Every now and then on a special occasion, our church invites Dr. Stephen Newby of Seattle Pacific University to Orcas Island to fashion a choir out of us average Joes. He’s incredible.
This past weekend, our church celebrated a 50-year Jubilee in its present location (and 134 years on Orcas Island). Stephen came. In 70 minutes he took us through warming up and singing the nuances of four or five songs in four-part harmony. Some of us didn’t even know in which section we should sit. Sopranos? Altos?
I grew up in very white places – probably why I majored in Cultural Anthropology and have traveled to Africa twice. When our first son was little, I wanted him (and me!) to experience a gospel choir. We were in Santa Barbara – lots of churches but little gospel. After looking in the phone book and making some calls, I fixed on the one “gospel” church I could find. We went. There were about 20 people in attendance, half of them in the choir. Hymns were sung. Not one pair of hands clapped. Not one person called out. It was one of the more rigid services I’d ever experienced.
Finally, thanks to Stephen, my first real experiences with gospel have happened here on Orcas Island, of all places. And my first experiences with gospel haven’t been in watching it, but in doing it!
Here is a sampling of Stephen molding us into our parts…
Next time you read in the paper or hear that Stephen’s coming to Orcas Island Community Church, know that these choir sessions are usually open to anyone interested – you don’t have to attend the church or know how to sing.
Thank you, Stephen, for spreading your joy to us. You are magnanimous.
