A Sweet Spirit in This Place - April 9
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 136; PM Psalm 118 ; Dan. 12:1-4,13; Acts 4:1-12 ; John 16:1-15
Today’s Reflection
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. … I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16: 7, 12-14
When Jesus knew that he was approaching his final days, he began saying things meant to prepare his followers, especially the disciples, of what it would be like when he would no longer be with them. Jesus wanted them to know that they would not be left alone, with no direction, but rather that another would be sent to guide them. In John’s Gospel, this someone is referred to as the Advocate and as the Spirit of truth. Elsewhere in Scripture, we know this guiding presence as the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge this Advocate, this Spirit of truth, in our Episcopal liturgy every time we pray in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And yet, this Spirit seems enigmatic and difficult to put into words just what it is and how we can know this holy presence in our lives.
As I was reflecting on how Jesus is telling his friends about the one who is coming, and how he wanted them to know this Advocate and to welcome this Spirit’s presence in their lives, the lyrics of a song I have not heard or sung in many years came to mind:
There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place,
And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord.
There are sweet expressions on each face,
And I know you feel the presence of the Lord.
Sweet Holy Spirit, sweet heavenly Dove,
Stay right here with us, filling us with Your love.
And for these blessings, we lift our hearts in praise.
Without a doubt we’ll know that we have been revived
When we shall leave this place.
Akers Music House 1962, renewed by Manna Music 1990.
When I searched online for the lyrics, I stumbled across an article (by Michael Hawn on the United Methodist Church’s Discipleship website) that tells the story of the songwriter, Doris Akers. She composed her first song at age 10, and by age 12 had assembled a jazz band, Dot Akers and Her Swingsters. At 22, she moved from Missouri to Los Angeles to make music her profession, working with some of the top names in Gospel music and eventually forming her own groups, the Akers Singers and later the Sky Pilot Choir, the first interracial Gospel choir in Los Angeles.
The story behind “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” is a story of what happened when, in 1962, Akers and the Sky Pilot Choir were praying together in a practice room before heading in to lead the music in a worship service. As Lindsay Terry learned in an interview with Akers years later: “she said to her singers, 'You are not ready to go in.' She didn’t believe they had prayed enough! They were accustomed to spending time with her in prayer before the service, asking God to bless their songs. She said, 'I feel that prayer is more important than great voices.' They had already prayed, but this particular morning she asked them to pray again, and they did so with renewed fervor” (Stories Behind 50 Gospel Favorites, 2005).
Meanwhile, the pastor of the church was growing impatient, as they couldn’t begin the service until the choir arrived. So, reluctant to end this sweet, Spirit-filled time of prayer, Akers told her choir, “We have to go. I hate to leave this room and I know you hate to leave, but you know we do have to go to the service. But there is such a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place.”
This moment that inspired Akers to compose “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” is one that maybe you can identify with when you reflect back on moments shared together in worship or in fellowship with your friends in Christ. We don’t want the joy of being together in Christ to end, we want it to keep going on forever. The good news is that it can, and it does. While the sweet time spent together in prayer, conversation, service, and worship may end for that moment or that day, these Spirit-filled moments reassure us that we are part of something bigger, something ongoing that binds us all together in the love of Christ.
When I think of gathering with you all here at Saint Stephen’s, whether with hundreds of you in the parking lot for worship on Easter Day or with a few of you in a book group or a meeting on Zoom, I know that there is a sweet, sweet Spirit here at Saint Stephen’s—and we know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord.
—Becky+
Questions for Self-Reflection
When have you seen the “sweet expressions” of the Spirit in your life recently? How did these interactions with sisters and brothers in Christ encourage you in your faith?
Daily Challenge
Listen to a Gospel choir at Saint John’s Hackney sing “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” and carry this song with you in your heart as you go about the rest of your day.
Read Michael Hawn’s full article on Doris Akers and “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” and reflect on how we connect with God and one another through the gift of music.