Two Weeks of Singing

These past two weeks have been so full and good, for two main reasons:  Carrie Newcomer's songwriting class and Danny and Charlene's wedding.  Yesterday I finished my first intensive class at ESR, "Writing Mindfully," taught by Carrie Newcomer.  I was glad to meet new folks and hear songs written by each of the writers in the class, and Carrie is an excellent teacher.  Last night we shared our songs with the ESR/Bethany Theological Seminary community, and that was fulfilling.

I wrote two songs, one of which I recorded.  It's called "The Song of the Vine" (click to hear the song, featuring Ela Robertson on the cello), and it's based on the story of Jonah.  If you don't know the story, I suggest you read it.  To introduce the song, though, I'll say that Jonah is mad at God for calling Jonah to preach against the wickedness of the city of Nineveh.  After quite an adventure at sea, Jonah finally preaches against the wickedness of Nineveh and gets even angrier with God when Nineveh mourns for its evil and God shows mercy on the city.  So Jonah climbs a hill to look out over the city, to see what will come of it, and God plants a vine for Jonah.  Hope you enjoy the song!

Last weekend, I celebrated the wedding of Danny and Charlene Foster.  I am grateful and honored to have been given the opportunity to be with and sing for them.  I brought out my Washburn guitar, which I haven't played in a while, and plucked the wedding prelude, an instrumental medley of hymns such as "This is My Father's World," "For the Beauty of the Earth," "Blest Be the Tie That Binds," and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."  During Charlene's aisle march, I sang the first half of Depeche Mode's "Somebody."  Later, Brother Eddie led the congregation in "Thank You Lord," and at the end, Danny, Charlene, Eddie, Alex, Kat, Ira, and I played and sang "Thanks."

Pastor Steve's sermon on Isaiah 43:15-21 was perfect for Danny and Charlene, "people whom [God] formed for myself / so that they might declare my praise" (v. 21).

The dinner cooked by Sister Peggy was excellent--spicy chicken wings for appetizers, punch, meatballs, salad, and more.  Along with my parents, I sat with a couple who are Friends preachers and who have visited Richmond, and another couple and their child.  (Coincidentally, Jon was at another wedding.)  I had a fascinating conversation with Tony about God's work in the world as revealed in Scripture and the nature of time.  Our conversation, coupled with Pastor Steve's sermon the next morning about how God does not only exist in the past but also in the present, has fueled my interest in time and time travel.

One of the Friends ministers asked me how I knew Danny, and I told her a little bit about life at the Redemption House, how Danny and Charlene would sometimes set their electric keyboard, bass, and bass amp onto the cyan tiles of the living room to rehearse and jam.  It made me think of all my roommates from the Redemption House and other church friends and how great it would be to see them again.

At the end of the evening, a group spontaneously gathered around the upright piano and sang "O Happy Day" while Danny drummed away.  It was a happy day indeed--Amen and Absotutely!