Greetings in the name of God who “rejoices over us with singing”!
This week Jean shares with us an inspiring tidbit of interesting facts about singing. When I read her tidbit my mind went to a verse of scripture that tells us that God rejoices over us with singing.
The Lord your God is in your midst, a Mighty One, who will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will renew you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)
Maybe God sings over us to inspire us to sing for all the reason Jean names. That would be wonderful enough. But Zephaniah reminds us of the deeper reason God sings over us with loud and joyful song. God loves us that much! God loves you that much! Don’t question this truth just receive it, and give thanks for it. And join God in the singing!
Pastor Ray
Jean’s Tidbit (or Jottings) July 2021
POSITIVE EFFECTS of SINGING
I know that right now we cannot sing at church like we wish we could, but…we can sing at home, in the car, on the back deck…you choose where but the following positive effects should encourage us just to SING!
- Relieves Stress – cortisol is the stress hormone and studies show that levels decrease after singing…whether singing alone or in a group
- Boosts the Immune System – a study compared listening to music with singing. Those who sang showed higher levels of immunoglobulin A, an antibody secreted to fend off infections. Listening to music reduced stress but did not stimulate the body’s immune system.
- Increases Pain Threshold – group singing, drumming, and/or dancing releases hormones – endorphins – that raise your pain tolerance in ways that just listening to music does not.
- May Improve Snoring – research has found that fewer choir members snore.
- Increases Lung Function – breathing techniques with singing may offer benefits for people with COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, cancer, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
- Develops a Sense of Belonging and Connection – spontaneous improvised singing causes your body to release the feel-good hormone, oxytocin, which may provide a heightened sense of connectedness and inclusion.
- Enhances Memory in Those with Dementia – for some, singing familiar songs brought back life memories that they had forgotten
- Helps with Grief – group singing doesn’t just help with physical pain; it may also help with the emotional pain that you feel after someone you love has died.
- Improves Mental Health and Mood – researchers found that participants reported improvements in their mental health, mood, sense of well-being, and feeling of belonging as a result of singing workshops.
- Helps Improve Speaking Abilities – singing improves the speaking ability for people with autism, Parkinson’s, aphasia following a stoke, and stuttering.