by Susanne Maziarz, Music Director at Neighbourhood
For me, summer is a time for privacy and pleasure. I have more time to focus on my own interests and developing my skills. September marks the return to community, the return to service, a time to be renewed by the intention to focus on what is good and just with the support of my Unitarian Universalist community. The good and just can be experienced with music. We feel it when we sing together about social change. We feel it when we sing about personal change.
September’s hymn of the month, Hashivenu (#216), is about personal and social renewal and connects us to the good and just: “Turn us back to you, O Lord, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.” (Lamentations 5:21). Some Jews look to God for restoration, strength and inspiration. We can find restoration, strength and inspiration in one another. Singing together brings our whole selves into community: our voices, our thoughts, our spirit, our bodies, our souls.
I hope we can create the feeling of renewal for each other this month at Neighbourhood through song.