Holy smokes Batman!

So as I go to sing a service on Sunday, Father Paul tells me in passing that there will be another funeral this week.  No problem - that is why I leave my mornings open!  But he started to tell the story of this funeral that was coming up -

He was called out of a dinner to go to see this family who had just lost their wife, aunt. When he got there he met with the niece and nephew and their uncle (the deceased's husband) Randy. Now I need to preface this by saying Uncle Randy is pretty much deaf - can't really hear anything.  So the niece and nephew said that they thought their aunt was dead - and Father agreed. But then they said - "yes, and Uncle Randy got out a stethoscope and listened for a heartbeat and could not hear a thing!"  Ok, folks, what is wrong with this picture, of course Randy could not hear a thing.. HE IS DEAF! 

So after Father Paul finishes telling this story and I am laughing so hard.. his delivery was excellent -

But Randy and his wife Mary were a sweet couple - married 58 years.. unreal!  And before Mary died, Father Paul asked her if she was still in love with Randy  - and with a  burst of energy she said YES!!!
Father said it made his heart so warm.  It is all about the love -

So, yesterday was the funeral.  And Susan was there to play for me - and so we would not be  too surprised on what the music was going to be -( no hymns from 1745) - I called Father Paul and asked what we were to sing - he responded "Nothing out of the ordinary... the husband is deaf!"  Good point.  We did the normal stuff - but what happened during the service was funny to me.

There comes a part in the service where the Priest will incense the altar.  Now let me set up the scene for you - He has two altar servers - Fitz is 81 and Tom is 79 - a very spry bunch. Their job, while Father is doing his homily, is to go back and set up the incense so it is ready to go when it is time for the presentation of the gifts -

So they get it ready and the gifts are presented.  Then Father starts to put in the incense.. well was there incense!  The smoke from the incense was so much, Father was looking through the smoke to try and find me while he was incensing the altar.. I think it surprised him!  It did not phase me in the least, because I grew up in a eastern orthodox church where we had incense every Sunday for at least two hours straight - so when I saw this, it brought back nice memories.. but also made me laugh!

Then the dynamic duo (our spry servers) need to bring the wine and water to the priest so he can finish his job - well I am singing Ave Maria at this point and they brought the wine to him, but forgot the water - so I ended up, while singing, picking up the water and handing it to the server. I know, I know,... I am smoooth..... I never missed a beat. LOL

The rest of the service went fine - except when they were going to take the casket out of the church. Back in the day, the pall bearers from the  funeral home would turn the casket around  (toes first I guess) to head out of the church.  Now a days, this practice is normally not done anymore. So they tried to do it yesterday and Father turns around and says... "In this church we do not turn the casket around" The pall bearer huffed a little to him - so Father responded by saying.. "you may do it in other churches but not this one"

and off they went.

We ended with Eagle's Wings and ta da.. it was done..Later I asked Father why he was looking at me so funny during the presentation - he said he was trying to see me through the smoke!

Just another day in the life of  a funeral singer!

Peace out kiddies..

M-

Technology can be a blessing....

Well, last week was a slow one - I truly think that this is the first time since the fall that I did not have a funeral - hey, it happens - I have been so blessed to sing so many and to bring comfort to alot of families. 

But...

We are up and running this week - starting with yesterday.  An older gentleman, 89 years  - lived a full life, was very honest, you knew where you stood with him!  Loving, compassionate Father, Grandfather and friend.  It was clear that this man was truly loved.

I get there about 15 minutes before the ceremony is to start and there is one of my favorite organists/pianists Gina.  She is such a great player.  Anyway, she is talking to Father Paul and he is singing away - he was trying to remember this really old hymn that the family requested.  Now, I know sometimes that the music is last minute - but we did not have this music anywhere.

So Father Paul calls the office and asks one of the ladies there, to find the lyrics and please print them out.  In the mean time, Gina is sitting at the piano  - playing the chorus - and while she is playing, she is saying.. "I can't remember the lyrics.. it has been about 42 years since I sang this in grade school!" 
I start to laugh - seriously, at this point, I don't know if we were going to be able to do it - but she and I have been in situations before where at the last minute, we find out we are doing a song that has not been done in a million years.

Right before the service starts, one of the women from the office comes over to the church and hands me two copies of the words for this song!  We were thrilled - they had gone online and found the lyrics.. but I still needed to hear what the verses sounded like - so on my iPhone, I pulled up YouTube and found the song.. I was able to listen to it and get the melody in my head.  Prior to this, Gina had called her husband and asked him to sing the lyrics to her... she totally put him on speaker and was laughing quietly - it was funny - and then she asked him to go and look for the music or lyrics..She did text him back to let him know that the office had found the lyrics for us, so he was off the hook. 
Well the time came where we had to sing this hymn during communion.  Gina looks at me and says "Good luck and see you at the end!" I smiled and giggled a little.  Well, the song went off quite well - it is all about survival and creative singing!  See, I knew I got these music degrees for something! 

The family was appreciative and at the end of the day, that is all that matters!

Here is the hymn  - take a listen.. 'Hear O Lord'

We have so many blessings in our lives... and yesterday, technology was one of mine! 

Have a great day -

Peace  love and coffee...

Meliss-