He also made the stars... on the fourth day.
Genesis 1:16

Who laid its (the earth's) cornerstone -
while the morning stars sang together?
Job 38:6b-7a

There are many theories related to the birth of music. To me, the scriptures cited above tell it all. According to these scriptures, when God was creating everything - including the stars -- He had already created music. Perhaps music may have even been there from the beginning of His work. Many of us like to do our work with music surrounding us. However, no matter exactly when music "came to be," it was truly a wonderful gift to us from God.

Last Christmas, a gift from one of my sons and his wife was a T-shirt. Printed on the front was a very appropriate message for me:

My days, and nights, are filled with music. My husband and I awaken to our local, classical music station and continue to listen to it at various times throughout the remainder of the day. Soon after breakfast, my husband fills our home with the beautiful music of his piano practice. Afternoons find me practicing my bassoon. Nearly every Monday night finds me playing that bassoon at Blawenburg Band rehearsals as well as during concerts approximately 35 times a year as part of this community band. Tuesday evenings find me playing in the Lawrence Sight-Reading Orchestra. And, on Thursday nights and Sunday mornings, I am singing with the adult choir of Abiding Presence Lutheran Church.
 
My husband and I have a subscription to the Philadelphia Orchestra and take the train to Philly 9 times a year to hear this world-class ensemble. During our annual February residence in Florida, we have a subscription for the New World Symphony. It gives us opportunity to hear concerts played by young graduates from the leading music conservatories and graduate schools of the world. Our local area provides a plethora of opportunities to hear music throughout the year -- music presented by professional and talented amateur soloists, small groups and large organizations. And, sometimes we even find time to listen to our personal collection of records, tapes and CDs.
 
Our vacations typically center round musical events. For example, this past May we heard wonderful music in Austria - everything from an amateur, men's community choir and the world's largest outdoor organ in Kufstein, the Symphoniker Orchestra in Vienna, and many musical concerts associated with the 200th commemoration of the death of Joseph Haydn while we were in Eisenstadt. The latter offered one of the musical highlights of our current year. We attended a performance of Haydn's Creation Oratorio performed by the Austro-Hungarian Orchestra and the Vienna Chamber Choir held in the palatial hall of the Esterhazy Palace where Haydn worked for 35 years.

I think you will agree that a line from one of the anthems our adult choir sang last year fits me well:
     "Above my head, there's music in the air."
 
Another line in the text of that same gospel song reads:
     There must be a God somewhere."
 
I differ with that line of text; I say,
     "There surely is a God somewhere."

Thank you, God, for your creation of music and your gift of surrounding me with it. Continue to provide opportunities that lead me to use the music talents you have given me to share your gift of music with others. Amen

Contributed by Nancy
Sunday August 2, 2009
Liturgical Year B Week 36
Sunday Gospel Readings::
Lectionary 18 (Proper 13)
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost