Some organists have a habit of writing in their sheet music the date the piece was used in a worship service. I am not one of those organists.
As I practiced for Sunday worship today (Saturday) I was sight reading some Advent preludes by Michael Burkhardt. The book was familiar and well worn from my yearly use and prior to that of my organ mentor. What struck me, though, had never occurred until today. I was playing Burkhardt’s prelude on “Once He Came in Blessing” and then I noticed the date when my mentor last played it — 10 years ago today.
Most dates wouldn’t mean too much to me. This one did. It was the day my dad suffered from cardiac arrest and medical complications which led to his passing a few days later. This Burkhardt piece reminded me that the church’s song goes on in our communities and congregations around the world — even when we individually are absent from worship. The prayers and songs of the faithful continually ascend to God and each other.