You know, it's funny, isn't it? Yesterday, we celebrated Pentecost,
the end of the Easter season. Over the years, my choir and I have
sung a massive amount of music dedicated to the Holy Spirit, the 3rd.
person of God the Holy Trinity.
For centuries, "Veni Creator Spiritus" has echoed from choir lofts
all over the world as the sung sequence through the colorful
processions into church. We've also sung songs like "Come Holy
Ghost," a traditional confirmation hymn, and "One Spirit, One
Church," a relatively new songs that incorporates "Come Holy Ghost"
into its music and lyrics.
Another great hymn sung for Pentecost is "O Holy Spirit, By Whose
Breath," which was composed for the 30th. anniversary of the Sacred
Constitution of the LIturgy. The hymn uses the same tune as "All
Creatures Of Our God and King," a German tune from the 16th.
century. Also from that collection is "At The Table Of The World," a
Communion hymn that likens the Spirit of God to a "hurricane and
breath." And who can forget "Send Out Your Spirit, O Lord," which is
based on the prayer, "Come Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of thy
faithful..."
Recently, our new choir director Eric announced he was leaving at the
end of June after only 6 months with us. What a shock! We concluded
our choir season yesterday, and when we get back together again in
September, we'll have a new organist and/or choir director-or both.
I hope you'll keep the choir in your prayers as we move forward in
this new era of our remarkable tenure.
You know, Eric said, "There's no other choir with a higher caliber in
this area, except for St. Paul's of Cambridge." Hmmm....