The Singing Never Ends

Today I will direct the Chancel Choir at Edenton Street United Methodist Church for the final time as their Interim Director of Music. What a joy this tenure has been!

Mulling over what parting words to leave with these dear folk, a verse from the Old Testament book of Zephaniah kept coming to me, 

The LORD your God is with you,
   he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
   he will quiet you with his love,
   he will rejoice over you with singing.

                                Zephaniah 3:17

When Josh Dumbleton (Associate Director of Music at Edenton Street) stopped by my office with a decorative setting of the last phrase from that text for the wall of my home office, I took that as a nudge from the Lord to indeed share these words as we end our brief ministry together.

The imagery in that verse is powerful, beautiful, tender, and hopeful.  I love the thought of the Lord singing over his children. The song runs the gamut, the FULL BOX of crayons, from a quiet loving setting, to loud rejoicing.  In Hebrew, singing, rinnah, speaks of joyful shouting.  It may refer to a shout of delight or happy laughter.  The happy laughter captured in this photo of the choir at our final rehearsal, is indeed a beautiful song!

Chancel Choir at Edenton Street UMC

God’s rejoicing over us by singing happens in different ways. I’ve been listening this week especially for God’s voice singing over me and have been delighted and comforted by all the songs I’ve heard.  In the voice of a choir, many can hear God singing at the same time, place, and in the same song. Certainly the collective voice of the Chancel Choir is not just the singers lifting their voices to the Lord, but a concrete manifestation of God’s song over his children gathered in worship and even rehearsal. 

To my Chancel Choir friends, thank you. May you both hear God singing over you, and continue to sing his song over each other and the congregation that gathers in worship. I have grown to love you, and yes, I’ll miss you!  And I will thank my God every time I remember you (Philippians 1:3), especially when I have occasion to hear God singing over me through your beautiful voices. 

~ ~ ~ 

The Chancel Choir sings Salvation Is Created for the anthem today:

Here in English by the National Lutheran Choir

Here in Russian (Spaseniyesodelal -Salvation is Created) - Salt Lake Vocal Artists 

Today’s Benediction was also used at the church’s Bicentennial celebration in November:

The Lord Bless You - Rutter

Warm-up for the Bicentennial Celebration, Sunday November 13, 2011

Worship at Edenton Street UMC, Sunday, November 13, 2011

All Creatures Great and Small

Larry:     I rescued a turtle over my lunch hour today!

Me:        ???

Eastern Box Turtle - Terrapene Carolina

Larry:   He was half-way across the road on Factory Outlet Drive right at the Airport Blvd

and I-40 entrance. I saw him and just knew he’d be hit so I pulled into a gas station, and hurriedly walked back to where he was, and [shaking his head] grit my teeth and picked him up and escorted him across the road.

Me:   !!  What if he was a snapping turtle [trying to imagine Larry doing his job minus a couple fingers] ?!

Larry: Oh I could tell he wasn’t a snapper, just a regulation turtle.  

Me:  [is that what they called turtles in Brooklyn where he grew up?? I thought that was a term for baseball or something like that.]  

Larry:   [Beaming] Several drivers gave me the thumbs up as they zoomed by as I placed him in a woodsy stretch along the road.

Me:  Did he stick out his head and try to bite you?

Larry:  No, he hunkered down. But he did pee on my shoe. Thankfully it didn’t get on my pants. 

 

I’m smiling as I imagine my husband toting that little turtle out of harm’s way. And thanking God to be married to such a considerate man—even one who is a regulation-turtle-snapper-upper.   BTW, if you zoomed by that scene and happened to snap a photo on your cell phone, I’d love a copy!

“All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small. 

All things wise and wonderful the Lord God made them all.” 

 
All Things Bright and Beautiful (John Rutter)

The Pond on Spring Hill Farm Where I Grew Up

Postscript:   On the northern Indiana farm where I grew up there was a township snapping turtle that was legendary for its size and age. My oldest brother said this elderly turtle statesman lived in our pond. Even so, the boys sailed out on a rope and landed in his murky habitat on hot summer days. He was said to be at least a hundred years old and had been spotted here and there around the neighborhood, popping up at unexpected times and places. It was reported in after dinner tales that he was the size of a small armored tank (i.e. 20 inches with his head tucked in, 32 inches when he was battle ready). My grandpa said this was all true, and although I never saw the turtle, I believe every word of it. Mostly.

The Cure for Doubt

This week I had the honor of writing a short piece for the cover of the church newsletter. Here's an excerpt:

REMBRANDT - Head of Christ

Have you ever experienced it? Just a smidgen of doubt that maybe, after all, it’s not really true? Or not all of it is true? Or it doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not? Or it’s just for weak-kneed sissies, the unlearned, and children? Can we trust the Gospel story?

Perhaps you feel like many did about watching Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Sitting in a dark theater, barely able to look at the screen, you avert your eyes at the horror of it. We felt profound relief when it was finished.

It was finished. There’s the doubt-busting word we need to hear afresh from Christ, “It is finished!”

What was finished? Food for thought isn't it?

    
This morning children's choirs, liturgical dancers, and the Chancel Choir stood in joyful line-up outside the church, in colorful robes, with palm branches waiting for the processional. As I stood to the side surveying the scene I thought of how many Palm Sundays have crossed my path as a church musician. I hope I have been faithful to help worshipers answer that question, "What was finished?" 

Also in worship, Dr. Sally Thomas sang John Carter's gripping setting of "Ride On King Jesus" (which I had the honor of accompanying). Carter captures the looming events as Jesus rode into Jerusalem, and his purposeful stride amidst the chaos so well. The work is often done in concert settings, but in the context of worship, especially on Palm Sunday it's true place of honor resides. Randye Jones, soprano sings it convincingly and powerfully here, along with "Let Us Break Bread Together."

It is finished . . . what do you have to finish today, tomorrow, this week? Perhaps you and I need to lay aside fresh doubts about Jesus Christ. A long, deep look at him during Holy Week is a wonderful opportunity to do that.  As we think about that until the glorious celebration of Easter next Sunday, here's a Prelude by J.S. Bach, to accompany your reflection, from a recital I recently gave:

Prelude No. 8 in D Minor BWV 853

By the way, I have no doubt in my mind at all that Jesus was anything other than who he said he was and that the biblical record (which is also a historical record) is correct, as is summarized in the Creed: 

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.

That's what Jesus Christ finished. I can hardly wait to shout "Alleluia!" on Easter Sunday, but first I want to walk the journey and grow deeper in faith. I might need that doubt-busting look to help me down the road with the things I have to do while here on God's good earth.

Helpful links:

RC Sproul on the Creed

Wiki's Entry on the Apostle's Creed

The Creed and Gnosticism