It Has Been a While . . .
While I am not at a large parish, I like many of my brothers am in a parish alone. That means that the life speeds up and slows down sometimes without notice. Winter is always a busy time. The months with short days mean that folks that are frail are often more frail. So I have been spending some time visiting.
The parish did have a Christmas concert in the parish church this year. Many people came and it was especially great to have families with young children. Community is something that happens very naturally, if we give it the chance. In a world where people live very structured lives I wonder if we give it a big or frequent enough chance.
It was great to see folks come together. While what we listen to on our headphones may be very varied these days Christmas is a great excuse to musically be brought together.
TVO, the educational broadcaster in the Province of Ontario, has been airing a British series called, The Choir. It is a distinctively British take on the "reality" program. A top-flight choir director travels around the country, recruits, then trains choirs made up of employees of large British employers. The Brits have a great choral tradition, so that's a good fit. But just because they have a great choral tradition doesn't mean that the majority of people sing or have ever sung together. It is great to watch and hear people discovering community in a whole new way by working together to create a credible choral sound.
The songs are chosen by the choir members to make sure they "own" it. Like physical exercise the effect of music to liberate people is there to see as well. People are demonstrably more ambitious and willing to venture farther.
I was fortunate when I was young to sing in a junior choir for the school board. Seminary also provided a daily opportunity to experience the joy of singing together.
Try it some time.
The parish did have a Christmas concert in the parish church this year. Many people came and it was especially great to have families with young children. Community is something that happens very naturally, if we give it the chance. In a world where people live very structured lives I wonder if we give it a big or frequent enough chance.
It was great to see folks come together. While what we listen to on our headphones may be very varied these days Christmas is a great excuse to musically be brought together.
The songs are chosen by the choir members to make sure they "own" it. Like physical exercise the effect of music to liberate people is there to see as well. People are demonstrably more ambitious and willing to venture farther.
I was fortunate when I was young to sing in a junior choir for the school board. Seminary also provided a daily opportunity to experience the joy of singing together.
Try it some time.
