#1 Amazing thing about this new call
Here is the first concrete example of wonderful things about this new call. I’m going to record them so that when the concrete example of icky things start to occur I’ll have something to balance them. Both kinds of things happen at all congregations.
This morning, the third and last distribution hymn was “Just As I Am.” The organist let them sing the 2nd stanza unaccompanied, which they did in harmony. The distribution ended during the second stanza. While the communion ministers were being served, the organist started the congregation on the 3rd stanza…and let them sing it unaccompanied. The ministers sat down and the organist continued to start each stanza, until we had sung all 6 stanzas. She accompanied the last stanza as we stood up. Then followed the post-communion blessing, prayer, the benediction and dismissal.
They sang that hymn with such love and fervor. Being allowed to sing unaccompanied, listening to themselves and each other and paying attention to the words and not worrying about the fact that we were done with the distribution. It was not singing in order to cover some other actvity. It was singing for the prayer of that hymn, and they prayed it.
And I wept a little at the beauty and joy of it all. What an awe-some honor to serve this congregation.
— — —
A year ago (or longer) on This Journey…
-
running 2008
Peering into the chasm 2007
stories from vacation 2006
— — —
A year ago (or longer) on This Journey…
-
running 2008
Peering into the chasm 2007
stories from vacation 2006
— — —
A year ago (or longer) on This Journey…
-
running 2008
Peering into the chasm 2007
stories from vacation 2006
