As we leave

After the 10:30 service, choir members gathered their music and vestments in the robing rooms and discussed their travel arrangements. The next time we will gather again will be at London’s Heathrow Airport on July 14th.

Saint George’s is sending 38 people to be the choir, along with our director and organist for six Evensong services and one Sunday Eucharist, taking the place of the professional choir and choristers who are on summer break. We are also thrilled to have 14 folks—parents, friends, relatives, and choir alumni—who will join us in Gloucester. Summer or not, in cathedrals around the world, the services must be said or sung throughout the church year, and this special week will be our opportunity to be part of that tradition. We will be working all week, playing a little, and basking in the splendor of Gloucester Cathedral.

As I prepare to leave, last Sunday’s Gospel (Mark 6:7-13) reading keeps popping into my head. Jesus visits his hometown and soon sets out to begin his ministry by gathering his disciples, teaching them, advising them, and then sending them out to do the work of spreading the Gospel, teaching, and healing.

And so we also were bidden with the beautiful prayer from Paddy Cavanaugh:

O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore. And may the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost be with our choir now and always. Amen.

We travel with joy and a bit of trepidation for what is ahead of us. We carry your support of our music ministry and the love of our Saint George’s community with us to do the job that we have prepared ourselves to do: to glorify the Lord in music.