Mourning Into Dancing

Psalm 30: 1 – 12

Mourning into dancing

A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the house of David.

1 I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me. 3 O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 4 Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. 6 Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.” 7 LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled. 8 I cried out to You, O LORD; And to the LORD I made supplication: 9 “What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth? 10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!” 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

‘On behalf of the family of our dearly departed brother they would like to invite everyone to Michael’s Caterers for a luncheon followed by a time for dancing.’

Now when was the last time you ever heard that announcement after a memorial service?

Being a resident of Philadelphia I have witnessed this happen because of the rejoicing of the people that an evil man is finally dead. I like the song from the musical ‘A Christmas Carol’ when Ebenezer Scrooge’s coffin is carried out of his office building. Join with me in this song and join in a nice Irish dance if you like.

‘Ladies and gentlemen on behalf of all the people who have assembled here I would merely like to mention if I may That our unanimous attitude Is one of lasting gratitude For what our friend has done for us today And therefore I would simply like to say

Thank you very much! Thank you very much! That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me I may sound Double-Dutch But my delight is such I feel as if a losing war's been won for me And if I had a flag I'd hang my flag out To add a sort of final victory touch But since I left my flag at home I'll simply have to say Thank you very, very, very much! Thank you very, very, very much!

Thank you very much! Thank you very much! That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me It sounds a bit bizarre But things the way they are I feel as if another life's begun for me And if I had a cannon I would fire it To add a sort of celebration touch But since I left my cannon at home I'll simply have to say Thank you very, very, very much! Thank you very, very, very much!

For he's a jolly good fellow for he's a jolly good fellow for he's a jolly good fellow And so say all of us Thank you very much! Thank you very much! That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me It isn't everyday Good fortune comes my way I never thought the future would be fun for me And if I had a bugle I would blow it To add a sort of 'ow's-your-father touch But since I left my bugle at home I'll simply have to say Thank you very, very, very much Thank you very, very, very much

No, my friends, it is I who should thank you Thank you very much Thank you very much That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me The future looks all right In fact it looks so bright I feel as if they're polishing the sun for me And if I had a drum I'd have to bang it! To add a sort of rumty-tumty touch but since I left my drum at home I'll simply have to say Thank you very, very, very much! Thank you very, very, very much!

There was a time when many churches frowned upon dancing. That’s because they considered it too sensual.

Now, as for me and dancing, you probably won’t catch me out on the dance floor very often. It’s not a theological thing. But, as those who know me will attest, I can’t dance! My feet and my arms and my body will not move with the music in an appropriate fashion.