OK! I get it!
Since Friday, when I began to have serious doubts about the long-term viability of my work at with this congregation, I’ve had the following feedback. Unsolicited.
1. A beautiful card in the mail to the house saying “how much my music means to them”
2. 3 parents of confirmands whom I did not know before Thursday night stopped me yesterday and today to tell me how much they appreciated the work I’m doing
3. JB of Gospel Band fame stopped me after 2nd service today to tell me that he had heard through several people that someone is putting around that he and I are at odds. He wanted me to know that he was doing his best to put the story straight (that we are NOT at odds) and that he thinks my being there is “an answer to prayer”
4. JT, retired HS band director from Owatonna stopped me between services to talk about the church “band” and give his take on how great it would be to identify those students from the school programs and put together a brass choir or woodwind choir. He offered some (not a lot…he was careful not to overextend) help getting in touch with the band directors at the schools since he knows them and probably could help me find arrangments (so I don’t have to do the arranging myself!)
This is in case anyone doubts whether prayer can be answered. It’s pretty hard to feel like a square peg in a round hole when this sort of thing happens. Well, I suppose I could, but it would take more work than just moving merrily forward with the knowledge that I have acceptance and support and there ARE some here who want to dance.
Confirmation service was good. Long but good. What a great bunch of young people. There are several that I want to call out to use their talents and gifts within the context of worship. And some whom I think could be called to justice work even. We’ll see.
JO played flute. Very beautiful. And AW played guitar. I need to find them a duet piece. mmmmm. Maybe for the Lessons and Carols or for Christmas Eve? KB sang Amazing Grace. She has her mother’s and aunt’s nasal twangyness but did a great job. She has a lovely voice if she can be shown how to use it and not push it flat.
I’m not even going to say much about the little mess-ups in the 2nd service. I can’t even get upset about it. It’s no different than the organist/pianist who plays everything tooooo sloooowwwly. It’s not malicious. Just incompetitent and inexperienced and given the personalities pretty impossible just now for me to do any coaching.
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A year ago (or longer) on This Journey…
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Thursday Observations 2008
melting all over again 2007
