A Note From the Choir Director

It’s Easter-tide! A time of rebirth, regrowth, regeneration, re-, re-, etc. In the next couple of weeks, our new rector, the Rev. Scott Painter, will arrive. We’ll retell the story of the ascension of Christ into heaven, and we’ll celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. With thanks for the steady and good-humored leadership from Rev. Sherman, we’re about to begin a new era with our new rector.

In the Song of Songs (aka the Song of Solomon), the bridegroom says to the bride, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” He continues, “For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone (well, here in the Pacific Northwest, the rains can continue all the way into summer…), the flowers appear on the earth…” We’ve been seeing springtime as a metaphor for spiritual rebirth for centuries!

On Sunday, May 21, the St. Michael’s Singers will sing a classic setting of this text by Patrick Hadley at both the 9:00 and 11:00 am services. It’s fabulous! I can’t wait!

On Saturday, May 20, at 4:00 pm, I will be playing a recital at St. Michael’s of music for flute and organ by American composers. I will be joined by John Stuntebeck, the associate organist at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle and a good friend of mine. I’ll be playing Bati l’gani, by Meira Warshauer. It is inspired by another text from the Song of Songs, “I have come into my garden, my sister bride. I have gathered my myrrh with my spices, I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, friends, drink and be drunk, beloved ones. (Song of Songs 5:1)

Ms. Warshauer continues, “Here, Shechinah, God’s in-dwelling feminine Presence, communes with Creator in the earthly garden of Creation.”

Also on our program is music by Florence Price, Lynn Petersen, Dan Locklair, Philip Glass, and Brian Fairbanks. Admission by free-will donation.

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