To You … With Love,

At a gathering of “church folks”, I found myself embraced with a strange and awesome feeling. It all happening so plain and ordinary as the singing moved along.

At one point I saw a tall, shorthaired woman in blue jeans wipe tears from her eyes as something from the moment touched her soul. It all felt down beat, until the announcement came. “0ne of the women, the pastor said, will play for us a song on the old an ornate organ.” I hadn’t really noticed it for the lighting was dim, but there i lay in the shadows at the far side of the sanctuary. She explained that it was over hundred years old and played only at Christmas time.

As the organist took her place, her body began moving to the rhythm of the pumping bellows while a hush fell over the congregation, as if at last our minds were reaching forward to the first low melody of yesterday’s church.

As the music broke forth, the call of the ancient glory spread over us, ghostly figures seemed to rise up out of the dark stained pews beside us and quietly as the message flowed from the old Carmel colored keys, the glory of the Lord shone around. Deep in my heart I felt a new rush of the wonderful message of worship, where with all the angels and archangels of glory we shall praise the Lord.

It happened in an old country church, very close to home, and the sound of it lives in my heart. Thanks be to God for passing wonders bidding us to rise and eat, and be made whole again.

Rev. Avis Richardson. (retired)