Streams of Mercy
Yesterday during worship at Jackson Springs Presbyterian, we celebrated our organist and gave thanks for her life and for the gifts she shares with us week after week. We were blessed to have her son and his family here to celebrate with our church family. Seeing our organist on the organ bench, with her young granddaughters on her lap is a moment to remember!
She was once a music teacher in local elementary schools, remembered with love by all her students, I’m sure! I remember from my own years of teaching how important music class is to students who struggle in the classroom – it’s a welcome break for them from the burden of their studies, and a time of pure enjoyment. Poet Maya Angelou says this of music: “Music is my refuge. I can crawl into the space between notes and curl my back to loneliness.” Music is a refuge for all of us from time to time.
I once read “Where words fail, music speaks.” I always count on our organist speaking volumes through her music- sometimes supporting the sermon in helpful ways, sometimes speaking when my words fall short. She thinks of what members of the congregation are going through and chooses music to speak to those needs. Sometimes she changes at the last minute because God brings another piece to her mind and heart. What a wonderful colleague in ministry God has given to me at Jackson Springs Presbyterian, and I give thanks for that good gift.
It’s been said that “music give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” We give thanks for the rich feast we share from week to week at Jackson Spring Presbyterian!
All this brings to mind the words of an old Gaither song from the 70’s:
“He started the whole world singing a song;
the words and the music were there all along.
What the song had to say was that Love found a way,
to start the world singing a song.”
Giving thanks for the gift of music and musicians that bless our worship, and for the Love that started the whole world singing a song!
Elizabeth