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Dear Covenant Family,
On August 10, about 50 of us gathered at sunset in the Covenant parking lot to witness the long- anticipated event of the McGaffin Tower bell chamber lighting up the night. Members, visitors (including Methodists!) and passersby, enjoyed the nocturnal tunes under an almost-full moon. We witnessed a few examples of color variation illuminating the bell chamber by way of the new twelve separate lights.
The word “tower” appears several times in the Bible, but it often has a negative connotation- the tower of Babel, or an enemy’s towers being destroyed. In contrast, within the Old Testament Wisdom tradition, a tower is a metaphor for the strength and the shelter of the Lord. Those who rely on God find refuge and are called righteous because they know they need divine help.
Church towers have a long history of being landmarks in cities and towns, a testament to worship of the Lord, and a communication system when they are adorned with bells. As Carillonneur George Leggiero has been known to say, the Alexander McGaffin Carillon is positioned inside a church tower, but it is a COMMUNITY INSTRUMENT, an outward facing witness meant not only to call those who hear it to prayer and contemplation, but also to wonderment and the simple joy of being alive and listening to the bells.
By lighting our bell tower, The Church of the Covenant has taken it a step further, adding light to sound and presence. Whether a person is walking by, looking out of a hospital window, or driving down Euclid, we hope the light will shine in the darkness, and be a reminder of hope that can sometimes be seen only in the dark.
Many thanks to those who made the tower lighting possible- Covenant Trustees, Vincent Lighting and Brennan Electric, among others. I hope it was not our last “sunset concert” and opportunity to share sweet parking lot fellowship with each other.
May we all find refuge in God,
Pastor Jessie
jmacmillan@covenantweb.org
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