I Love Sundays

I almost always love Sundays. I love to go to church and see people I know and care about. Many at the church where we are now are becoming familiar faces. I am learning a lot of names, and even noticing who is not there. I always enjoy whatever the musical offering is. Today the young children played the bells and the children's choir sang a song. The adult choir is always exceptional.

It is the season of Lent, the second Sunday. Much of my adult life has been lived as much by the seasons of the church year as the seasons of the calendar year. It is a familiar rhythm based on the life of Jesus, beginning in preparation of his birth, or Advent. Lent is the time of preparation for Easter. Others in my family have typically "given something up" for Lent. I've taken on something extra. In worship planning, I've always tried to make Lent a special time by using a theme or series for the season, or images, or dramatic monologues.

Today was my Sunday to preach, which I do once a month. My guess would be that people experience my preaching as passionate and intense. That's what I feel inside and that's what I feel like when I am preaching. And I'm totally spent afterwards!

My favorite preaching Sunday is Easter. Last year, 2009, even after I had retired, I still had an opportunity to preach on Easter Sunday, during an Interim assignment. This year, I will be leading worship and preaching on Palm Sunday.

I'll admit that I did hope that retiring would not mean never preaching again. But I didn't necessarily expect that I would be as fortunate as I have been. Honestly, I'm glad that God is not finished with me yet!

Nor preferably, ever!

Practicing to Preach

Since I now preach only once a month, that gives me lots of time to prepare. Naturally, I always have my sermon prepared at least two weeks in advance. Today, I am practicing it out loud, as I always have. There was a time when I always taped it, and played it back and listened to it. Inevitably, there were parts that needed changing. But believe it or not, in today's technological downloading world, it is very hard to buy a good portable tape recorder. When my last one died, I tried, but found the quality to be very poor.

The senior pastor delivers his message 'off the cuff', or with no outline or notes. He's good at it. Very gifted. When doing that, there is always the danger of being repetitive or worse, not being able to find your ending, your way out. He's always able to tell when it's time to stop, even though he wears no watch. While I do admire that, I think, as a writer, I'd still rather find just the right illustrations and words and polish them and put them together in just the right way for the maximum impact.

It is the 'writer person' and whatever talents she might have, whom God called into service, and whose gifts God claimed. It is through the writing process that I most deeply experience the presence of God in my life, in ways that I have often called 'mystical'.

I have to keep reminding myself that it was not because God wanted me to be an extemporaneous speaker that I was called. God wants me to be who I am. God has always functioned through my hard work and dedication, my attention to the story, the words, the Word.

I try to remember: I am who I am.

Weekly Doubles

Today I was back on the tennis courts playing with the women's doubles group. I had been under the impression that I was subbing for February for someone who who was out of town. I thought there was someone else who makes up the fourth player of the group. When they started talking about playing next week, I asked about that. They said, no no, you are part of the regular group. She only substitutes. I don 't know exactly how that happened, but I am certainly very glad.

Doing something physical on a regular basis is a constant struggle for me, at least during the winter. Gerry and I play tennis daily, during warm weather. But since I don't ski, my winter exercise regime is varied and sporadic.

In order to be prepared for the tennis game, I walked briskly several days this week, just to make sure I would have the stamina. I'm in much better shape than the first week. Now I can easily play the hour and a half and not break a sweat. Speaking of that, I notice how different we all are. One of the women works up a good sweat. None of the others of us do. One of the women doesn't even bring any water with her. Two of us need to take water breaks between sets.

Gerry asked me who won. I had to honestly say that I didn't know. We change teams between sets, so the partners and the dynamic is different each time. And no one announces which game it is, or even what the scores are in the middle of the games. That makes for some pretty laid back tennis! Since I tend to be pretty competitive, that's probably a really good thing for me.

After all, if the teams are different with each set, there are no clear winners. Maybe that is why the playing is not so cutthroat. It's just fun.

Fortunately, we all managed to get plowed out of our driveways this morning, after two feet of snow!

Now I guess I'm a regular!

Stuck En Route

Gerry had an uneventful trip on the way out to Utah. Trying to get home is another story! First, his flight out of Salt Lake City was delayed, which meant that he would not make his connection in Detroit. He got a later flight to Detroit, but had to spend the night there. His flight out was early, so he got two hours of sleep. The next thing I heard was that his plane (the one headed for Syracuse) had maintenance problems. Then there was the possibility of flying into Rochester, NY.

All of New York is under severe weather warnings, currently being deluged with snow. Last I heard, his plan was to fly into Rochester, rent a car, drive to Ithaca to pick up his car, which is where he was originally supposed to be flying into.

Since I haven't heard in a while, he must be in the air. I hope he at least makes it out of Detroit and into New York. However, the weather here is not promising. Hopefully, he will get in before the worst of the snow storm arrives later today.

I don't know how I would handle it if it were me. Not well, that's for sure! These are the reasons I hate to fly. It is not the flying itself; it is all the other issues related to it--namely having no control over your circumstances. When I am ready to be home, I am very very ready to be home. I'm sure Gerry is too. My heart goes out to him.

At the moment, there are no family reasons that would make it mandatory for me fly. Yo lives within driving distance, as do all my other children. If I can't drive there, I don't want to go!

But to tell you the truth, I am at a place in my life when I'd just as soon stick close to home. I've done enough traveling in my life to satisfy that need many times over!

Now all I want is for Gerry to be home safely!

Hodgepodge

I can't seem to get my thoughts focused on a particular theme, for a specific essay. That's what I usually do in my blog, as opposed to keeping a 'diary of my day.' But today I only seem to have a hodgepodge of ideas and thoughts floating around in my head.

Gerry comes home late tomorrow night. So many times in a day, things happen that I would ordinarily share. Of course, we talk on the phone, but I don't usually remember those little things during that conversation. How lonely life would be without someone to share those little things with!

I was going to visit a church lady today who lives in the high rise building of senior apartments. As I waited to go up, the elevator door opened. And there stood a man who was part of a church I served back in the day. We said hello. I called him by his first name, and up I went. I was curious about what he might be doing there, so I checked the resident list on the way out. Sure enough, he lives there. Here we both are a dozen years later, in a different town, both us us, each in a different context. It seemed so unexpected. [Only his name was on the list, without his wife, or former wife. I do believe I heard they divorced.]

I am surely learning many many things about how older people live, how they manage, how they cope, how they survive. Of course, it always makes me wonder what I'll be like when I'm old. If that ever happens. Hopefully, it won't!

That's definitely my preference.

This Stage

When the current job that I have was just a possibility, I very much hoped that it would be something that I would simply enjoy. No reason not to. I'm retired. Nothing I have to accomplish or prove. No statistical reports to worry about. I'm not in charge. Even though it was what I hoped, my enjoyment of this work has far exceeded my own expectations.

I've been reflecting on that somewhat. As the senior pastor with way too much on one's plate, there is simply very little time to do other than hospital, or emergency visitation. It's hard to really enjoy it with so many other things competing for your time and attention. Most of the visitation I do now is of the get-acquainted or hospitality kind.

I know this is temporary job. They need, expect to have, have always had a full time associate pastor and are in the process of doing a search for the next one. ( I don't think I'm up to that at this point of my life). And that is probably a good thing. At this stage, I feel nothing but pleasure in doing the work I am currently doing---visitation, monthly preaching, teaching, pastoral care, etc. There is none of the stress; none of the expectation.

I will admit freely that many of those problematic expectations came from within me. Also, I perceived that a considerable amount of expectations came from the denominational structure. Of course, I still have a strong desire to succeed. I still need to do a good job. I certainly don't want to be a failure. But it seems to me, for whatever reason, that serving in a different denomination takes away a great deal of pressure. Maybe that is because I am just temporary and nobody has much expectation of me.

I still have pretty high expectation of myself, but I don't seem to feel any pressure. Just pleasure. And how sweet that is!

First Sunday of Lent

Today is the first Sunday of Lent. Since I "went into the business" Lent for me has always been about taking on additional activities, events, services, studies, etc. For other people, it is more often about giving something up. Yo says she is giving up meat for Lent. That's quite a commitment.

I heard two sermons by the senior pastor this morning on the text for today, Jesus' temptation in the desert. Then I led the worship service this afternoon at the Retirement Home. My take on the scripture lesson was a bit different from his. We tend to be pretty close together theologically, with a bit of different focus, based on our life experience.

Time spent in the wilderness seems to be a prerequisite for faith. Faith is born in temptation and testing and struggle. It was certainly true for Jesus and it is equally as true for us. Faith isn't handed to us on a silver platter. We acquire it by making the right choices, and staying on

the right path. When we are put to the test and are faithful, we grow in faith, wisdom and strength. Yielding to temptation often means taking the easy way out.

Though me may want to be delivered from temptation, many of us still want to keep in touch!

Why is it that opportunity knocks only once, but temptation bangs on the door all the time?

My Other Mother

Because my mother suffered from Alzheimer's Disease for many years, she could not really function as my mother. That being the case, I was the "mother" and she was the "child" for the last years before she passed away.

Fortunately a very loving maternal type from my previous church "adopted me". Since retiring, I have made a real effort to keep in touch, going to visit every month or two. Not only did she adopt me, but she 'adopted' my oldest daughter and her two children, so they also got a grandmother/great-grandmother in the bargain! When I say "adopted", I mean, of course, that she gathered us up into the arms of her love.

I visited my other mother today. She was so so happy to see me. Recently, she had knitted sweaters for my two young grandchildren and mailed them. My daughter was so pleased and surprised and happy to receive them that she had sent pictures and a lovely letter. I joked with my adopted mother that if I want to see pictures of my grandchildren I have to come visit her!

"Mother" has some increasing mobility issues, and has fallen a few times. Once she got a bad concussion, and has been suffering from dizzy spells. I actually found her much better today than in previous visits. She was up and about, using a walker. The doctors suspect a case of vertigo.

"Mother" never says an unkind word about anyone. She loves everyone. She sees only the good in people. Back in the day when she used to be able to go to church, she would "hold court". That's the way her husband described it. It was a court of love and she was at its center.

If you happened to walk by 'mother' holding court, and feel the warmth of her love bestowed upon you, you were blessed indeed.

I was adopted by "my other mother" very late in life. So glad I didn't miss it!

Let's Just Call Her Lucy

Lucy is not her name, but for the sake of anonymity, let’s say I visited Lucy today, another of the ladies in her eighties. I certainly do hear a lot of interesting stories, and always learn something in the process. Her great great great great grandfather (or however many greats) came over on the Mayflower. Lucy is a tiny little thin woman; scrawny would be a good word. But she looked lovely with a brand new perm. I learned this afternoon that she has always dreamed of tap dancing. And so tonight, I saw her fulfill that dream, parading around in tap shoes and a white boa at the talent show. That’s one good thing about church talent shows. It’s never too late to showcase your talent, or your dream.

Lucy sat across from me at the dinner. She is as sharp as a tack mentally, and says she likes to hang around intelligent people. She told me what she has recently done. She had contacted and been visited by and signed up with Hospice. There are doctors, and nurses, and people who will come to your house, who will take care of whatever your needs may be, who will help bathe you, and provide your meals. Lucy wants to die at home, and not in the hospital. I greatly admire her for taking care of all that by herself. I didn’t even know it was possible to make all those arrangements before you are even sick, presumably to bypass the hospital altogether.

It’s not that she is expecting that to happen any time soon. But just in case it does, she is now ready. She has taken care of the Hospice and the tap dancing.

Keeping Busy

Gerry is away in Utah visiting family and enjoying a western ski adventure. Today I am actually shoveling snow. A friend is coming for lunch tomorrow and I want at least a pathway clear for walking to one of the doors.

Thankfully, I have something happening every day he will be away. Even though we love each other mightily and are best friends, we each need some human interaction besides one another. Between my previous Interim experience and my current one, that became abundantly clear to me. Now I don't have to wonder where that is going to come from. It comes with the territory of church work. Tonight there is both a dinner and a talent show. Ought to be a fun evening. I'm going shopping and visiting on Saturday. Sunday is full of services from early morning through mid-afternoon. I'll be doing the service at the retirement home. And it is the same next week, and before you know it, he'll be back home again.

Meanwhile, I'll put out the trash to be picked up. I'll sleep right in the middle of the bed, hogging all the pillows and covers. I'll park in the middle of the garage. Then, I will happily sleep and park only on my own side, glad to share again!

It is certainly a very good thing to have a partner for the journey.

Thoughts About Parenting

Recently, I have had occasion to reflect on my parenting experience. As I do so, I recognize that people from the same family can have completely different experiences of their parents. When a child is born, he or she is born at a certain time, into a certain set of circumstances. In my own case, the parenting experience spanned thirty three years, from the time my first child was born, until my last child graduated from high school. That is a long time! Many things can change.

To hear siblings talk about their experiences in their family, it would not be unusual for the listener to sometimes think they came from completely different families. Each child's experience is unique. Over a span of thirty three years, circumstances could have changed many times!

For Gerry, his span or parenting covers forty four years from the time his first child was born, until the last one graduated from high school. That would include seven children parented in all.

We have always delighted in adding up those numbers and claiming collectively 77 years of parenting experience!

As a mother, when I think of my own mother, my children and their children, I come to one profound conclusion, at least about mothering. The ultimate life lesson is to forgive ourselves and our mothers. We all do the very best we can at the time, in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.

Nothing is harder. Nothing more painful. Nothing more worthwhile.

Not Blogging for a Few Days

I was shocked to get an email from a friend who apparently reads my blog daily. She's not registered as a 'follower' but is a 'follower' nonetheless. She was actually missing my blog and checking to see if I am all right!. Somehow a number of days whizzed by without me blogging. That never happens when I am in my regular rhythm.

I have not been in my usual rhythm. Yo and Matt have been here. A granddaughter had a first birthday, and we were at that family party. Yo and Matt were in and out, going here and there. Lots of things going on with them. And then there were family dynamics. Wedding details. I'm not allowed to write about family matters, as dictated by my family members, so it makes sense to me that I would not have much to say in my blog when my days were entirely filled with family dynamics.

When I say "family dynamics" I am referring to relationships, and those might be in-laws, or siblings, or spouses of siblings, or children, or children's children. Or any or all of the above. The weekend was full of dynamics. There's really nothing more I can add. All families have dynamics.

But as for the blog, and my dear friend, I can honestly say it made me very very happy that she missed my blog. While I write largely for myself, it is surely good to feel heard.

And isn't that what friends do?

Sunflowers

Some weeks back, I described a difficult situation in my life as a 'pile of manure'. When a friend of mine read about that, she recalled her attempt last year to grow tomatoes. No one in this area was very successful in growing tomatoes. Some evil blight wiped them out before they could produce fruit.

She said that when the garden was being prepared, her husband dutifully wanted to help the growing process, so he brought in a pile of manure. That did not help the tomatoes to grow, but out of the manure grew some spectacular sunflowers!

I love that image. Sunflowers growing out of manure. I'd like to think that somehow my 'situation' will eventually produce 'sunflowers.' Yes, as with anything hard, or negative, or challenging, there are lessons I have learned. They do not, however, rise to the level of sunflowers.

I can't envision how that could ever happen. But I'm sure the gardener never imagined that bird droppings could produce giant flowers of great beauty.

Manure does have its potential.

My Valentine is Gerry

I am wholeheartedly and genuinely a fan of my husband Gerry. He's the best valentine a girl could have. (though no other gal can have him but me.) Ordinarily, I would say we don't do big gifts for Valentine's Day, though this year, Gerry surprised me with a very generous gift of something I wanted. I commented that I had been in a certain store and had seen one, and wanted it so much. He was delighted to learn that and said, 'let's go get you one tomorrow.' And we did! I will so enjoy my new toy! It is also very useful.

Most of the time, I'd say Valentine's Day is for other people, and not for us. That's not because we don't appreciate each other. But because we do. We appreciate each other every day, and since that is the case, we don't need a designated 'romance day' to remind us of our love. We are constantly aware of it. It was a belated life gift! We won't need to do candy and flowers. He gives me flowers regularly; I keep his candy jar full.

The nature of married love changes over the years, from fiery passion, to comfortable familiarity. Now it's a steady, easy, mature love, based on respect and mutual admiration. We trust each other and are grateful for every good day. We're comfortable with our silence without any need to fill it up.

Every day is valentine's day with a sweetheart like Gerry!

Long Long Winter

There have been endless weeks of below freezing temperatures. Maybe there has been one or two days when the temp was in the high 30's. After a while, it gets to me. I need bright sunshine, and signs of spring. We are far far from that now!

But I certainly should not complain, given the weather conditions in much of the nation at the moment, buried in many feet of snow. At least here in the snow belt where that is typically the case, we have not been buried at all. There has been a slow steady drizzle of snow, enough to keep the skiiers happy, and the ground covered, but no blizzards. In Maryland and DC, government and schools and businesses are shut down!

I saw on tonight's news a picture of a beautiful red cardinal sitting on a branch waiting for the squirrel to leave so it could get at the feeder. What a thrill it would be to see a sight like that! I love spring, when the first hint of buds begin to push out ever so slightly. I love the fact that I have forgetten exactly what bulbs have been planted where and will be surprised at everything that pops up. Last fall, I planted a lot of new roots and bulbs, given to me by a friend. This is a new house in a new location, so I am still unfamiliar with everything. Plus, we planted a redbud tree, and I love seeing the purple flowers that preceed the leaves, and last only a few days. There are several flower beds buried deep beneath the snow. There is a vegetable garden in the works.

Even though I know it is three months away, it makes me happy just to think about spring!

Think spring! Think spring! And eventually it will come.

Moving In

Since I am in and out a lot, and since my computer is not on my work desk, but at home, there has not been much reason to really move in to my church office. I suppose being Interim also has an effect upon that mindset.

Recently my office at work has been painted. Up until now, I was not much inclined to move things in and make it my own. Now I am motivated. Having a clean bright new coat of paint makes a lot of difference. Two women from the church volunteered to do it. It looks quite lovely.

I find now that I am beginning to take things there from the 'decorating category'. Today I bought a desk pad. This morning I took a few books.

Uh-oh! Sounds a bit like nesting, doesn't it? Wonder what that means?

Talking to Anybody

I used to work for Cornell University for a dozen or so years, mostly back in the '80's. My first job there was in the admissions office, interviewing prospective students (and their parents). I remember how challenging it could sometimes be carry on a thirty minute interview/conversation. Not everyone who came along was easy to relate to. Occasionally there was conflict between parent and child. Some were awkward or shy, uncomfortable or didn't know what questions to ask. That meant that I had to pretty much always be prepared to lead, guide, take charge of the conversation, so that we did not sit there for ten minutes looking at our feet. I learned to carry on a conversation with almost anyone.

I was thinking about that today, as I walked up the sidewalk toward the front door of a house where I was going to visit a couple I did not know, had not met. He was, for whatever reason, on the 'home visitation list.' I called and they agreed that I could come. In the end, they were very appreciative. In fact, they felt like they had somehow 'fallen through the cracks of the church' during the past year.

It was an easy, cordial, fascinating conversation about church, family, illness, community. He struggles with late onset degenerative MS, a disease for which there is no medication or cure.

During my Cornell years, I learned many valuable skills; most of them were great preparation for the ministry. One was learning to carry on a conversation by asking key questions that allow people to talk about themselves. Most people don't have any trouble doing that.

Occasionally, I've even had to resort to that myself!

Divinely Ordained

I discovered earlier in the week that the book of Isaiah has been called a "mini-bible". The Bible has sixty six books in it collectively. Thirty nine are from the Old Testament and twenty seven make up the New Testament. Isaiah has sixty six chapters. The first thirty nine are about judgment and the last twenty seven are about restoration. {Exactly like the Old Testament being about judgment and the New Testament being about redemption.}

After pondering and studying this matter for several days, I have to conclude that it is a divinely ordained "coincidence", and not the work of human beings at all. Because of biblical history, there is no way that the people who put the Bible together could have made decisions with forethought to end up with this configuration.

I say that because the Old Testament canon (collection of writings deemed to be sacred by the Jews) was completed about 400 years B.C. And the New Testament canon (the writings deemed to meet the standard considered Christian) was finalized 400 years after Christ. Those who knew how many writings (or books) would be in the Old Testament, could not have known how many would be in the New Testament eight hundred years later, nor could Isaiah have known. Only God.

This is just one of many amazing and incredible little facts about the Bible. For me, the history of the Bible is almost as amazing as its content. How we ended up with this particular collection of sacred writings had to be directed by the very hand of God.

Or so I believe!

Women's Doubles

I have played tennis with Gerry for twenty five years. We have occasionally played mixed doubles. Until now, I have never played with a women's doubles group. Today that dream came true.

The court we played on inside is far from desirable (carpeted) and the lights overhead have a terrible glare. I was uncertain about the protocol of the women who have played together for thirty years. Despite those handicaps, I am confident that I held my own. We played three sets, and switched partners each time. They did not call out the score, and it was hard for me to keep up with exactly what was going on. I believe my partner and I lost the first set. I'm pretty sure my partner and I won the second set. The third set went to a tie breaker and my partner and I won that game. The women said that they could not remember the last time there was a tie breaker. So I'm sure I did not embarrass myself. One of the women was like a feather floating on air. She was light on her feet, light when hitting the ball, and rarely missed anything at all. The other three of us were more closely matched.

We are set to play again next week.

After that, perhaps the New York State Senior Games! I never dared to even consider it before, since I had not played with women. Maybe now, someday, I'll feel up to that!

That would be just great!

Potluck and Potpourri

On Thursday evening at the church there is a dinner and a program. It is a potluck dinner, and after a while, one learns what to expect at a potluck dinner. Mostly pasta-like casseroles and desserts. A couple of weeks ago, there were very few desserts, and so the next week, there were tons of desserts, and fewer main dishes. Usually there are not many vegetables, though there may be one salad, which runs out quickly. You can always count on at least one gelatin dish, and never any bread.

But the programs have been fascinating. It is impressive to me that they end exactly on time, because half the people then go to choir practice. Tonight's presentation was by one of the 'treasures' of the church. She is a ninety three year old lady whose husband was the pediatrician in town for many years. She is apparently a graduate of Cornell University's College of Architecture and Art. She gave a fascinating presentation on renaissance art! She stayed right on topic, used interesting slides projected on screen, told her stories with a great deal of humor to a great deal of laughter, and ended five minutes early!

Last week's presentation was on the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester. Next week's is on interesting tools of the nineteenth century.

The potluck is the food, the potpourri is the program.

We go with small plates and open minds!

Insights and Visions

(Writer’s Note: I had an insight this morning. I have realized this before, but always seem to forget. This insight came from a women’s bible study, focusing on the book of Isaiah. Since Isaiah is known for his visions and his poetry, I think I’ll try to write this insight in the form of a poem and a vision)

An angel of the Lord appeared to me and said,
“How dare you! How dare you put yourself down!
Do you not remember that pride leads to destruction?”

I pondered for a moment how my negative
self thoughts might make me proud.
And I did not understand at all.
The angel said again, “Pride goes before the fall.”

I wanted to ask how that could be, but before I spoke,
The angel spoke again to me.
“Pride dethrones God and puts you at the center of the universe.
Putting yourself down is a twisted form of pride.”

Aha, I thought,

Being humble means not putting ourselves at the center,
Whether we denounce ourselves, or think we are the winner.
Either one is arrogance.

Then, it is utter arrogance to label ourselves a failure,
for any reason. That is cruel judgment.
We only fail for a season. (Or maybe even less.)
That is not who we are.
God desires for us blessings and success.

(I’m glad I still have insights;
Some, better late than never!)

A Sense of History

I had a little tour of the Archives Room today. The chief archivist said: 'Here at this church we have a strong sense of our history.' That's an understatement! I could not believe what I encountered! Since 1899, there are bound copies of each year's bulletins, and also newsletters. I've never even seen such a thing. Equally as amazing, there was a file folder full of articles, pictures, sermons, etc. of each pastor who has served the church!

At the very first church I served in 1989, I dug out a room to use as my office. It was a small rural church, which had been yoked with other churches for many years, served by countless pastors serving multiple charges. I discovered quickly that the "historical record" did not exist in the church. There were several membership books, but not all, and none of the minutes of the official meetings could be found. I was told that most of those books were probably in the homes of the various people who had held office over the years. At each church where I was appointed, I always wondered who the previous pastors were. No record anywhere! Where I am now, there is not only a file folder, but also a photo gallery in the hallway.

Different denomination. Downtown influential church. (Perhaps that's why??? Or resources?)

History is and always has been important. I am discovering at this time of my life that the older one gets, the more important it is. The same thing probably applies to churches! After all, history is the story.

It is always helpful to know our story. Everyone has a story. And we should own it!

Four Hands, Four Feet

Yesterday afternoon I attended a duo organ concert. I went primarily because it was part of an art series at the church, open to the community. I went primarily out of duty and responsibility, not expecting to be highly entertained and totally enthralled. But I was! From the first moment to the last!

It was such an amazing event. The huge pipe organ is overhead, in the balcony, so in order for the audience to see, a videographer filmed their hands and feet, and it was projected onto a large screen on the chancel. It was unique, amazing, incredible music, two women using their hands and feet. To have four hands and four feet working the three level keyboard and the foot pedals is a challenging thing to begin with. It requires careful attention to whose hands are where at what times.

Just after the break, when they did a number played only on the foot pedals, they had added brightly colored socks to their feet, decorated with musical notes on them; one set was yellow, one pink. For another lively number, they wore light bulb earrings, which blinked on and off.

Perhaps most surprising of all, the church was completely full. It must hold many hundred. My best guess would be that there were five hundred people there! Who would have thought it? Not me; not even the organists. You just never know. You never know!