Mama loved to sing in the choir!

The Advance Methodist choir performs the Christmas cantata in 2012.

The power of song

When I was a kid, growing up in one city or another, I always knew that wherever we went, Mom would sing alto in the church choir. She loved it.

Back then, I didn't know how really rare a good alto was, and I'm afraid that I seriously underrated her skills to harmonize, since the sopranos sang the melody. Like most listeners, I probably thought it took more talent to sing the high notes than the low ones.

I'm not sure that Mom could read music. If she could, she never imparted that wisdom to me, so I sang soprano, and we would sing a duet every rare once in awhile at the First Christian Church in Dexter, where we lived for what she later referred to as the "happiest" six years of her life.

Even more than she loved to sing, Mom loved to laugh. Fortunately, the other members of the choir had a sense of humor, too, so choir practice was full of laughter and music. Practice was never so much fun as when our choir joined with the Methodists on special occasions, such as the Easter or Christmas cantatas.

My most vivid memory as a teenager was the day that Joe Weber moved his row down one seat, so that, when the time came to sit down, Mom was left standing at the end of the row. She looked so silly, standing there without a chair! However, everyone had such a good time over it that there were no hard feelings.

Now, every time, I see Mayor Weber on the streets of Dexter, I remember how much fun he brought to the choir.

Today, I carry on my mother's tradition by singing in our Methodist choir in Advance, but I still haven't learned to read music. I solve this problem by standing beside our preacher's wife, Donna Willer, so that she can show me when to come in and how long to hold a note.

Of all the things I love about a church service, music is the best! After we practice a song on Wednesday night, I have the tune in my head all week, serenading me and bringing me peace and joy.

Last Sunday, I even got to beat the floor with a stick in time to "Keep your Lamps Trimmed and Burning..." Since I was standing behind one of the men, no one knew it was me! That melody is certainly not a "droopy drawers song," the term one of our church members uses to refer to songs that drag.

Though I can only sing the melody, I love to hear the choir members who can harmonize.

This last Sunday, I stood beside our choir tenor, as we sang"Old Rugged Cross," and I thrilled to hear the added notes he sang in the harmony. I wish we had more men who would sing in church.

I've been to several Mennonite services, and the music of those voices is a delight to the soul!

I give thanks every Sunday for our dedicated choir director, who plays for us and helps us learn the songs, for my fellow singers who show up every Wednesday to learn the music, and--most of all--for the pure show of singing songs of praise to a loving God!