June 28th, 2007 - Choir Rehearsal
The joy and the tears were both present as the choir practiced music for Bethany's service. Kelly summed it up well:
There may be times when any of us could lose ourselves in a sorrow of the moment. When that happens there are others to pick up the performance.
We worked through each well-chosen piece, with new well-thought-out words to two. There was time and attention paid to details, to make it right. Toni chose Blest Be The Ties That Bind to recognize the community response that had come to mean so much to her and the family.
Each piece resonated as we rehearsed them but for this evening this simple hymn, as we were gathered with our voices bound together in harmony, caught the spirit behind this rehearsal. When it became a capella (and tonight the translation from Italian of those words 'in the style of the chapel' took on a new meaning for me) the pure simplicity of the sound carried the music and the moment deep within our hearts.
Kelly's Nunc Dimittis stood out tonight as well. Kelly framed the moment these words are uttered - Simeon led a devout life and was promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Saviour. Mary and Joesph brought their baby temple for the ceremony of consecration of the firstborn son and Simeon knows this is what he has waited for. He takes Jesus into his arms and prays the Nunc Dimittis. He knows there is no other experience he needs in this life beyond seeing the Saviour.
Later, as Kelly led us in prayer to close the evening, he prayed regarding an elation, energy and beauty that some may experience at Saturday's service because they glimpsed God in a special way through Bethany's presence in their lives.
Bethany was there in our minds and hearts tonight.
The joy and the tears were both present as the choir practiced music for Bethany's service. Kelly summed it up well:
There may be times when any of us could lose ourselves in a sorrow of the moment. When that happens there are others to pick up the performance.
We worked through each well-chosen piece, with new well-thought-out words to two. There was time and attention paid to details, to make it right. Toni chose Blest Be The Ties That Bind to recognize the community response that had come to mean so much to her and the family.
Each piece resonated as we rehearsed them but for this evening this simple hymn, as we were gathered with our voices bound together in harmony, caught the spirit behind this rehearsal. When it became a capella (and tonight the translation from Italian of those words 'in the style of the chapel' took on a new meaning for me) the pure simplicity of the sound carried the music and the moment deep within our hearts.
Kelly's Nunc Dimittis stood out tonight as well. Kelly framed the moment these words are uttered - Simeon led a devout life and was promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Saviour. Mary and Joesph brought their baby temple for the ceremony of consecration of the firstborn son and Simeon knows this is what he has waited for. He takes Jesus into his arms and prays the Nunc Dimittis. He knows there is no other experience he needs in this life beyond seeing the Saviour.
Later, as Kelly led us in prayer to close the evening, he prayed regarding an elation, energy and beauty that some may experience at Saturday's service because they glimpsed God in a special way through Bethany's presence in their lives.
Bethany was there in our minds and hearts tonight.
Labels: Bethany Memorial, Choir
posted by Gary at
8:24 AM
1 Comments:
As usual, your comments do a wonderful job of capturing the moment.
The overwhelming feeling I took home Thursday night was one of tribute, which I'm sure will carry over to tonight's service.
All of the pieces chosen are works of particular grace, beauty, and strength. Starting with the Day Camp BBQ and program, and on through Pr. Dayle's discussion of how the service came together, the silence at the end of "Nunc" with the twilight lit cross as a backdrop through the east window, and finishing with Kelly's closing prayer, all of the grace, beauty and strength of Bethany, the Creator community, and Christ was evident, even palpable.
All things worthy of tribute, to be sure.
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Anonymous, at 9:29 AM
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