January 3rd, 2007

This is the first choir rehearsal of the New Year. We worked on two songs, one we will sing on Sunday. The other is Mozart's Praise The Lord Our God Forever.

We have practiced both before and technical problems are easily addressed. There is a desire for excellence and teamwork in the choir that consistently inspires me. We have reached a point in these songs where the ministry in what the choir is doing can be felt; Particularly in the Mozart piece (which we haven't performed in public yet).

This is music that encapsulates the best of what a choir experience can be. When we first began to tackle this piece the notes, the rests, and essentially the overall movement of the piece was challenging. Every part was involved in something different at any given moment.

As we continued to practice the overall composition gradually became clear. There is a repetition in most choral work that is satisfying on many levels. The accumulation of this repetition is like the "yes" in the Ulyssess' Molly Bloom soliloquy. In the Mozart round hearing, (and singing) "Praise the Lord our God forever" again and again becomes more elating as the piece progresses.

In this it is also like Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, which our choir performed several years ago. There is initial challenge, the choir learning what each member will be contributing. Then comes a period where everyone makes adjustments and learns to accommodate, perfect and make those contributions a whole within the piece. After all this is negotiated and sorted out, and when what is written on the page is finally in place, then something new is worked on and communicated.

This "something new" is a place of spiritual growth and communication. There is always a danger; that the energy will be lost or that the joy will evaporate, but what I consistently see with performances is that something happens between the choir and congregation. I wrote about this is a song and I will end this entry with the lyrics that were inspired by this choir and congregation:

Gambol In the Presence of the Lord

In a Clackamas Sunday’s sacred morning light,
We’re bound to give ourselves to God to know true might.
Our eyes are focused on a mountain

with our need for faith restored.
We look and listen for God’s guidance
and how to gambol in the presence of the Lord.

There’s a feeling of forever

when the holy water’s poured,
There’s a foretaste of salvation
as we gambol in the presence of the Lord.

The congregation’s restless,

the choir prepares to sing
The piano plays how the sanctuary rings
Oh, see the choir swaying

to the pulsing, pounding chords
They know “He’s Worthy To Be Praised”
as they gambol in the presence of the Lord.

People caught up in devotion

to the life we’re moving toward
There’s a feeling we’re reforming

with a passion and it cannot be ignored.

The gleam of light now radiant

we celebrate the Son,
United in our hope God’s will is done.
Oh, it’s a mighty liberation

giving up our badge and sword
Overcoming fear and ego
will let us gambol in the presence of the Lord.

So let’s put love into action

more for help than for reward,
And find God’s glory in the doing
while we gambol in the presence of the Lord.

In the presence of the Lord,

In the presence of the Lord,

In the presence of the Lord.