So, in an earlier post, I talked about the soundtrack of our lives…and it's interesting to think about how they're formed.
At that lock-in rehearsal that VIP had, Sandy Griese scooped up “The Prayer of Saint Francis” and said to me, "Do you remember learning this piece?" Sure. I was at Music and Arts Camp at Lebanon Valley College (on a scholarship provided by the amazing and generous folks at Mt. Harmony UMC). I was 14 or 15 years old, and I remember learning it and thinking, "This entrance is so high that I will never get it right."
I said this to Sandy and she replied. "No, you didn't. That's not when you learned this song." Um... say what?
As she usually is, Sandy was right. She first taught me the piece nearly 2 decades ago when I sang in her Sanctuary Choir at Smithville United Methodist Church. Surrounded by wonderful, warm, kind singers who were old enough to be my parents and grandparents, I learned a lot of music from a director who cut me no slack - and exposed me to some incredible pieces.
As Sandy dusted the cobwebs from my memory, it suddenly came back to me and I realized why I had forgotten that high entrance. I didn’t sing it. In Sandy's choir, I was an alto. At summer camp, I was signed up as a soprano. Same song, different part.
In Sandy's choir, the opening pages of the piece were sung by a wonderful soprano soloist, who happened to be (very) pregnant at that time of the performance.
Ready for the cool part? Ready to see just how God moves in our lives, using music to bring people together?
That soprano soloist was Martha Umhau -- and the baby who witnessed the piece from the womb is Blaire, a member of VIP’s graduating class of 2009 and sister to Bennett (VIP '07) and Mary Brooke (VIP '12).
There was a special joy in listening to Sandy tell this story, realizing that this piece of music is part of her soundtrack, part of mine, part of Martha's, (in a different way - part of Blaire's), and now it will be part of Mary Brooke's. I am thankful for the ways God connects us and uses music for his perfect purposes. What a privilege it is to be part of his plan, and carry this music and its message forward.
So, what soundtracks do you share with others? And how were they formed?
Welcome! Voices In Praise exists for the glory of God and in service to others. As the youth choir of Friendship United Methodist Church, the group is open to all youth in grades 6 -12 who have a desire to sing and a willingness to make the commitment to the group. Singers are not required to be a member of the church or to have any background in singing. Our doors are open to everyone!
The choir rehearses on Mondays. Girls rehearse from 6:30pm – 8pm; Guys rehearse from 7pm – 8:30pm.
New singers are welcome any time. Feel free to contact Director Holly Reynolds Lee at 301-728-1748 with questions!
The choir rehearses on Mondays. Girls rehearse from 6:30pm – 8pm; Guys rehearse from 7pm – 8:30pm.New singers are welcome any time. Feel free to contact Director Holly Reynolds Lee at 301-728-1748 with questions!