Five Part Harmony

Until about five years ago I had not been in any kind of choir since elementary school, so imagine my bewilderment that I am singing as part of a quartet. It started off as a friendly pledge between two non-choir members to start going to choir. I needed a lot of coaching both technically and emotionally since I have the rhythmic timing of a lumbering walrus on land. Then, as part of a friendly heave into faith, four of us came together to sing during an offertory. We've been singing together ever since. When the four of us sing together, one plays the guitar and after a quick look at sheet music it's relegated to the back of the notebook for reference. From then on we play and sing from the heart of the words, from harmonies that come as dreams, and from the connection that happens when you look in each other's eyes instead of the page. Even though I am slow to admit when I'm part of something good, I'm truly amazed every time we sing together; the voices fuse with each other tightly and sweetly. We feel free to experiment, to improvise, and to adapt a song until it has our signature. It's evident to us that there is a fifth partner in our harmonies. There is no other way that I can explain how this walrus is transformed into a replica of one of the flock of swans, gliding across the smooth lake - unless the fifth partner is the Spirit.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, How can we know what we are capable of reaching unless we include you in the planning and the execution of our dreams and our actions. We would halt at our limitations and suspend any further growth thinking we had reached our summit when in fact it was just a foot hold to the next zenith. Forgive our lumbering steps of faith; even the walrus becomes agile when placed in the right environment. We welcome the Spirit as partner and guide towards the many steps and levels of envisioning the mission of this congregation. May we be truly amazed by what is revealed in our faith and by your Grace, Amen.