We do a deep-dive into “The Practice of Trust” this month. What is trust? Trust is multi-faceted. It is belief in character, ability, truth, other people, sometimes based on knowledge and sometimes based on a feeling. It is supporting an ideal worthy of building confidence around. It fosters hope, and positivity. Trust is a cornerstone of Shared Ministry. Shared ministry, to me, is people working together to support the ministries of the congregation. For this to thrive, we depend on trusting each other as we delegate our cooperative work equally toward making our world(s) and the wider world a better place. Thank you, Rev. Sophia, for bringing Shared Ministry to life for us.
Our choir is a form of shared ministry. Trust is inherent in how our choir works. I trust that choir members will be at rehearsals and be ready to help bring our anthems to musical fruition. I trust everyone in the choir to practice and apply themselves as we prepare new pieces each month. Choir members trust that Guy and I will choose music to fit the dynamic needs of our community and make it accessible.
Trust is especially a part of being a listener of music when it is presented as part of worship. Truly, not all music will land perfectly for everyone. In those instances, the hope is that, with compassion and grace, the channels for hearing worshipful music remain open. Can we, the listeners, trust that the music we hear will become a part of us for that transformational moment? Can we open ourselves and take away any barriers that come between us and the sounds we hear? I trust that the music received by you, the congregation, will be taken in with the love that is intended by the music-makers. May it be so!
Music Happenings in March:
March 8th at 7pm is the Helen Robinson Wright Charitable Fund’s annual Benefit Concert featuring Jean Gauthier, singer, guitarist, songwriter and Friends: THE WOMEN’S SCENE from the 1970’s to present.
March 16th is the next time the First Parish choir will be singing at a church service. The anthems they will sing are: “Londonderry Air” (aka: Danny Boy) arranged by Bob Chilcott and “The Peace of Wild Things” lyrics by Wendell Berry and music by Joan Szymko.
March 25th is March Vespers at 7 pm. Jean Gauthier along with Hand in Hand Singers will provide meditative music.
Charlyn Bethell
Charlyn’s professional training has followed two paths: as a professional oboist and as a music teacher and conductor. As Music Director at First Parish, she joins these two paths of her musical life, conducting the choir, coordinating guest musicians, and performing on oboe.