I’ve been directing the Holy Communion Senior Choir for just over 24 years, and a lot of exciting and gratifying things have happened in that time- but I’m not sure I have ever been prouder to stand in front of these men and women as I was the other night when we traveled together to the home of our senior pastor, Bill Grimbol, to sing for his wife Patti, who is dealing with some health difficulties. I don’t recall who first suggested this possibility, although I do know that for a long time now Pastor Bill has wished that his wife could somehow hear my “O the Joy” folk liturgy. But I think that it was actually someone in the choir who first brought up the intriguing idea of the choir going to the Grimbols – like Christmas Carolers in the month of March! – and after a couple of false starts, we were finally able to do this.
When the night came, the plan was that we would cut our Wednesday night rehearsal a little bit short – and I left it up to everyone in the choir to decide if they wanted to be part of this little excursion or not . . . since many or perhaps even most of the choir members have not even had a chance to meet Patti because of our health issues. Imagine my delight that we had an exceptionally strong turnout Wednesday night for rehearsal- and that every single person who came to rehearsal also made the trek across town to sing for Mrs. Grimbol. And you could just feel the genuine excitement in the air as we climbed out of our cars and prepared to sing.
And Patti was just thrilled that we had come, and it was great to have the choir experience her exuberant, joyous spirit for themselves. Patti is so fun and so vibrant, despite all that life has thrown at her- and I almost feel like she uplifted us as much as we uplifted her. As for the singing, it was certainly tricky to fit 25 people into a small kitchen/ living room area and get everybody able to see the director, hear each other and the taped accompaniment. But for all of those challenges, the choir managed to sing really well- first my folk service “O the Joy,” (with Laura Jansen and my wife splitting the cantor part) followed by Carolyn Jennings’ “Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain” – featuring Anneka Barrow on the solo – and finally my setting of Isaiah 42: See, I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. You are precious in my sight and I love you, with Dave Knudsen as soloist. Those last words could not have been more fitting for the situation and setting, and it made me sad that it’s not possible to pack up the senior choir and take them to all of Holy Communion’s shut in’s.
Or is it?
pictured above: the Senior Choir sings for Bill and Patti Grimbol. Just hidden from view, because she was feeling poorly, is Kate Potter Barrow, who had their beautiful puppy Reggie along. . . and that precious dog has a way of making every gathering just that much more fun. Of course, being the klutz that I am, I managed to step on him at one point and may have to work myself back into his good graces.