In this, my last In Song column (more on that later, if you haven’t yet read the Record), here are some examples of the living faith of Presbyterians and the Presbyterian church that have particularly touched me.
Two Events
In 1988, I attended a 10-day World Council of Churches worship workshop held at Crieff Hills Retreat and Conference Centre, Ont. I was there as one of two Presbyterians, the other being Clara Henderson. This conference focused on the music of the Caribbean, but opened for me a window on the music of the world church. There I first learned the music of Pablo Sosa, Patrick Matsikenyiri, I-to Loh and Paschal Jordan, among others. This event has shaped my music and my ministry ever since.
Flash forward: In May, 2010, Barb Molengraaf and I led music for the worship of the Emmaus Project. The committee worked very hard on a good idea, overcame many obstacles, and kept the focus on ways to improve how we work together at the Presbytery level. It was a delight to work with Barb and volunteer singers and instrumentalists drawn from among the delegates. Everyone who came to play instruments and sing proved to be quick studies. They needed to be: no rehearsal time was planned as part of the conference schedule. You can see one of the more boisterous and festive results of our work on the Emmaus Project site. Look especially at “Communion Conga Line.”
An intriguing part of the worship happened on Saturday evening when Rev. Grant Gunnink performed a rap, each verse of which ended with a reference to “Amazing Grace.” There was a video of it on the Emmaus Project website which showed Gunnink’s rap. (Is that video gone for good?) The amazing part of it was what the video didn’t show: the whole congregation willingly entering into the spirit of the rap as they sang “Amazing Grace” not only with life and vibrancy, but beautifully.
The Emmaus project is a step in a good direction, one that deserves to go viral. Marty Molengraaf’s entry, “A Vision for Presbytery” (October 15), where he imagines a business meeting in the form of worship, seems a promising place to start – or continue.
Two Projects
Between these two events, I remember being asked by Margaret McNaughton, in 1989, to be a volunteer member of the task force which produced The Book of Psalms. This led to Don Anderson and I applying a few year later to work with the task force for the revision of The Book of Praise as co-editors. Both projects were long, labour-intensive, challenging, frustrating – and ultimately fulfilling. I got to sing and discuss hymns old and new with Presbyterians from coast to coast and at the same time indulge my life-long love of the Bible.
Many Sermons
On a flight to Calgary a few weeks ago, Wendy and I were re-reading some sermons that we collected during our time at Beaches Presbyterian Church in Toronto. They were by Drew Strickland (now a minister in the United Church in Calgary), and as I read them, they restored my soul the way they did when I first heard them. Even on the page they remain powerful, heart-rending and heart-mending.
That made me think about other sermons I have heard and read, sermons by Paul Scott, Diane Strickland (also in the United Church in Calgary,) Herbert O’Driscoll (okay, he’s an Anglican but he was preaching at a Presbyterian event,) Glen Davis and others. Some of them have been life-altering, and they all bear witness to the characteristically Presbyterian commitment to the training and encouragement of preachers.
One Magazine
As I take my leave: it has been a pleasure to be some part of a magazine that has become fresh, lively and vital. When you read it – and people are reading it – you get a clear, sharp picture of our denomination, truthful but not cynical. Thank you to the editors (I know your names and I’m not afraid to use them) for giving me a place to write about music and related subjects in this online forum. It has been a delightful collaboration.
Parting Words
I am saying goodbye – for now. I’m being sent as a missionary from the United Methodist Church U.S.A. in the role of Worship Consultant to the World Council of Churches in Geneva.
I said in an earlier column that we are a denomination more Martha than Mary. Like the Martha in the gospel stories, we seem weighed down with many cares, grieving many losses. It’s not a statistical co-incidence, I believe, that we are not known (as many Natural Church Development studies show) for the inspiration of worship or the power of our congregational song. I have neither the mandate nor the position to offer a program, or organize a conference. What I offer are the words of theologian, composer and pastor Pablo Sosa, who, writing about Latin American fiesta, said: “Those who do not have the strength to celebrate do not have the strength to liberate themselves.”
