Interesting Sunday

Sunday started out like every other Sunday except I woke at 5:00 instead of waiting for the alarm at 7:00. That wasn't good because it was going to be a big day. I didn't know how big it would be!

I helped Tom set up for Communion, practiced with the soloist and played Christmas arrangements on the piano for preludes and then switched to the organ.
The deacon forgot me at the organ, so I only got half of the rite, but not to worry, the Congo church I play for across the street would have communion too, so I would be alright.

After playing for the communion service, I dashed across the street, nibbling a cracker on the way as I was running low on gas. I did a nice arrangement of O Little Town in a Sonatina setting, then did a nice arrangement of Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne, played the hymns, including the candlelighting, which I forgotten the week before and had gone to my seat in the pew too soon and had to be reminded, and finally I did a pepped up arrangement of Come Thou Long Expected Jesus as an offertory. (Are you dizzy yet?)

Tom and I grabbed a bite at the corner store, so I could go back into our church and practice last minute passages for our Cantata, Emmanuel.

We then drove to Paris Hill Baptist for a 1:30 warm up and presentation at 2:00 which went fairly well for a first performance. We have two more next Sunday.

I couldn't wait for that afternon nap because Pastor Bruce had asked me to play at North Paris Church for their annual Christmas singalong. Sometime during my nap, the phone rang, which Tom answered. When I woke up, he said one of the ladies of the church who is taking care of a ninely three year old man wanted him to come and play along with me if it wouldn't bother me. What the heck, it's Christmas. I'm not that good anyway, so maybe he can cover my mistakes.

We got to the church and there was this wonderful, alert looking gentleman smiling at me. "Okay", I thought. "Let's see how it goes." I cranked up a few hymns for us to experiment with and he said, "Do you have anything with a little zip?"

Hmmmmmm. "Okay, lets go. How about the Battle Hymn?" and off we went. All I had to tell him was the key and he was right there with me.

I worried that he might get tired standing there playing away. It seems I was the tired one.
I had planned to do The Little Drummer Boy as a special in the setting of Mozart's Night Music.
I asked Pete, my new ninety year old friend, if he would like to play along. He said he didn't knw it, but by now I wasn't worried. I told him the key and off we went.

Jane, his caretaker, phoned his daughter while we were playing and she said the daughter hung onto the phone crying up a storm!! Did I get a Christmas present last night? You bet I did.
Not only did it bring back memories of playing piano with my Charlie as he was growing up, but I saw the miracles that God performs with aging people. He lets some of them keep the precious gift of music. Pete will not know me the next time he sees me, but Jane tells me to remind him of playing at the Christmas party and he will remember. May I be so fortunate as to retain a little of my ability through the years, though I certainly won't bank on making it to ninety three. I forgot to mention that we played for an hour!!!