Instruments of Peace

What awful news comes from Virginia Tech today! Thirty plus people loose their lives in such a senseless act of violence. School always seems so safe. The impact however is felt in every school everywhere. For me I just want to reach out to all my friends in my college and tell them that I love them and to thank them for their contribution to my life. I can’t imagine loosing one of my friends at Westminster much less thirty - it’s simply unimaginable. We need to pray for one another that God will keep us safe while we learn and that we are there for one another in times of stress, study and joy. My brothers and sisters at Westminster – I love you all…..we must all be instruments of peace!

where in the world but westminster...

I just had to make note of something that happened in school today that made me chuckle. – the symphonic choir sang the Lord Nelson Mass by Haydn. This is an amazing work but what was even more amazing is that we had all of two weeks to prepare it under the baton of our Grad Assistants Carlos and Meg. So today there were about 180 students walking around the campus and going to their classes in full tuxedo concert dress – where in the world does that happen other than Westminster? – Where in the world do people just pop up and sing major works at the drop of a hat? – This work was sung to just the campus community who swaggered in to listen. In other parts of the world (including The Bahamas) this would be a major occasion, here at Westminster its just a blow in the wind. At the end of the concert it was funny to see students changing…literally changing from their concert dress into their jeans in the middle of the hallway - no where except at Westminster!!!!

Holy Week

Holy week is an exhausting business (especially for musicians) - this week I have sung more than I have done in quite awhile. Rehearsals from the beginning of the week and then the drama of the services o Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and then Easter Sunday….whew! – Thank God they are done. One of the interesting things about singing these services in the US verses in the Bahamas is that they give great emphasis to the quality of the music and the way its presented. The passion here is chanted (much like at St. George’s – but it’s a rarity in The Bahamas because it requires a great amount of singers. So I led the passion at All Saints - and then I also go to sing the Exultet as well on Holy Saturday I have to thank Katie or allowing me to do it and for being so musical in the way she asks for it to be done. – what a privilege to be the first to exclaim the risen Christ – and to such stunning music. I have to say though that the sermon preached on that occasion by Fr. Karl Morrison was the best sermon I have heard in a very long time. It made such an impression on me. Holy Saturday is always the “Easter Service” to me because of the liturgy. Sometimes I wish this would be the only service so that more people can be apart of such great liturgy. The Principal service today was just stunning – the brass, choir etc – WOW. Christ is risen indeed. I was reduced to tears at the end of the service when I thought of all my relatives who are now in the nearer presence of God and who loved this service. (my Jen, and my grandparents – I think of daddy (grump) who loved Easter so much. – Yes! Christ is alive – what joy it brings! - the right hand of the lord brings mighty things to pass - "we shall not die but live!" - amen to that!