Church G ar y
M abr y
Make Music, Make Friends
A
fter all the workshops, seminars, camps, and summer trips have come and gone, the TCDA Convention signals the end of summer and the advent of a new music year. Within days, school bells ring, bands march, churches navigate through stewardship campaigns, and college students duel with financial aid offices to seek admission for just one more semester. Our convention is a sort of convocation, a calling together of friends and colleagues who are about to invest themselves in another year of sharing what has been shared with them. For some, it is the maiden voyage. At this last hurrah of the summer, we recharge our batteries, renew longtime friendships, make new friends and expand our horizons. Sometimes it is learning by discovery—a fresh octavo or an “aha” moment. It might be a lesson by confirmation—“That’s what I’ve been saying for years!” At the barbecue, we come together in fun; at the worship service, we come together in faith.
Let us celebrate our diversity and offer our stories for the edification of all. Many thanks to all who gave of themselves to make the 2012 TCDA Convention a success. I’d like to extend my personal gratitude to Greg Shapley, who guided our Church Division with such energy and devotion during the past two years, especially with the development of the Festival Chorus. Our thanks go out to every clinician, conductor, and accompanist who steered our event by sharing their expertise and offering their leadership. I was richly blessed by Ken Medema’s presence among us, reminding us that God has a sense of humor and that authentic worship might best be experienced
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Texas Sings! · Fall 2012
as a “sacred dialogue.” I am delighted to have the opportunity to serve our organization for the next two years in the area of music and worship. As I mentioned in a recent email to many of you, I would like this process to be collaborative. As we make music, let us also make friends. I have already gotten to know a few folks I didn’t know before and have heard accounts of how music ministry works in their fellowships. If I missed you in the first “blast,” please email me at glm113@att.net, so we can be in touch. I envision a network that will help us pool our knowledge and experience and serve as a resource to one another. I’d like to facilitate a system by which we can make our constituency aware of workshops, clinics, and seminars that occur throughout the state during the year. Whether by blog, email, call, or text, we can share strategies, octavos, concepts, and stories of music and worship that enrich and inspire. As we search together for choral music that exemplifies the highest standards of authentic theology, inclusive language, and the best marriage of text and music, let us engage in a “sacred music dialogue” and bring together our insights and our journeys. We serve a diverse community of faith. Smaller fellowships may have different needs than those who number in the thousands. There are imaginative ideas and successful music ministries related to children and youth. There are vivacious ensembles composed of senior adults. There is a wealth of musical tradition in the Jewish community. Many worship styles bless the people of Texas each week. Let us celebrate our diversity and offer our stories for the edification of all. In the words of the robot Johnny Five in the movie Short Circuit: “Need input!” Grace and peace to you. Let’s talk!