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To paraphrase Mr. William Blake......"When I grow up and can do what I please, I think I'll visit churches in Iowa and gaze at lovely stained glass windows!" I love colored glass, whether it be in windows, or suncatchers, or paperweights, or old canning jars.The window in this photo is from Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames, Iowa. My son attended there when he was student at Iowa State University just across Lincoln Way.
Truly, I could be very happy spending time driving around and stopping at churches here and there. I'd start here in lower northeast Iowa, and work my way further northeast into the scenic hills of that part of Iowa. Probably every state in the Union can boast many old church buildings with lovely windows.
When my camera gets fixed, or better yet, a new camera comes along, I hope to snap some photos of the windows of my own church.**********************
On the subject of church.......I attended our mid-week Lenten service Wednesday evening. Not surprisingly, the crowd was sparse. Arriving late, I sneaked up the steps to sit in the balcony with the rest of the "sneakers". If you are late or, for some other reason, wish to sneak into and out of a church service without being seen, then the balcony is the place to go. And actually, I feel very much at home amongst the "sneakers".
After the service, there was choir practice, and we had a blast, even though there were only five singers present, not counting the director and the organist. We had two sopranos, two tenors, and me stuck alone in the middle on alto. Being able to sing soprano or alto, I go where needed, and lately, that has been in the alto section. Of course, the alto part is buried in between soprano and tenor and is sometimes not easy to hear, especially in a new song......at least not for me. I have to hear the alto part played alone once first, then its fairly easy to latch onto the harmony of it.
Even though we were only a quintet, all of us are strong singers, and we can make quite a bit of sound if we have to. The choir director is ever the good-natured, patient leader and that helps. She is a good friend, and she's the mother of SEVEN daughters!! I think of her as "Our Lady of the Seven Joys" (as opposed to "Our Lady of the Seven Dolors", which is the name of a Catholic Church at Festina, Iowa. "Dolors" are sorrows, and that description certainly does not fit my friend and her daughters!)
Our organist, too, is very gifted with keyboard ability and a great sense of humor. Just being around such people is inspiring and uplifting! Hence, my willingness to return as a choir member.......it can be fun!! Yonder many years ago when I joined this Lutheran Church, we had a very large choir, and we sang on a regular basis, and did cantatas for Good Friday and Christmas. But, with the few choir members we have now, ambitious singing projects like that are out of the question.
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If anyone reads this.......leave a comment if you're a member of a church choir or another type of singing group!!
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3 comments:
My hubby sings in our choir and he has occasionally done the cantor. We have a great organist too ; she teaches at the local college. She is the choir director.
Here I am. A choir director, as requested. I come to this blog often and have been directed here by Charlotte of At Home In Scottsdale and somehow by nannykim. All related in some way. I direct a little choir in a little church in Marana, AZ. Sometimes the choir equals the size of the congregation. If we have a very very wonderful day we can have about 50 in attendance but that doesn't happen often. There are perhaps two in my choir who reads music but for the most part we make a joyful sound. I have been singing since I was about 6 y/o. My first solo was in a Baptist church in Thayer, MO. I remember sitting on my grand dads lap, mom playing the piano and grandpa pointing out the words for me with his toothpick, which I remember always being in his mouth except when point out words.
We have had as many as 16 in our choir and a few of them are faithful. It would be so very nice if they were as faithful on Wed. nights as they are on Sun. mornings. We do a special program on Christmas and Easter and try to do something special each Sunday morning. Music is one of the major parts of my life. What a wonderful gift to me from God the Father.
I had the privilidge of living in Davenport, IA for about a year and a half. The one winter I spent there about 9 years ago, I am not sure that it got below 32 degrees IN THE DAY TIME. I hate to bundle up with coats, hats, etc., so I would rush to the car and by the time I got to where I was going...mall, church...where ever, I would not need a coat. It was a good winter.
I can't get this site to let me sign in with my blog name. It is Down on the Farm and you may e-mail me if you are inclined at my e-dress........
maranamama@netzero.net Connie
Thanks for the comments!
Nannykim,
My church does not have cantors, so sometime fill me in on what exactly they do.....is it singing part of the liturgy, or singing the readings??
Anonymous,
Thank you for stopping by with your interesting comment! How wonderful you are a choir director.....I truly admire anyone who can do that......you know, keep their place in the music while at the same time directing the singers. It is definitely a gift! And ditto for those who have skills to accompany the choir on piano or organ. I play the piano, but only good enough for myself here at home. Once, our pastor, down to scraping the bottom of the barrel, asked me to play the clavinova for a church service. It gave me nightmares.....
Thank you again for visiting here. I'll visit your blog, too.
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