Rev. Cydney VanDyke: Music as Prayer

Most Sundays as I’m leaving church, I often have a hymn or worship song playing over and over in my head. That’s partially because of the powerful role music plays in our lives. It touches a part of us that spoken or written words can’t always reach.

Today I had the privilege of sitting down with pastor and musician, Rev. Cydney VanDyke, and we dove into the world of faith and music. Rev. Cydney is a musician and singer and is Associate Pastor at New Goshenhoppen United Church of Christ in Pennsylvania. Her expertise in singing provides us a unique window into the role that music plays not just in worship, but in our personal faith lives as well. We dove into how music can be a form of prayer, how it connects us across cultures, how it can deepen our connection not only with God, but with others and with ourselves, and how it can transform our hearts and lives.

Grab your favorite mug and fill it up, and dive into this powerful conversation about one of everyone’s favorite topics: music.

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Rev. Cydney Van Dyke (pronouns: she/her), grew up in Southeast Pennsylvania, where she also currently lives and serves as Associate Pastor at New Goshenhoppen United Church of Christ (UCC) in East Greenville, PA. However, she and her partner, Scott, are gearing up for a move, as she was recently called to be the Associate Pastor at First Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. 

The daughter of two UCC pastors, Cydney has been involved in the denomination her whole life, especially in musical ways. Cydney’s earliest memories of church include singing in choirs, something she has continued to do throughout her life. Her call to ministry came through music, when she was offered a job to be the Chapel Pianist at Ursinus College. Throughout her time at Ursinus, and also while she was earning her Master of Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School, Cydney was engrossed in singing, especially in A Cappella groups. A Cappella remains a passion for Cydney, and music is a spiritual practice for her.

As a pastor, Cydney is dedicated to the ways of Christ that transform, heal, and reconcile, both in regards to individual lives and systems of power. She also values and welcomes the varied paths of spiritual journeying that each of us takes. These convictions fuel her passion for social justice issues, ecumenical and interfaith relationships, and cultivating spiritual practices. 

You can often find Cydney watching Harry Potter or sporting events, eating cheese, traveling with friends, and, of course, singing (often unconsciously). She is also very ready to get a cat.