[Dialogue] FW: Entertained by Angels

[hypnocenter]

Thought some of you might be interested in our eldest daughter's latest
communique about the downtown church they're involved in Columbus, Ohio. Let
her know if you want to hear from her further.

Del

 

 

  _____  

From: Eileen Howard [mailto:eghow at columbus.rr.com] 
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 6:13 PM
To: eghow at columbus.rr.com
Subject: Entertained by Angels

 

It has been too long since I've written about our work down at the Church
for All People -- I've thought many times of events to share but then never
get them written down.  Here is a report on one such event, today.

 

ENTERTAINED BY ANGELS

 

An angel joined us at Open Mic today.  His name is Dave.

 

On Mondays between 4 and 6 we do a variety of music programs at the Church
for All People.  We have guitar lessons, voice lessons and an Open Mic event
where anyone can perform.  It sounds great on paper, but in practice it is
sometimes chaotic and messy.  I find it challenging because we often don't
have consistent guitar students from week to week;  I'm overwhelmed by voice
students and can't figure out a good way to help so many people at so many
levels of skill, not to mention that some of my students have mental or
emotional challenges that make learning difficult; it is hard to maintain
attention and focus during Open Mic.    Today we had the added fun of  an
air conditioner leak in the music closet which meant we had to take
everything out and wipe stuff off and find another place to store it (the
Pastor's Office -- where else?) 

 

I have to admit I sometimes find Mondays challenging and I occasionally ask
myself if anyone is actually learning anything!  (other than me learning to
deal with chaos and learning patience) 

 

But.. I have seen the power of music at work over and over again here and so
I also trust that God is transforming lives.   In her book "Traveling
Mercies", Anne Lamott talks about how when she was strung out on drugs and
alcohol, bulimic and suicidal, she would stand at the back of a church and
the music would wash over her and heal her, even before she was ready to
listen to any sermons or talk about Jesus or any of that stuff.   

 

Today while we were moving stuff out of the flooded music closet, a guy came
in who I hadn't seen before.  He very much seemed the usual "hard living"
kind of guy we see around the Free Store.  Probably homeless, wearing worn
working clothing.  He was medium height,  white, looked to be late 50 or
60's with a broad friendly face, and some white tufts of hair sticking out
from under a red stocking cap.  

 

He said "are you open?"  I said, "it depends.  The Free Store is closed"
(which is what I assumed he wanted) "but we'll be doing Open Mic here in a
short while.  You're welcome to join us".  "Open Mic", he said, "that's what
I want".  

 

Now, I have to confess, I assumed he was really there to have a cup of
coffee and a place to sit down.  That happens a lot and it's fine.  So I
finished wiping out a storage bin and then asked if he wanted coffee and I
made a pot.  I really expected he would stay awhile and then leave.

 

We got our equipment set up and Chris started the Open Mic.  Someone is
selected to be the Emcee, usually a youth, and he or she announces the acts,
who sign up on a piece of paper.  RoRo (aka Ronald) a very tall
African-American youth played Emcee.  After a couple of acts, he called
David Grey, who turned out to be the guy I figured was just there for the
coffee.  He picked up the guitar and sat down.  Then he said "I'm a stranger
and you welcomed me in from the cold." (obviously speaking metaphorically
since it wasn't actually cold!)  "The Bible says you should welcome
strangers, for you never know when you might be entertaining angels
unawares."  Then he spent some time tuning the guitar-- appearing to be very
comfortable with the instrument.  Then he started playing a standard blues
pattern with energy and competence.  He sang some lyrics that seemed to be
loosely based on "Jesus is on the Mainline".    

 

Tell Jesus what you want 

You gotta call him up 
And tell him what you want 

Jesus is on the mainline 

I can't remember what other lyrics he sang, I was too overwhelmed by the
presence of God and the sanctity of the moment.    I truly felt that we were
not only entertaining an angel, but being entertained by one.  This
wandering traveler (later on that's how he described himself) found a
temporary home in this building and shared music with us.  It felt like
sharing communion.

 

Then RoRo called up Thomas Cole.  Now Thomas started by singing with the
praise team over a year ago.  Since then, Thomas has taught himself drums,
personally saved up money to buy a bass guitar for the program, and has
taught himself some basic chords and notes on a small keyboard he also
purchased.  Thomas has very little income and has made some sacrifices to
buy these items.  He has composed several songs which he has performed at
Coffee Houses in the past, so it was not a surprise that today he chose to
sing a song he wrote.  

 

Now, a "real" musician would find this song pretty basic.  It only has a
couple of chords and Thomas uses the pre-set R&B rhythms on the keyboard
plus a couple of notes to create the song.  But it has some good style, the
lyrics are pretty good, and most importantly, THOMAS WROTE IT HIMSELF.
Thomas has not needed anyone to give him permission or lessons to jump in
and try anything and everything musically.  But in addition, today the song
had some extra elements -- extra notes, and a combination of R&B and hip-hop
phrasing that made it clear that he was also progressing musically in his
composing.

 

Again, I sat and felt the presence of God wash over me as I was entertained
by the angel Thomas.  I sat in awe of the power of music in Thomas' life and
in my own.  Music and drums came before spoken words.  Music is in every
culture and used in the worship experience of every culture on earth.  It is
the language of God, I think.  

 

There were more moments -- Mimi who lacked confidence a year ago and now is
our star singer; Aretha who forgot her lyrics but said she was doing it for
God so she didn't care what anyone else thought, and so on.

 

Later this evening I was alone and locking up at church and was surprised to
see Thomas hanging out by the laundromat.  He was surprised I was still
there too.  I told him how much I admired what he has done musically.  He
told me he feels I have been responsible for making that happen.  He said,
"ask anyone, I never stayed still for anything before this.  I tried lots of
things, but you remember that first day how you told me if I wanted to sing
with the band I could do any of that other stuff anymore?"  He was
remembering that we had talked about being an example to the congregation
which means not doing drugs or getting drunk.  I barely remembered that
conversation.  "Well I stuck here, and it has kept me away from all that
junk.   You've pushed me and kept me going and getting better."

 

Now, I have no illusions -- Thomas was thanking me, but it wasn't just me.
Chris Sunami who runs Open Mic, and Big D who plays guitar, and Dee Shepherd
who loaned her Conga drum and Chris Ciampa and Ed Moed who've encouraged
Thomas to compose -- so many other people all contribute to the music
programs.  But at that moment I was also grateful to Thomas for his
encouragement of me in my ministry and calling.  It is sometimes very
challenging, but tonight I feel like God has put me in so much the right
place at the right time to make some small contribution.

 

I also feel like music is like a tree here, growing many branches, and it
also feels good not to have to control where those sprout. Thomas, Chris
Sunami and Big D have formed a "house band" for Open Mic and there is also a
"youth Band" .  Yesterday Donita talked to me about a group wanting to form
a choir to do African American music (and they have a volunteer leader who
is not me!!!).  Wow -- how great that all these possibilities are budding
and I don't have to be in charge of them.  Now that also means I have to
relinquish some quality control, but I'm really beginning to think that the
quality has little to do with it.  The musical spirit is sprouting and
bursting into song all over the place.  Off key, sure, but full of joy.

 

Thursday night is our first Coffee House of the Fall from 6-8 p.m.  Please
feel free to join us at 895 South Parsons Avenue.  Open mic is also open to
anyone and if you feel you can teach or help out in someway, that's great
too.  (we always need $ for guitar lessons, guitars and music, too!)
Worship is at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays and 9:20 am. on Tuesdays.

 

Have a blessed week!

 

Eileen

(as always, if you wish to be removed from this email distribution list,
just let me know)


 

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