Dear St. John's Community,
Today we have a guest reflection from Lisa Koehler of the St. John's Music Department. (She's in the middle row, second from the left in this image.)
I am so grateful for all our musicians and their ministry, and I have heard from many of you about what a blessing it was to see the many faces and hear the voices of singers in a new way in this past Sunday's
worship service!
God's peace,
Rob+
From Lisa:
It is Easter!
Following our exuberant services of Easter, it takes days for the music to leave my head. Like a trumpet’s clarion call, random phrases jolt me awake, blast me midday, and resist my efforts towards quiet slumber. I never mind this invasion, as my lifelong passion for music and singing is balm.
This season I too have had to retool. Absent were the careful preparation of scores for singers and instrumentalists, the weekly choir rehearsals, the anticipation and execution of musical offerings, the jubilant faces of congregants singing hymns with robust abandon. Easter flowers. Easter brass. Easter execution. Easter joy?
During this unprecedented Lenten season we were faced with interminable stillness.
I think of this new Easter and could easily feel overcome with grief by the physical separation from my church and music community. It seems, though, we are gifted with extended self-observation to allow our better angels time to minister to us, as those of Jesus did to him in the desert. A gift to use this enhanced wisdom to understand more deeply ourselves, the world, and God.
Quiet. Still. Unhurried. Prayer.
Alfred Einstein is quoted as saying, “Look deep into nature and there you will understand everything better”. God’s creation continues to unfold this Springtime, reminding us that Jesus Christ has Risen! With the decrease in traffic, air quality is better, flowers are pungent and brilliant, and birds are bonkers. We have the luxury to revisit our online church services to ponder and deeply embrace scripture and sermon and go out into the cleaner world with the peace and love which God has gifted us through his son, Jesus Christ.
This is our Easter joy! Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Lisa Koehler
Alto Staff Singer
Music Administrator
