It's Trinity Sunday, with an outside worship.
As I stood on the church lawn belting out Amazing Grace at the end of the service, I was struck by an image of a thousand firemen, guarding my cousin Mark's casket as it moved out of the huge church to the firetruck that would carry it to his final resting place. Amazing Grace was the final hymn of his service, and bagpipers were stationed along the way to play the tune and keep us all singing. Few of the firefighters could sing, however, because most of them were sobbing like babies. Young and old alike, firemen are deeply stricken when one of their own falls in the line of duty.
Okay, to be honest, I was blubbering, too. Many years passed before I could hear that glorious old hymn without tears in my eyes. I did well today, sang all five verses with gusto, but my mind was drawn back to the many times over the years I've heard and sung that hymn.
A jazz pianist played it at Irv Kochel's funeral. We sang it at my Dad's funeral. Every time I went to honor a policeman or a fireman, we sang it. I must have learned it as a child, because it's part of my DNA.
Eternal Father Strong to Save is another hymn that's in my DNA. Denise Arnold sang it at my Dad's funeral. It's the Navy hymn, but it's also a wonderful plea for God's help for us all. We sing it occasionally in church, but I sing it for myself sometimes, too. The tune takes me to the shores of Lake Erie and revives good memories of times when I was happy and carefree.That's where my father taught it to me.
For All the Saints is another one. Sung at many funerals, it revives an image of Nora Gesler, and older lady at our long-time Lutheran church. She gets the credit for hauling my husband's posterior into church and making him feel that he belonged there. She was the wife of a pastor, and also our pastor's mother, and a sweet memory in my life.
And what about Lift High the Cross? In Christ there is No East or West? and In the Garden? How Great Thou Art (my Grandma's fave)? Just a Closer Walk with Thee?
I grew up in the Lutheran church, was exposed to many other denominations, and ended up in the Episcopal Church. Some years I was unchurched, but today I am making up for those years. I think I go to church to hear--and sing--the music of my life. My road to the Holy Trinity is not paved with prayers, it's paved with the lyrics and harmony that are a continuous flow of my life and all the people in it. For that, and for all the blessings in my life, thanks be to God!
As I stood on the church lawn belting out Amazing Grace at the end of the service, I was struck by an image of a thousand firemen, guarding my cousin Mark's casket as it moved out of the huge church to the firetruck that would carry it to his final resting place. Amazing Grace was the final hymn of his service, and bagpipers were stationed along the way to play the tune and keep us all singing. Few of the firefighters could sing, however, because most of them were sobbing like babies. Young and old alike, firemen are deeply stricken when one of their own falls in the line of duty.
Okay, to be honest, I was blubbering, too. Many years passed before I could hear that glorious old hymn without tears in my eyes. I did well today, sang all five verses with gusto, but my mind was drawn back to the many times over the years I've heard and sung that hymn.
A jazz pianist played it at Irv Kochel's funeral. We sang it at my Dad's funeral. Every time I went to honor a policeman or a fireman, we sang it. I must have learned it as a child, because it's part of my DNA.
Eternal Father Strong to Save is another hymn that's in my DNA. Denise Arnold sang it at my Dad's funeral. It's the Navy hymn, but it's also a wonderful plea for God's help for us all. We sing it occasionally in church, but I sing it for myself sometimes, too. The tune takes me to the shores of Lake Erie and revives good memories of times when I was happy and carefree.That's where my father taught it to me.
For All the Saints is another one. Sung at many funerals, it revives an image of Nora Gesler, and older lady at our long-time Lutheran church. She gets the credit for hauling my husband's posterior into church and making him feel that he belonged there. She was the wife of a pastor, and also our pastor's mother, and a sweet memory in my life.
And what about Lift High the Cross? In Christ there is No East or West? and In the Garden? How Great Thou Art (my Grandma's fave)? Just a Closer Walk with Thee?
I grew up in the Lutheran church, was exposed to many other denominations, and ended up in the Episcopal Church. Some years I was unchurched, but today I am making up for those years. I think I go to church to hear--and sing--the music of my life. My road to the Holy Trinity is not paved with prayers, it's paved with the lyrics and harmony that are a continuous flow of my life and all the people in it. For that, and for all the blessings in my life, thanks be to God!
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