First Service Back

How wonderful it is to see everyone! There is a certain excitement in the air as we warm up in the music room, and work the nervous kinks out. Smiles are everywhere. Despite a worry that there will be more people in the choir than in the congregation, the pews fill up. Our new strategy to make the hymns more engaging, to be more invitational for singing rather than just plodding along, is helped out by one of our high school students who brings his trumpet and accompanies the some of the hymns. We also have a percussionist for one of the songs.

We are privileged to have a story teller among us for the day and she draws the adults as well as the children into her yarn during the children's time. We have changed the order of the service a bit, and we have to work to get the pieces in the right places. First Sundays can be a bit challenging anyway, even if there are no changes. Fortunately, the Holy Spirit knits it all together, and hearts are touched.

I am glad to be back. This year more than ever I am challenged by the good Lord to do this work well. To listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, to internalize the music so that I can worship rather than just perform, to pray consistently for the people who participate in the music program in all the various ways. Love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, strength, might, being, spirit - all in and all committed to his work. And I know that goes far beyond just the music.

May God abundantly bless hearts and minds this year and draw us closer to him.

Notre Dame Retreat

The seminary annual retreat is early this year. Usually it comes well after the  undergraduate semester start up. For whatever reason, it is this weekend, and I think about whether to go to Canandaigua Friday night for the Vespers service, or wait until Saturday and drive down early in the morning. I know myself well enough to realize that my strength is better in the morning, so I opt for the Saturday only part.

I have not yet been to the Notre Dame retreat center. The drive down is pleasant, the day a bit chilly and promising rain, but the last part of the journey is along the lake, right by the water. I drive by grand homes and hovels, watch boats in all sizes from row boat to small speed boat to cabin cruisers bob in the choppy water. Gulls cry and wheel overhead. Almost no one is out and about at this early hour.

The retreat center sits up on a hill overlooking the lake, surrounded by spacious green lawns and bits of wooded areas.The humble brick buildings could have been part of almost any institution from a school to a nursing home. Other than the few statues scattered here and there, one would not necessarily know this was a Catholic retreat center. The several gardens boast colorful flowers and the view is expansive.

It is difficult to discern exactly which door to enter, but happily I find the right one and wend my way down a long and winding hall, signs confirming that I am headed in the right direction for NES. I register, glance at the tempting book table, then continue into the cafeteria where people are clustered around steaming cups of coffee and various breakfast foods, catching up with friends, making new acquaintances.

Our speaker, Dr. Jan Johnson, is very down to earth and practical. She knows that the whole issue of becoming formed in the image of God is tricky. We so easily fool ourselves into thinking that we are doing well and all the while deep beneath the surface, where it counts the most, lurks every horrible behavior known to humankind. She helps us take a real look, discover what we need to know about ourselves. She does it with humor and stories and time to reflect on what she is presenting. She has much experience, and yet she too continues to ferret out those rascally thoughts that have no place in the heart of a godly person. Sometimes the revelations are 'ouches.'

It is a low key retreat. I appreciate that. I am happy to be home in time for dinner, and bring with me a sense of quietness and calm. This is good. I know for the staff it was a great deal of work. I appreciate their efforts. Mostly, I want to sleep and let this growing desire to be a kinder, more loving person lead me in new directions.

Mission Impossible

Last night after choir practice, I went home and tried my best to stay awake. Our library open house event this year begins at midnight, and is a game patterned after the movie Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. I am tired, and I drift off several times. Finally, it is 11:30 pm and I gather my stuff and head for the car for the 3 minute drive back to work.

Students are gathering, and our student workers and staff have gotten into the spirit of the game, dressing for the area they will be working at. For example, I am in the party room, and I wear my flashy red jacket and black velvet pants with long dangling earring of 'diamonds.' One of the waiters is wearing his tux. Two girls are in formal evening attire. The nurse in the hospital area is wearing scrubs. Props are in place. Signs are posted. The registration table is set up. I climb the stairs to my assigned room, grateful that I will be able to sit down. I hear the gate go down, and the game begins.

Participants have also dressed for the event. Some of the teams are all in black, secret agent attire for sure. They scurry about, trying to be clandestine while accomplishing their goal of finding the lost item. Here and there they get a fake clue and have to backtrack. Someone on their team gets kidnapped and ends up in jail. Someone else may get shot and have to go to the hospital for a time out. Or they could get caught in a sandstorm. Everyone seems to enjoy the chase, some even get a bit carried away. Over all, they are introduced to both the space and the faces they will encounter in our library over the course of the upcoming semesters.

It all moves along quickly, and by 1 pm we are drawing names for the prizes. I sneak out early, leaving the wrap up to those who have a bit more stamina than I do. Fun! Imagine that. At the library of all places. I think we will do this again next year. We'll see what the survey tells us.