Minister’s Letter — September 2006

ABOUT MUSIC:

One of my favorite quotes by a Unitarian minister is by A Powell Davies, minister of the All Souls Church in Washington D.C. during the mid-20th century. He wrote: I go to church. . .because I fall below my own standards and need to be constantly brought back to them. . . I must have my conscience sharpened– sharpened until it goads me to the most thorough and responsible thinking and action of which I am capable. Because I must feel again the love I owe my fellow men and women. I must not only hear about it but feel it. In church I do.

Of course he is talking about connection and responsibility, the essence of a vital congregation. But Powell is also talking about “feeling” the love to which he aspires. I believe the most immediate and direct way to attain that experience is through music. Another one of our UU theologians, James Luther Adams wrote: With a special sense of immediacy and inwardness, authentic music redefines, illumines, refreshes, orders our experience. It is not escape from reality; it is rather the rediscovery of a center of meaning and power, of a center that is a symptom and sign of faith–ultimately not a human achievement but a gift of grace.

Those are profound words and I completely agree with James Luther Adams. Here’s another quote by our UUA President William Sinkford: Song allows us to name the Holy, to give thanks, to acknowledge both joys and sorrows. Singing helps our very “heady” faith find its loving heart. And we know that a congregation that loves to sing is almost always a vital and strong religious community.

Even the German philosopher, writer Johann Goethe once remarked that there are places in the human heart that words cannot touch: places in the heart that only music can touch.

Since I began my ministry with this Fellowship 16 years ago, I have always emphasized the importance of music. We have come a long way since those early days. Erika Schemer, our pianist, and our women’s choral Spirits in Harmony, continue to “touch our hearts,” as do other musicians and our congregational singing. I do consider these our “gifts of grace.”

And I want more. Someone has said that music is much more than entertainment for Sunday morning services. Music is ministry. And I agree. With music, we connect, we build right relationships, we touch the heart, we unify. When the music is right, people leave the Sunday services humming the music. Hopefully the sermon has also touched the heart, but I don’t believe very many ever hum it!

So having said all of this, once again, I want to call on all of you who are musically talented to share your gift with the Fellowship on Sunday mornings and any other appropriate time. I want more music, more singing! I will welcome accordions, banjos, jazz vocals, clarinets, harps, guitars, folk singing, a men’s choral, and any other experienced vocalists and instrumentalists playing and singing music—the kind that calms the mind, touches the heart, celebrates and connects us to our human story.

And here’s another gift of grace: In recent years we have been blessed to have a children’s choir, led by Susan Wright, who unfortunately, may not be able to continue to lead. How wonderful it is to hear our children sing and play! I want more. But who will lead them? If you are interested, let me know. Singing together is a unique congregational activity in which both elders and youth can participate as equals.

So now I am waiting for you to respond. You can respond in two ways: First, if you are interested in participating in our music ministry and can play or sing at our 9 a.m. service, contact Iris Dayer, and let her know you are interested and what you can do. We especially need musical folks at the early service. If you are interested in participating in our 11 a.m. service, contact Erica Denler.

Second, I am in the process of asking the Board of Trustees to approve the formation of a Music Ministry Committee. If that comes to fruition, the 2nd thing you can do is volunteer to serve on that committee whose task will be to manage our music program and help enlist more musicians.

See you at the Fellowship on September 10. Bring your vials of water for the water communion! It will truly be wonderful seeing everyone again, reconnecting, serving and singing along the way!

Jim Covington