Devotional Thoughts Based on the Glory to God Hymnal

Ezekiel 36:26-27

A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statute and be careful to observe my ordinances.

Though my experience with liturgical dance is limited, this is the first hymn I recall having learned motions to accompany the singing.

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

As these words were sung, arms were raised so that we became funnels into which God poured God’s Spirit. The dynamic level increases from piano to fortissimo.

Melt me,

Raised hands, palms down, moved downward like a block of ice that would melt and spread out below.

Mold me.

Hands were raised and were swirling up and down as if the singer were a potter actively fashioning a vase.

Fill me.

Arms were raised once again to allow God’s spirit to be poured into us.

Use me.

Hands are lowered, stretched out in front to form a spout symbolically suggesting how good words and deeds are poured out from us for God’s glory and honor.

Now let’s sing it and do it. Congratulations, you have just done your first liturgical dance!

Prayer

O Divine Potter, you take the human clay that we are and fashion us into vessels for your service. Fill us with your spirit and then make us useful as we are employed for your service. These things we ask in the name of Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.