal blog, and writes for a group blog (Exploring Sainthood), so why does she need another blog and how on earth will she ever find time to keep up on it?

Back in January, I started running a Hymn of the Day post on Facebook.  It's not every day, and the last few weeks have been pretty sparse, but I've been trying to created several posts each week about hymns.  In those, I give links to the music and text when I can find them.  I also link to videos and background information.  It's been a fun way to share my own exploration of hymns and learn from my friends of different faiths as we compare texts and tunes in our hymnbooks.  I also run a Sunday version where everyone is invited to share something they sang at church that day, something that they wish they had sung, or a favorite hymn.  Again, it's been a great opportunity to connect with my friends from many different backgrounds.

But it wasn't enough.  What I really need for myself right now is a place to share and discuss what I'm learning and feeling and thinking in my encounters with these hymns.  To be honest, I stole this idea from my friend.  She sings with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and has been blogging about her insights and experiences with the music they work on.  You should definitely check out her blog.

So…another project begins.  This might become the new home of Hymn of the Day.  It might be new thoughts about old hymns.  It will mostly likely involve exploring Mormon or Unitarian Universalist beliefs and practices as I dig into what the hymns mean to me right now, at this stage in my journey.

There's an old joke that goes like this:

Q: Why are UUs the worst hymn singers?
A: Because they're always reading ahead to see if they agree with the next line.

Luckily, that is not the case at my UU church.  We have an amazing music ministry AND this congregation can sing!  I understand that the commitment and understanding with which they sing is a relatively new thing for this congregation, but all I can say is that they are a joy to sing with.

From the outside looking in, an outsider might not list music in the top 2 or 3 things they know about the Unitarian Universalists or the *Mormons.  And that is part of the reason for the name of this blog:  "They Also Sing."  For me, that use of "also"is not just a throw away, it is central to why I'm choosing to be involved in both churches.  Music has always been my anchor to my spirituality.  It is through music that I learn who I am, what I believe, and what I want to be.  And that, is what this blog will be about, exploring my faith and my chosen spiritual paths through the hymns.





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*Mormons might have a little more music visibility because of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but I'm pretty sure some of the doctrines and practices of the church are more well known than the music.