Jubal’s Jottings

So, here we are…still in the Christmas season.  I love the music of the whole season – I’m a musician, right?  I went to church on Sunday morning and was greeted by some really high quality music!  That should be good, right?  After all, bad music would not be a helpful thing.  Nope…sorry!  One piece was a really fabulous arrangement of Carol of the Bells…solo violin, orchestra, great piano part – no bells, by the way.  It was great!  But, it led to a standing ovation…and I was left wondering what the worship content is of Carol of the Bells.  Nice song of the season, but for worship?  I want worship to connect me with God, not give me a concert…no matter how good the music may be.  I can get concerts in other places…but in church on Sunday morning, I need worship!  While I had to stand with everyone, I could not clap.  For me, God was missing.  I wonder what He thought.  Carol of the Bells…worship?

Jubal, I’m really sorry you didn’t know Carol of the Bells.  I’d like to hear your opinion.

So, I’m going to Christmas programs…even conducted one as a guest this year.  I’m so mixed up and discouraged with what I see and hear.  There was the one with a living Christmas tree and a bazillion lights on it!  Then there was the one that ended with DECK THE HALLS!  And then there was the one that had 37 minutes of Latin lyrics!  A couple of those actually did have the Christmas account inside of them…and I do appreciate the purposeful nature of what they were trying to do.  I just can’t seem to get beyond pizzazz on one hand, and classical concert on the other hand.  I get bombarded with techno stuff on one side (OOOOOO, look at that!) and black tuxes and dress on the other end (can someone have some emotion up there?)!  It’s pretty painful.  Where did Christmas go?  Didn’t I say a similar thing last year?  It’s distressing.  I get the feeling that when Christmas is over, I won’t sense that I had Christmas yet!  I’d like to have a balance of the heart of Christmas with the head of Christmas.  Where is it?  There are two weeks left in the season, so I’m hoping I find it!

Jubal, see how fortunate you were to be P.C. – Pre-Christmas?

I have maintained for a long time that music brings us together, not just for the art of it, but so that ministry can happen! I had the privilege of being asked to guest conduct a choir/orchestra concert at the church I left 24+ years ago. Yes, things have changed there – in a big way. But, there were still some people around who remembered me, and some are still singing and playing. Good for them! One good-looking guy came up to me and handed me a nice note about his recollections of things we did when he was in the youth choir. Another couple recalled that my wife and I had taken a cot to the hospital so they could sleep there in their young son’s hospital room, when he became terminally ill. Some of the things we didn’t even remember about those times, but obviously some of them stuck. While I have some regrets in looking back on my time there, it is obvious that music brought us together for ministry to happen in some cases. I hope I never forget that!

Jubal, did you have people in your life because you made them play one of your instruments?