Sunday, August 3

This is the Lord's day, day of God's own making"

After a night of wind and thunderstorms, I awake to a cool, sunny day, a perfect day to pack for our drive to Jackson. With other Conference mates, we gather for the last day's breakfast, a bittersweet event, in a mostly empty dining room, so different from other mornings of the week. A new friend and I find another similarity: both our older daughters are named "Brook(e)"! There is little time for lingering over a second or third cup of coffee as we load additional travel companions and their luggage, heading for the Cathedral. I experience anticipation, some trepidation (did I have all the notes for the "Gloria"?), sadness and reluctance to leave Gray Center, my week-long haven, to rejoin "life as usual".

Driving to Jackson, we listen to the Evensong CD (was that just last Thursday - it seems so long ago!), enjoying the piano and organ prelude, appreciating the talents of Michael K and Michael M. and wondering how David's fingers and feet can move so fast. In the car are 3 sopranos. We discuss keeping the Paulus from being flat and vibrato (the dreaded vibrato!). No one mentions looking forward to going home. If we could just live in this moment, this next hour or two for several days. That would be my wish!

"And through all the days that follow so fast, we trust in You"

The Cathedral lights are dim, the space not yet prepared for us. We robe and sit waiting. I look over my music (still having trouble with the "Gloria" - too many sharps, naturals, etc. that follow each other in quick succession). The Michaels run us through "warm up" exercises. I am comfortable, my voice relaxed.

As we proceed to our seating, Jean, my soprano seating companion since Evensong, and I sit on the second row. Great! I love sitting on the second row, a safe, secure place (hidden, inconspicuous, surrounded by sound). But, wait! On, no! I am too short and am moved to the front row!! Right on the aisle!! Right out in the open, in front of everyone. Now I will need to know every single note, the accented and unaccented ones! I will need to finish singing the words ending in "d", "t" and "s" ! I am right by the conductors! Yipes! (Eyes and brain, don't fail me now!) So, much for "trust".

Immediately before the service begins, Ellen lets us know that the son of one of our Conference mates was killed last night. I wonder at our friend's strength in singing with us today and words from "Pilgrims' Hymn" run through my mind. "And all through the days that follow so fast, we trust in You." Trust is not easy. I struggle with trust daily as my first instinct seems to be to try to handle everything myself. His strength must come from trusting in God. "Thou art mighty; hold me with thy powerful hand."

"Three Small Loaves and Two Skinny Fishes"

I wish I had a photo of Susan's face as she processed in and smiled at all of us. We had become "community". I saw that in her face. And, I think Susan saved her most special words for us in the magnificent offering she presented in her sermon. Her Mexican mission trip perfectly illustrated the gospel story, a real life, contemporary expression of the "loaves and fishes" experience. Show up, offer what you have, break and divide your offering and give it away! Don't worry if you cannot solve all the problems of the world. You are not supposed to. Just show up....and let God work. Trust. Very powerful words. I will never forget them (and I can't wait to hear the sermon over again on the CD).

"Father, we thank thee"

As the Sunday service comes to a close, I reflect on the experience. We made beautiful sounds, sang stirring, challenging and comforting lyrics and, I think, presented a really fine musical offering. But I cannot pen words that adequately communicate how the music makes me feel or describe my joy when I sing. I almost want to pinch myself to make sure that I am not dreaming.

As I reflect back on the week and on the Sunday celebration, multiple "thank yous" come to mind. Thank you God for the opportunity to come to Conference, for the chance to spend days just singing, praying, listening, visiting, eating, savoring the music! Thank you for new friends and wonderful cherished old friends. Thank you for the joy of being able to sing. Thank you for getting to meet and learn from Michael Kleinschmidt and Michael Messina (what treasures they are). Thank you the Michaels' patience, enthusiasm, wonderful direction and joy in making music with us. Thank you for Gray Center. Thank you for the clergy who cared enough for music in the liturgy to spend a day with us. Thank you for Ellen, Tom, David, James, Jeff, Bryan, Chan and Mark. Thank you for Susan and her example. Thank you for St. Andrews and the hospitality of its parishioners.

But, luncheon is ending. It is difficult to go. We say good-bye. See you next year. Safe travels.

And back to the real world.

Dinetia M. Newman, Chorister
All Saints’, Tupelo, Mississippi