It may have been Mother’s Day,  but there was a really neat “Father” moment at our church today.  As we did last year, a group of women from the church-  mostly mothers, some grandmothers, and a few others (as Jeff liked to say, the invitation was for anyone who is or has been a mother, as well as for anyone who ever HAD a mother.  That should cover just about everyone, don’t you think? )  Like last year, they sang my song “God Has” – with a simple refrain I wrote some years ago for Vacation Bible School but with some verses which I only wrote last year specifically for Mother’s Day- words which acknowledge how difficult it can be to be a mother or a father in this day and age.

For the second piece,  Kate Barrow (the director of this undertaking)  thought of a Cynthia Clawson piece which I arranged for the choir some years ago – a beautiful song called “I Thank the Father” which I learned back in my high school days when my voice teacher Cherie Carl sang it.  I have always loved the song but lamented the fact that it was so short, so I actually composed an additional verse.  Kate took my SATB arrangement and altered it for SSA – and it worked out wonderfully well.  The ladies sang like angels and it was like the building was raised right off of its foundation- not because it was so loud but because it was so thrilling. And for “God Has,” which was sung by both the women as well as by the little kids and the youth choir, we actually had several cases of THREE generations standing up there, singing their hearts out.    If the tape of the service turned out halfway well,  I will have to put that on the LIsten page.

In the meantime, I wanted to mention a tender story.  Kate selected as the two soloists Loren and Laura,  fully grown daughters of one of the sweetest guys in our congegation, Gay Zieckert.  He has been battling serious illness as of late, and Kate thought that this might be a neat thing for them to do – and for Gay to hear, should his health permit it.  Unfortunately, he took a dramatic turn for the worse and actually died mid-week. . . and his funeral was Friday.

If Loren and Laura had not felt emotionally up to singing their solos,  Kate and Kathy were ready to jump in- – – but no, Loren and Laura were anxious to do this – and did it – – – and sang absolutely wonderfully.   And for all of us watching and listening,  we were overcome with admiration for their courage and determination.   And when the song concluded and the singers scattered back to their seats,  Loren and Laura walked down the middle aisle to their seats in the back  arm in arm – so grateful for each other and each other’s love to see them through the sadness.

The refrain of this exquisite piece:

I thank the Father- Our Loving Father –

who made all that is.

I thank the Father – Our Loving Father –

who opens His arms and calls us His.

pictured above:  the group is about to sing.  Loren and Laura are in the front row – Laura in the aqua top and Loren in the yellow top.