ch ch ch ch chaaaanges!

Change.. ah that word.. Change.   Some embrace it with excitement like a kid on their birthday, others look at change as a wall, a horrible thing or something to stop them to do what they really want to do.   Well recently, where I sing, we have had a change. The Pastor with whom I have worked on and off with for a really long time was sent to another church.   Now when he first told me, of course it was right before a funeral (how convenient), but he was in shock, I was in shock - and to be honest, it did not seem real. Oh but it was. When he told the congregation what was happening - the people of his "flock" if you will, were so sad.. there were many tears. But what he told them was so important.  That this church is their church - they are the ones that make up the fabric of the parish.  Also, he said, "if you followed me to my next assignment, then I would not be doing my job" and indeed he was right again. So the month went on and indeed he moved to the other church.. and then, we received our new Pastor.  

None of us were sure what to expect. What I was told was that he was a great guy and the funny thing I found out was he was a parishioner at my first church job. Then, from there,  he went to seminary and tada.. he was ordained.   Funny thing about the ordination, I was told I sang that ordination - yeah I so don't remember that - but apparently there a pictures.. we shall see. 

So the day comes where I get to meet him.  What a lovely man.  Has a real sense of community and humor.. oh man, humor.  This guy is a prankster. He has already "punked" our director of music.. Here is the story, we are sitting in the kitchen of the rectory and the Pastor says to me - "You know for my installation, there is this cantor that is going to come all the way from Portugal."  So I respond  - "Wow, that is awesome - I look forward to working with her"  He then said " I have a video of her if you want to see it."  So you all know I totally want to see this video, thinking she must be pretty good  -   This is what I saw:

 

At first, I was not sure how to respond, but I could not help it, I just start to laugh, knowing he was kidding.  I said to him, have you showed this to Gene (our Director of Music)? He said.."No, not yet I am going to text him right now and tell him to come to the kitchen." So Gene comes over and the Pastor once again says - "You know Gene there is this Cantor, from the Parish I help out with, that is coming all the way from Portugal for my installation. I just wanted to show you this video so you could figure out what music she could sing." So then he begins to play the video.  I was trying so hard not to laugh, to keep a straight face. And Gene, in his best diplomatic voice said, "Sure we can try to work with that." Well at this point everyone in the kitchen was laughing.  Gene was laughing so hard, his face was red.  He originally thought when he received the text because something was wrong, and he felt like he was being called to the principal's office.  But we all had a great laugh over this.

Yes we are going through changes.. but that is life and we should all embrace it.  Especially if it is full of laughter. 

Have a great day everyone.. 

Peace, love and coffee..
M-