Reflections from a Friend

[ADAM WASN'T SURE WHAT TO DO WITH THIS - I CAN'T FIND A PICTURE OF THE CHANCEL CHOIR] A little over a week ago, my husband and I had the good fortune to attend a  music service at First Community Church where we were surprised to learn a dear friend of ours, David Kandel, was to speak before the program began. Knowing Dave's sense of humor and great stage presence, I knew we were in for a treat. And he delivered. Man, did he deliver. I was so moved by his heartfelt eloquence, I asked if he would be willing to send me a printed a copy. He did, and with Christopher Purdy's encouragement to post this, here are the comments Dave made about singing in the Chancel Choir: "My wife Rose and I have been singing in choirs since we were in kindergarten. Between us, we have more than 100 years of choral singing experience.  Even so, I feel that my words today are inadequate to express what an honor it is to sing in the Chancel Choir under the direction of Ron Jenkins and make music with incredible musicians like Bob Griffith, Sally Beske, my fellow choir mates, and the members of this outstanding orchestra assembled for us today. For us, making music is the most essential, most profound, most spiritual form of worship we know. Music is the universal language. It’s the language God uses to touch us, to teach us, to move us, to calm us, to heal us, even to love us, so we can learn better how to love each other. Music has the power of reaching inside our hearts and minds and spirits to affirm the very essence of who we are.  It has the power to express the emotions of our soul—which cannot be spoken or understood with words. As a member of the choir, I can tell you that actually making the music, as opposed to listening to music, actually being the instrument, creating the melodies, the harmonies, the dissonance and the resolution, is a transcendent, spiritual experience.  It is not of this world.  It’s as close to a heavenly experience that one can have on this earth. When we sing here, our feet are firmly planted on the risers, but our spirits are lifted off the ground.  That’s what it’s like to sing in this choir. Rose and I feel very fortunate and blessed to be members of a church that has such a firm commitment to an exceptional music ministry.  For that, we thank you. May God give all of us faith to sing—always." David Kandel 10-24-10 Dave, thanks for uplifting us with your words of praise. May you and Rose sing for eternity. --Beverley Ervine