When the Sound of Silence Isn’t So Holy

A week ago something happened before Saturday night worship that made me think, "Well, there go a few hours of my week I wasn’t planning to spend unraveling mystery wires."

It all started like any other evening—I arrived at church early and began the usual setup routine. Honestly, I kind of enjoy setting up the church before services. There’s a rhythm to it, a quiet joy in getting things ready for worship. It’s peaceful… when things actually work.

On Saturday, I flipped on the A/V system like I always do. It usually hums to life like a well-trained choir. I don’t have the faintest clue how it all works—some mysterious symphony of wires, buttons, and probably pixie dust—but I’ve learned to trust it like I trust my coffee maker: don’t question it, just be grateful that it performs its miracle every day.

But this Saturday? Crickets. The microphones were picking up sound, but the speakers had apparently taken a vow of silence. The result? Our Saturday night congregation had to sit in the front few pews. Yes, I know, the horror—we considered handing out medals for bravery.

This whole experience has been a not-so-subtle reminder to slow down and notice the little things that are actually going right. It’s amazing how quickly we forget the blessings of things that simply work—like sound systems, refrigerators, and, let's be honest, many aspects of our bodies.

The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians that we are to give the greatest honor to the parts of the body that we often forget about or go unseen. It’s a beautiful reminder that even the smallest toe plays an important role in the whole system. Are there systems in your life that you have or currently overlook that you could offer praise now? Warning: once you start seeing them, it's hard to stop.

In the spirit of honoring unseen acts that bless our whole church body, a big thank you to Brent McCoy and Gary Liebisch for their quick and willing work on our sound system that weekend. They leapt into action, like AV Avengers! They found workarounds for Sunday and got a replacement system ready for the next weekend. This experience has helped me to remember how grateful I am today that my car started, my refrigerator is humming, and—praise be—God’s love, forgiveness, and inclusion can continue to be proclaimed – and heard!

God’s Peace,

Pastor Tim